Sanctity of the Environment in Ancient Hindu Scriptures

About the Book

Great sanctity is attached to the Environment in our Ancient Hindu Scriptures. The scriptures have been positive with a view to deification of the natural phenomena; there was a complete harmony between human and Nature. The Rivers, Trees, Forests and Mountains are fundamental to Life on Earth so there were practices to be followed as part of the Religion or conduct of Life. The preservation of Trees, consecration of Tanks etc. were prescribed aimed primarily to conserve for the benefits of the human kind. Birds and other animals were associated with the various gods as their vehicles and thus all the elements of Nature are protected. Many other actions were proscribed with a view to ensuring that these do not interfere with the Environment. The threats and what is causing degradation of Environment are all known. We have Laws, Rules and Regulations to combat each cause but still the situation is abysmal. Each of these aspects as regards ecological principles is dealt with some illustrations in various chapters of the Book.