Living in Harmony with Nature

Introduction
• The original inhabitants of the Indian sub-continent worshipped
natural phenomena, heavenly bodies and nature in all her
manifestations.
• They lived in perfect harmony with nature
• They considered themselves part of nature and understood their
interdependence with the vegetation, the fauna, the rivers, the hills
and the mountains for their well being and survival
• Vedic Indians understood the need to respect, worship and conserve
the bounties of nature.
Introduction
• For our very survival, the situation demands a return to our
ancestors’ attitude towards nature.
Vedic veneration of Mother Nature:
• Sanathana Dharma puts forward the concept that all matter, animate
and inanimate, is a manifestation of Divinity, Cosmic Consciousness or
Brahman and is, therefore, worthy of worship.
• This is not merely a theoretical concept but the actual experience of
Self-realized sages and saints.
• Thus, while God is One, He can be worshiped in and through a variety
of forms.
• Sanskrit literature, both scriptural and classical is full of passages
describing the bounties of nature and their sacredness.
Vedic veneration of Mother Nature:
• In the Rig Veda the whole cosmos is seen as a thousand branched
tree.
• The Bhagavad Gita gives a symbolic image of the cosmos as an
inverted peepal tree, with its roots pointing towards the sky
(Brahman) and the branches towards the earth (the diversity of the
universe).
• Therefore, one who worships the peepal tree worships the universe.
• In ayurveda, all medical plants are treated with great reverence.
• The Vedas and classical Sanskrit literature also give evidence of the
existence of large sacred groves and wild life sanctuaries.
Vedic veneration of Mother Nature:
• Mountains were considered to be the abode of gods. Rivers are the
gift of gods and some important ones are associated with gods and
goddesses. E.g. the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Saraswati, the Krishna.
• Amma says, “By worshipping Mount Govardhana, Lord Krishna taught
us a great lesson: to make Nature worship part of our daily life. He
asked his people to worship Mount Govardhana because it protected
them.
• Lord Rama, before building the bridge across the sea, did three days
of severe penance to please the ocean.
Vedic veneration of Mother Nature:
• Even Mahatmas give so much respect and regard for Nature and seek
her blessings prior to commencing any action.
• In India, there are temples for birds, animals, trees and even for
lizards and poisonous snakes.
• This is to emphasize the great significance of the connection between
humans and Nature.
Sacred Animals:
• By recognizing the divinity in animals, Indian tradition has considered
animals as sacred.
• Ganesha, the elephant headed god and Hanuman the monkey god.
• Several animals have also been chosen as vahanas (vehicles) of
various deities.
• Garuda (the eagle) the vahana of Vishnu, Nandi (the bull) the vahana
of Shiva, the lion the vahana of Durga.
• This association of animals with Gods and Goddesses fosters a sense
of reverence towards all life.
Sacred Gardens:
• Sacred Gardens were the cultivated and aesthetically landscaped
gardens used for meditation and other spiritual practices and also for
celebrating festivals.
• Indian scriptures and literature give detailed description of
elaborately designed gardens with their variety of flowers, lotus
ponds, fruit trees, creepers and many shade giving trees.
• Some types of sacred Gardens are Nandavanam (for eg, the
Tirunandavanam attached to the Ranganathar temple at Srirangam),
Bagh (Bagicha) in North India with a separate area is earmarked for a
temple of the village deity, and Buddhist Garden, meant for
meditation and other spiritual practices.
Sacred Groves:
• Sacred Groves were patches of natural vegetation. They consisted of
either a few trees or forests of a few acres. These groves were
generally dedicated to the local deities or vanadevadas.
• These groves were protected and preserved by local communities
from generation to generation because of their religious significance
and traditional rituals that were performed there.
• The ecological significance of sacred groves was that they helped in
conservation of biodiversity, renewal of aquifers (ponds, streams,
springs etc) and prevented soil erosion.
Sacred Trees and plants:
• Trees and plants have been traditionally considered sacred.
• In most temples, there is a sacred tree and devotees go around it.
• Some trees are closely associated with the forms of God. For eg, the
Bilva tree and Rudraksha tree with Lord Shiva, the Neem tree with
Mariamman and the Tulsi with Lord Vishnu.
• In many Hindu homes, there can be a tulsi plant, which is considered
sacred.
• Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under Peepal tree, and
hence it is revered.
Sacred Trees and plants:
• Soil conservation, prevention of floods, and securing rainfall are some
of the benefits of forests and trees.
• Rainforests in tropical countries are home to an amazing number of
species, and are vital for preserving bio-diversity.
• Ancient Indians had a deep understanding of the intricate web of life,
and of how all life is interdependent.
• It is time to go back to our roots!