Pollution caused by fire can be removed through the Devyajan fire. Generally, all types of pollution can be removed through fire. But when the fire itself becomes polluted, then the only remedy to remove it is the fire itself. This is the opinion of the Vedas. First Mantra of Atharvaveda 1/1/1 According to him, from the environmental point of view, conservation of twenty-one elements is required. Twenty-one elements take all forms and move around. These remain situated in the body by the grace of Vachaspati Deva.
16 September – World Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
According to Western science, the ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson, but the surprising truth is that the world’s oldest book, the Vedas, also mentions a very gross ozone layer-like cover that covers nature like the womb. The ozone layer present around the earth is mentioned in the divine books Rigveda and Atharvaveda. The elements that provide natural and easy relief from environmental pollution are the green mountains, water, air, clouds and fire, which are rich in natural resources.
Generally, even today, nature automatically mitigates pollution-related disorders. These are such measures which are capable of mitigating even the most severe pollution like Kravyad (in which the flesh of the body dries up). Just like a mother takes many measures for the uninterrupted development of her child, nature has also created many covers for the protection of the living world. Among these, the cover called ozone is the most important. Describing the cover like ozone in the Atharvaveda, it has been said-
The waters gave birth to the calf, and the pregnancy was carried forward.
When he was born there was a golden forest. To whom shall we offer oblations?
-Atharvaveda 4/2/8
Meaning- When Prakriti conceived the calf in the form of water, at that time it was surrounded by a cover similar to the membrane that surrounds the fetus, the colour of this cover was Hiranyay i.e. yellow or reddish like red. In this mantra, the effect produced by sunrays has been mentioned as colour. In Rigveda, while describing the shape of the said cover, it has been said-
Mahattadulbam sthaviram tadasidyenavishtitah praviveshithapa.- Rigveda 10/51/1
That is, the layer covering nature like the womb is extremely gross and water is present in this layer. This fact is proved by science also. According to the current science also, ozone is related to oxygen and the basis of this life-giving air is water element, but these mantras of the Vedas are propounding scientific truth by saying that water element is present in the ozone layer covering the earth.
According to Atharva Veda, water, air, medicine i.e. vegetation and fire chhandas (Atharva Veda 18/1/17) i.e. perimeter, are the main components of the present environment. Just as the word environment has been derived because of covering from all sides, the same meaning is of chhandas – that which is covered from all sides, it has been called chhandas (Chhandas) in Atharva Veda 18/1/17. According to Jaiminiya Brahman 1/128, the gods covered death i.e. sin with chhandas, hence it is called chhandas. This pollution is the cause of death, it can be stopped by chhandas. Pollution is blocked by its covering. In Atharva Veda 12/2/8, considering fire as the cause of pollution, three types of fires have been mentioned – Kravyad, Akravyaad and Devyajan. Out of these, Akravyaad fire is a normal physical fire. Devyajan fire is the sacrificial fire, by which yajna is performed. And the Kravyad Agni is that which consumes the flesh of animals, due to which a person is afflicted with various types of incurable diseases like tuberculosis. The Vedas call this Agni Kravyad i.e. consumes flesh. So that the animal world is not affected by its effect, it is prescribed to perform Devyajna Agni-
O fire, carry the sacrifice of the gods, knock the flesh-eater from the akravya.- Atharva Veda 12/2/4
Thus it is clear that pollution caused by fire can be removed through the Devayajan Agni. Generally all types of pollution can be removed through Agni, but when Agni itself gets polluted then Agni is the only way to remove it, this is the opinion of the Vedas. According to the first mantra 1/1/1 of Atharvaveda, from the environmental point of view, conservation of twenty one elements is required. Twenty one elements take all forms and move around, they are located in the body by the grace of Vachaspati Dev. In this, considering twenty one elements as the basis of environment, it has been said that Mahat, Ahankar and Panchtanmatra (sound, touch, form, taste and smell) together make seven and these seven elements become twenty one by the distinction of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. The entire formless world is dependent on them. These seven elements basically form the basis of the environment. These are the seven stages of the process of the abstract becoming concrete.
Formless nature starts taking shape from Mahat and this process is complete by the time it reaches Panchtanmatra. The factors that cause distortion in the elements that make up the formless world that is inseparably connected with conscious beings are the same factors that cause environmental pollution. Thus, Atharva Veda prays for strengthening the seven elements. Environmental pollution is born due to distortion in the above mentioned seven elements. Then, their prevention i.e. solution is given in the first mantra of Atharva Veda that Vachaspati only strengthens these elements and maintains them in our body. According to Vedic opinion, the origin of the universe begins with sound, even the basic unit of life, air, comes into existence due to sound. Therefore, all types of pollution can be mitigated by sound.
Modern science came face to face with the truth of the thick ozone layer like cover that covered nature like the womb mentioned in the Vedas in the beginning of creation in 1913 AD, when the discovery of ozone layer was announced by French physicists Fabry Charles and Henri Buisson in 1913. Western science also says the same as mentioned in the Vedas that a layer of the earth’s atmosphere in which the concentration of ozone gas is relatively high is called ozone layer. Life on earth is possible only because of this ozone layer. This layer absorbs 90-99% of the high frequency ultraviolet light of the sun which is harmful for life on earth.
Sunlight reaches the earth only after filtering through the ozone layer. It prevents dangerous ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth’s surface and this keeps life safe on our planet. Ozone is a light blue odorous gas. The amount of ozone gas is found to be high in the ozone layer. More than 91% of the earth’s atmosphere is ozone present here. Ozone is a type of oxygen and is represented by the symbol O3. When three atoms of oxygen (along with alpha ultraviolet radiation) join together, they form the ozone layer. Ozone is a layer that is between the two, above the earth’s stratosphere and below the mesosphere. It protects us from the ultraviolet rays coming from the sun. In the present scientific era, the ozone layer is being destroyed by nitrogen oxide emitted from high-speed aircraft and chlorofluorocarbon gases emitted from air conditioners and periscopes etc.
To create awareness among people about this, every year 16th September is celebrated as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. It is true that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other substances are creating holes in the ozone layer that covers our earth with its protective blanket, so people in every corner of the world have banned these substances with determination, but it has not yet been achieved. If effective efforts are not made to save the ozone layer in time, the consequences can be disastrous.