Ancient Indian Concepts of Bio Diversity – Ethics & Practices

Dr. J.S.R.A. PrasadAsst. Professor,

Dept. of Sanskrit Studies,University of Hyderabad jsraprasad@gmail.com

Ancient India

“That land, created by the gods, which lies between the two divine rivers Sarasvati and Drishadvati [is] . . . Brahmavarta. . . . the tract between those two mountains which extends between the eastern and western oceans, the wise call Aryavarta (the country of the noble ones).

The land where the black antelope naturally roams, one must know to be fit for the performance of sacrifices; [this land] is different from the country of the barbarians.” - Manusmriti

Ancient India

India is a treasure trove of invaluable knowledge.

Numerous traditions, rituals, rites etc. are followed according to dharma.

Scientific outlook is inherent in all scriptural references

So the transition of a tradition knowledge: scriptural references ↔ belief → tradition/custom → documented knowledge

Belief vs Science?

यतवगिििगत ंपाप ंदेह ेितषित मामके । पाशनात् पञगवयिय दहतयििििवेनधनम ्।।

From skin to bones, what ever sins (diseases) are in my body, are destroyed by panchagavya just as fire destroys fuel.

Belief vs Science?

Ritualistic 'yajna' has tremendous power to protect the environment as Butea Monosperma is used. (यजादवित पजजनयः)

Fumes produced out of cow ghee and rice are extremely helpful in eye diseases as they produce ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and Formaldehyde

Cow dung - antiseptic, insect repellent Cow urine & milk – anti toxicCow curds – efficient in diarrhea

Five Great Yajnas

Devayajna- worship of the gods (devas) through the twilight prayers (sandhya), aupasana, and agnihotra

Pitryajna- offering libations to ancestors or pitrs

Bhutayajna- offering food ("bali") to animals

Manushyayajna- charitable offerings of food to fellow humans

Brahmayajna- recitation of a section of one's Veda ("bráhman") in rotatio

Tree in Indian Context

“Ten wells are equal to one pond. Ten ponds are equal to one lake.

Ten lakes are equal to one son and ten sons are equal to one tree”

Five Cognitive Senses of Plants

All sthAvara and ja~nagamas have been manifested of five gross elements. (N.P) – Plant species come under sthAvara category.

घनानामिप वृकाणाम् आकाशोिित न संशयः । तेषां पुषपफले वयिििनजतय ंसमुपलभयते ।।१०।।

ऊषमते गलानपणाजन् तवकफलं पुषपमेव च । मलायते चैव शीतेन िपशजितेनात िवदते ।।११।।

वायवगनयशिन िनषपेषःै फलपुषपान् िवशीयजते । शोतेण गृहते शबदितिमाचछृणविनत पादपाः ।।१२।।

वली वेषयते वृकान् सवजतशचैव गचछित । न हदषेशच मागोिित तिमातपशयिनत पादपाः ।।१३।।

Five Cognitive Senses of Plants

पुणयापुणयिैतिा गनधधैज ूपशैच िविवधिैिप । अिोगाः पुिषपताः सिनत तिमाििजघिनत पादपाः ।।१४।।

पादःै सिललपानात् च वयाधीनामिप दशजनम् । वयािधपितिियतवाचच ििदते रसनं दमे ।।१५।।

वकतेणोतपलनालेन यिोधवव जलमाददेत् । तिा पवनसंयिुः पादःै िपबित पादपः ।।१६।।

गहणात् सुखदःुखिय िछनिय िविोहणात् । जीव ंपशयािम वृकाणामिचनतय ंन िवदते ।।१७।।

( . . . . - ) M Bh 12 182 10 17

Environmental concern

• For cutting off the tender sprouts of fruit-trees, flower-trees or shady trees in the parks near a city, a fine of 6 panas shall be imposed;• For cutting off the minor branches of the same trees, 12 panas • For cutting off the big branches, 24 panas shall be levied. • Cutting off the trunks of the same shall be punished with the first amercement; and felling the same shall be punished with the middlemostAmercement

Environmental concern...

• The same fines shall be levied in the case of trees that have grown in places of pilgrimage, forests of hermits, or cremation or burial grounds• For similar offenses committed in connection with the trees which mark boundaries, or which are worshiped or observed ( चैतयेषिलिितेषु च,) or trees which are grown in the king's forests, double the above fines shall be levied. (A.S. 3.19)

The Vedic practice to cut a tree

Veda:'इषेतिे' ित ििनिि ।

Ayurveda:In the kshAra kalpa of Sutra sthana of Ashtanga Sangraha, certain pooja vidhi has been prescribed.

Sacred Groves

In ancient India, sacred groves were typically associated with a temple/shrine/monastery Panchavati -

नयगोध-उदमुबर-अशतथ-अशोक-िबलिािन

Ref: http://www.vedicvanas.com/

Sacred Groves...

BENEFITS : Breeze from these trees - Gives out more oxygen. - Very Cool - All have medicinal values - Brings good healthPowerful vibrations - Wards off evil forces - Gives right way of thinking - Clarity of thoughtFruit bearing - Naturally attracts many birds and other insects Historical references in Ramayana and classical texts Efforts are required to include sacred groves under Wildlife Amendment Act 2002

Shadow of no tree of any kind should fall on the house. Even a gold-yeilding tree should not be planted at the entrance of the house.

One should not plant a garden to the south, southwest or the north east of the house as it leads to quarells, distress and adversity.

West, north and east are the proper directions for planing gardens near the house. It is auspecious for a king and he is rewarded with progeny.

Vrikshayurveda

Black, white, pale, dark, red and yellow are the colors and sweat, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent are the tastes by which land is subdevided.

The distance between two plants is fourteen, sixteen or twenty forearm lengths. These distances result in inferior, medicore and excellent yeild of trees respectively.

Distance between two bushes should be four or five forearm lenghts. Puga , etc. are planted carefully at a distance of two to three forearm lenghts.

Vrikshayurveda

Oh tree, I shell take you to a better place from here and shell water you in such a way that you shall be satisfied.

You will grow there and shall have no fear from lightning, etc. I shall look after you there, like a dear son.

Trees alone on earth give happiness both here and here after. Since they “save” from abject poverty they are named”taravah” (the saviors).

Vrikshayurveda

The trees should be carefully nurtured as through their shade, flowers and fruits they help immensely in the pursuit of dharma, artha and kama.

Trees must be protected vigilantly from mist, storm, smoke, fire and spider.

Newly planted trees in arid land should be watered every morning and evening for a period of fifteen days until the soil is fully soaked.

Well-rooted plants should be watered every alternate day in winter, every evening in spring and thrice in a day in summer.

Vrikshayurveda

The disease of all types of trees is stated to be of two varieties: internal and external. The internal ones are those which are caused by vata, pitta and kapha (humors); and external ones are those which are caused by insets, cold weather,etc.

Trees watered at the root with butter milk of a she-goat. Then it blossoms into a tree with thousands of branches and produces lovely flowers and fruits round the year. This is no wonder.

If mud scented with buds of asoka, etc. is filled at the root, trees get a very attractive and strong fragrance.

Vrikshayurveda

Threat from exotic plants

Removal of Creeper Coverage in Bund: Khammam, APSubmitted by iwp on January 27, 2009 - 06:43

In Khammam we have a Bund by name Lakharam Cheruvu. Under tourism concept we were running boats in the lake but for the last three years we are unable to run our boats because the entire lake of about 27 acres area is occupied by creepers (Horse shoe). They are known in the vernacular as "Gurrapu Dekka". The local authorities want to clean this but they dont have the knowledge / suitable technology to do so. We request you to shed some light on how to tackle the present situation. http://www.indiawaterportal.org/ask/5657

Threat from exotic plants

Conceptual Gardens

Dr.Kumuda Ranjan Ray listed some 341 in Charaka Samhita whereas FRLHT, Bangalore has produced a CD that contains 620 plants mentioned.

University of Hyderabad implementing a project named 'Charaka Vana' spread in five acres of land.

Among the listed medicinal plants, plants are classified according to the disease categories.

Save trees – Save mother earth

।। िृिो रिित रिितः ।।

Thank You!!