Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Devendramuni, A D Batra, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Rajasthankesari Adhyatmayogi Upadhyay Shree Pushkar Muni Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

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Research in Yoga by the Methods of Modern Natural Sciences
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Govindsvamy and associates (from AIIMH, Bangalore), Anand et al. (from AIIMS, Delhi) and Karambelkar et al. (Kaivalyadhāma Lonavla) have studied the burial feat of some yogis, along with those of other control subjects. Govindsvamy and associates used a usual dug-out pit, which is quite pervious to air exchange due to porosity of soil and so they were not definite about their conclusions. Ananda et al., on the basis that the oxygen consumption was significantly reduced below the basal level in the case of the Yogi, while it was not so in the two controls' cases, concluded that Yogis could control and reduce voluntarily then oxygen requirement. Karambelkar et al., on the other hand found reduction in oxygen consumption in the case of every subject-Yogi as well as non-yogi-during his stay in an airtight pit. They conclude that reduced oxygen requirement is not a result of the voluntary control of the Yogis, but a natural consequence of the sedative and tranquillisation effect of the accumulated co, in the pit. On the contrary the lowering of oxygen consumption was highest in non-yogi controls and was relatively smaller in the yoga practicants, showing an inverse relationship with duration in years of yoga practice. This means that lowering of oxygen requirement is a response to CO, stress, which yogis stand better as indicated by their maintenance of the metabolic rate.
On therapeutical application of Yogic practices, it is to be noted that Asanas, Prāņāyāmas, Mudrás, Bandhas, Kriyās and the various purificatory processes have been mainly utilised in this sphere and have been acclaimed to have given very remarkable results in treatment and cure of various psychosomatic functional disorders. In this respect the Mudràs, Bandhas and the purificatory practices are very valuable and rather unique contribution of Yoga in the field of treatment of diseases.
However the application and evaluation of more psychological and spiritual techniques of Yoga like meditation, Japa, etc., which also can do much in this field, specially for betterment in psychological derangements, have not been seriously undertaken and need much greater attention, seeing to the findings of researches on TM.
Reports of every good improvement, as good as a complete cure, of a large percentage and number of asthma patients coming from Bhole et al. from Kaivalyadhama, Govindrajan and Gopal Reddy from Cardiac and Thoracid Clinic (Madras), form a land-mark in the sphere.
Very good benefits in treatment of different cardiac conditions and high blood pressure have been reported by Datey and his associates, Tulpule and his coworkers and others. Datey's evaluation of Savāsana as a specially helpful technique in these cases and his demonstration of good control of the condition and rehabilitation of the patients, with lessening of the use of drugs, through judicious practices of Yoga Asanas etc. have aroused great interest in the medical world all over.
Good improvement in diabetics has been claimed by Tulpule and others and has been observed in Kaivalyadhama hospital and other Yoga centres. Reports of Yogic treatment camps of diabetes from Vishwayatan Yogashrama of Delhi and Jaipur Yoga Centre note very remarkable in improvement, even cure, of this condition. But these reports have not been accepted in Medical circles and need a checking and confirmation from other workers.
Good results are claimed for digestive and metabolic disorders by workers in this field, but satisfactory data substantially supporting such claims are not available.
This very cursory survey gives just a brief glimpse of the research in Yoga completed so far employing the methods and gadgets of the modern sciences. A number of individuals and groups, besides those mentioned above, are working in India and elsewhere to find out more information on such lines about Yoga. Interest in the West in Yoga is growing rapidly and as a result Jarger number of scientists are attracted towards and are trying to understand yogic science in their own way. Even Communistic countries of East Europe have a large number of followers of Yoga and among these are many scientists. These latter are not just following yoga and many of them are carrying out researches in the field. Thus there are very valuable researches going on in Hungary, Roumania, Czechoslovakia, Poland and even in Russia on
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