Civilisation & Religion : Rational focus on Hinduism & Environment

There are several principles of importance to the human future that can be distilled from the teachings of Hinduism.

Principles relating to
1. the inevitability of the consequences of one’s actions
interconnectedness of all things
2. the linkage between past, present and future
3. the integrity of the human family
4. the harmony that is necessary between humanity and the natural
order and many others.

It is clear that the most ancient texts on Hinduism demonstrate through the praise of the deities an ecological awareness and great respect for the natural world. There are many specific teachings on environmental matters contained in all these writings and ecological activists have drawn much inspiration from the text.

A few examples are:

• “Do not cut trees, because they remove pollution.” (Rig Veda, 6:48:17)
• “Do not disturb the sky and do not pollute the atmosphere.” (Yajur Veda,5:43)*
• "Destruction of forests is taken as destruction of the state, and reforestation an act of rebuilding the state and advancing its welfare. Protection of animals is considered a sacred duty. (Charak Sanhita)

All of this is an enormous source of concepts, principles, traditions and practices which is of deep relevance to the study of the future of humanity and of the long-term perspectives which it is so essential to bring into the thought-frames of the present generation.

The Bishnois was a small community in the state of Rajasthan who practised environmental conservation as a part of their daily religious duty. The religion is an offshoot of Hinduism and was founded by Guru Maharaj Jambeshwar in the 15th century.

He believed that if trees were protected, animal life would be sustained and his community would survive. Therefore he formulated twenty nine injunctions. Principal among them was a ban on the cutting of any green tree and killing of any animal or bird.

The Bishnois people’s defence of the natural environment needs to be more widely known as one of the world’s classic instances of martyrdom in defence of the environment. In 1730 Amrita Devi, a Bishnois woman was at home with her three daughters when she came to know that a party of woodcutters sent by the Maharaja of Jodhpur were on their way to fell a green Khejri tree for the construction of the Maharaja’s new palace. She prevented the woodcutters from felling the tree and was killed by them for her resistance, as were her three daughters. The news spread like wildfire among the Bhishnois community and hundreds of them assembled on the spot, prepared to give their lives in this cause and 363 of them did. This is known as the Khejrali Massacre. The Maharaja apologised for the conduct of his officials but this has ever since been an inspiration to the environmental protectionists of India. ..

To be continued

edited by Biswamitra