Notion of the Vedas regarding Environmental Protection

Vedas
are the first series of books of knowledge in the library of mankind. These books are
enriched with the wisdom of our ancient seers or sages which they earned through their
long time meditation. Because they spent most of their lives in forests, caves and
mountains so they got acquainted with all movements and activities of nature. As a
result of this familiarity they gave different descriptions of nature in their writings. Due to
these perceptions of nature they have given some hints and details of nature they have
touched environmental issues and problems in their writings also. The objective of the
present paper is to throw light on such environmental issues and problems along with
the possible solutions in accordance with Vedas which may be helpful in modern
environmental study.

Introduction
The surroundings or the conditions in which a person, animals or plants live or operate
is known as environment. Due to our selfish practices, greed and profits we are polluting
our national resources and disturbing our ecological balance. We know that if this
balance will remain disturbing then the day will soon come when their will be no animate
and inanimate life on this earth. Therefore, unnecessary interference in environment
and its phenomenon should be directly or indirectly avoidable. It is also worth knowing
that if we care for our all around atmosphere and never misuse our natural resources,
the coming generations will be able to enjoy this flourished nature and its beauties. This
environment is an indivisible part of our humanity. This plays very important role in our
to and fro cleanliness which is very necessary for physical and mental development. We
are unable to breath in natural air and drink pure water while both are part and parcel of
life. It is shameful to note that it is the strategy of the most of our human beings that
they are polluting the environment instead of keeping it pure. Our vedic sages were
aware of the strategy of such human beings, that is why they tried their level best to
make everyone aware of such human beings about environmental purity and its
importance .For this they wrote many hymns in praise and protection of the environment
and have raised many environmental issues in their writings. The present study is to
show the vedic viewpoint about such environmental protection descriptions in their
writings.

Vedic ways of environment protection:From the earliest days reverence, environment has been the integral part of hindu
society. Vedas depict this potential in its hymns. But this potential has been latent
because people have not given attention to this potential for a long time. Now people

have started to give attention to the vedic knowledge. Vedas have number of references
or rituals to the worship of the divine in nature. These references are symbolic in its
nature but are of great value because they are filled with the hints of number of
sciences and subjects. In these we get many references regarding environment also. In
these we get the idea of environmental degradation forseen by vedic sages. They had
even the ways of controlling the environment. They never allowed any imbalance to
occur in environment. They believe that the effects of many pollutants and harmful
materials could be get rid of by performing Yajnas. All of the Yajurveda is about
performing different Yajnas. The sages of the Yajurveda are also of the view that Yajna
cleans atmosphere through its medicinal smoke and provides longevity, vision etc. i
The Yajurveda prescribe the protection of the country from all sides, the forest should
have to be well protected.iiIn Rigveda, one Aranyani sukta (chapter) is addressed to the
deity of forest.iiiAccording to this sukta forests were in remote areas far from population iv
and should be with green plants and trees. These forests are different from villages
which are used for irrigation purposes. vThese forests were used for cremation
purposesvi also. In one hymn of this veda it is said that plants and trees came into
existence before the creation of animals.vii
In vedic literature water is known as apas viii.All of the Vedas prohibit polluting water and
natural resources. There are many hymns on water. Vedic seers in several hymns
invoked water, the purifying agent to be gracious with mankind. It is also invoked to
remove physical ailments and defilements. They believe that water consumed by men
gives strength and become auspicious drink within the stomach. Hence they prayed,
May the waters be pleasant to our taste, be free from deceases, sin and sickness, be
the remover of fear of death, be full of divine qualities and be the strength of eternal
laws".ixNot only this vedic seers pray to God that He should give ample water for all
animate and non-animates.xVedas describe that water is essential to all forms of life.
According to veda the water as a human environment occurs in five forms as rain water
(divyah), natural springs (sravanti), wells and canals (khnitrimah), lakes (svayamjah),
rivers (samudrarthah).xi Atharvaveda gives some different classification, as drinking
water, medicinal water and stable water etc. xii Even the mountains, the earth, the
humanly bodies are water concretized.xiii
The notion of earth is also very fascinating in Vedas. In Atharvavda in one sukta
(chapter) the earth is described in sixty three verses. This all sukta (chapter) is known
as bhumisukta. The word prthvi is very common for bhumi in rgveda xiv.This description
of the vedic seers indicates their environmental consciousness.The seers seems to
have advanced understanding of the earth through these descriptions. Prithvi is
considered as the mother and space (dyau) as father in Vedas. Regarding this one of
the most beautiful verse of rgveda is noticeable whose literal meaning is as the heaven
is my father, brother atmosphere is my navel and the great earth is my mother. xvShe is

called visvambhra as she is representative of the universe in modern literature also. As

all the animate and non-animate universe exists on it. This is also known as vasumati
(the home of wealth) because all earthly beings get wealth working in its land. xviShe is
also the bestower of eatables to all human beings and non- human beings. xvii She is
also holding the Indra,i.e., the geomagnetic field. She is also described as being present
in middle of the oceans and is one having magical movements. xviii
Next, the sound pollution is also discussed in the Yagurveda as Do destroy anything of
the sky, do not pollute the sky and do not destroy anything of the universe. xix This
description of the ether sounds that the vedic seers were conscious about the problem
of sound pollution because when modern science discusses about noise pollution this
ether and sound are interconnected. We all see that when somewhere in neighbours,
music is displayed on high pitch, we get disturbed by that high sound of music. Now a
days increasing number of car, Scooter and other petroleum or deisel vehicles are
becoming the cause of noise pollution which is the cause of many diseases.
After sound pollution comes air pollution which is depicted well in Vedas. Here, for air
Vayu and Vaat two words are used. In shatapath brahmana it is said that this air (vayu)
blows in all world.xx It is also controller of the three worlds and is the principle deity of
the intermediate space ( Antriksha). xxiIt is also vishvkarma who inspires all world for
performing its action.xxiiRgveda describes two type of air, i.e., pure and impure. The first
of this is for every living being and the second is that which creates impurity xxiii and
pollution which expands toxic elements. This pollution can be removed after awareness
about environment. The first type of air is full of life. xxivThis show that airis part andparcel
of life and without this there will be no sign of life on this earth.
Vedic seers or sages were fully aware about environmental importance for life, i.e; they
wanted to protect earth ,sky, intermediate space, air and water .The given mantra
takes about the concord of the universe:Dau shanti rantriksham shanti prthvi shanti rapah shanti raushdaya shanty.
Vanaspatyah shanty vishvedeva shanty Brahman shanty sarva shanty shantirev shanty
sa ma shantiredhi.xxv
The meaning of this mantra is this that sky, inter related space, waters, plants, trees and
all of the universe should be protected from all type of pollution. If we people of this
earth become capable to make our environment free from all forms of pollution then this
earth will be for the welfare of all living beings.

Conclusion:Through this paper the light is thrown on the awareness of our vedic sages regarding
their views about environmental protection. From the above study it becomes clear that

our ancestors were fully vigilant about environment and they expected the welfare of the
society. They knew that environmental protection and development is must. They were
aware that coming generations will be healthy and long lived if environment is well
protected. We do not know that in these days educated people are polluting the
environment. We should learn lesson from ancestors that environment is the back bone
of all creatures. Not only this we should know that if water, earth and air basic needs of
life are polluted then all our development will be for nothing.

i Yajurveda; 9.21
ii

Ibid: 16.17

iii Rgveda; 10.146

iv

Ibid; 6.24.10

Ibid; 1.16.3.11

vi Brhadarnyaka Upnishad; 5.11

vii Rgveda; 10.97.1
viii Ibid; 1.54.8; 4.2.14;4.33.9;10.53.6
ix Atharvaveda, translated into English by W.D.Whitney Vol.!, Motilal
Banarsidass,Delhi1971,1.4,5,6.
x Rgveda; 2.28.5
xi Ibid;7.49.2
xii Atharvaveda; 1.6.4
xiii Chandogyopnishad; 7.10.1
xiv Rgveda; 7.7.2,5;7.99.3; 5.85.1,5
xv Ibid; 1.164.33
xvi Ibid;6.12.5;10.187.2
xvii Shatpathbrahman; 4.1.2.8
xviii S.R.N Moorthy, Vedic view of the earth, D.K.Printword Delhi,1997, page 87
xix Dyam ma lekhi antriksham ma hinsih.

Yajurveda; 5.43

xx Vayurvashustrivrta ayamev trishu lokeshu vartate. Shatpth bahman; 8.4.1.9.

xxi Aitreya Brahman; 2.41.
xxii Shatpathabrahmana; 8.1.1.7
xxiii Dvau imau vaatau Rgveda; 10.137.2
xxiv Vayu vai prane shrita. Taitiriya Brahmana; 3.10.8.4
xxv Yajurveda; 36.1; Atharvveda; 19.9.94.