The word ‘Bhaishajya’ pertains to medicines and Maha Yagam denotes a great ritual. Unlike other Yagas, in Bhaishajya Maha Yagam, we use very rare and powerful medicinal herbs for oblation, which is the outstanding peculiarity of this event. The intention of the Yaga is to cleanse mother nature, the individuals and all beings on earth. There exists a big science behind it which is part of the ancient heritage of India and the great vision of the Seers of India. ‘Ayurveda’ the Indian Medical Branch, is their contribution in which they used medicinal herbs abundantly to cure diseases. The word ‘Ayu’ refers to life-span and ‘Veda’ is knowledge. Therefore, ‘Ayurveda’ means knowledge about your life-span.
The ancient Seers were using the same technology in Bhaishajya Maha Yagam. If herbs can cure man, it can cure nature too. Therefore, using medicinal herbs in Yaga, they were treating mother nature to cure her diseases of contaminations. Contaminations are the diseases of nature. Man polluted nature through erratic and unscrupulous living. Man is the only being which pollutes nature. No other being on earth is capable of doing so except man. Medicines are used against illness and therefore, here we are using medicinal herbs to cure the illness of existence. That is the basic science of Bhaishajya Maha Yaagam. Another question could be as to why have we adopted oblation into the fire? There is a reason. For example, if you give red chilly to one person, only he is affected by eating it. If you put that one red chilly into the fire, suddenly within split seconds the entire mob could be affected. This is because fire absorbs the essence of the chilly and immediately pass it on to the air, which spreads it in the entire locality within no time. Anything penetrates into atmosphere through air, it can easily get into eternity. The effect may get subtler, but then it moves faster and faster. When medicinal herbs are put into huge fire, its tremendous effect will surely reach the entire globe.
