india’s ecological traditions

8/14/2019 Indias Ecological Traditions.

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Indian Concepts of Nature

and their artistic representations


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The universe as a thousand-branched tree (III.8.11, IX.5.10)

Heaven is my father; my mother is this vast earth, my

close kin (I.164.33)

Rig-Veda & Nature


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He who

worships the

ashwattha

worships the

universe.

(Mahbhrata)

The kalpavriksha

or kalpataru, the

heavenly tree,

grants our everydesire.


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Sparkling water,

open space,

hills and forests

constitute a fortress

Kural, 742


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6/49Bhudevi (Gangaikondacholapuram)


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Ganga and

Yamuna(Ahichhatra,

UttarPradesh)


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Kumbhamela at Haridwar (1968)


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Descent of Ganga

(Mamallapuram)

A sannyasin at

Gaumukh


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Tree worship

(left: Harappan;

right: Buddhist)


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Some of the

gods vhanas

Indra on the

elephant (= bigmammal)


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Garuda

(Vishnusvhana, bird)


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Ganesha

on the rat(small

mammal)


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Krishna and the

cows: again a symbolof the supreme

divinitys


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Protecting Nature:

Texts & Traditions


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The dedication of a tank is moremeritorious than that of a hundred wells.

(Mahbhrata)

One of the many signs of the Kali Yuga is

that the merchant class have abandoned

holy rites such as digging wells and tanks,

and planting trees and parks. (Shiva

Purna, II.1.23)


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Ashokas edicts

prohibited hunting and

cruelty to animals and

ordered medical

treatment to them when

necessary.

KautilyasArthashstra

(2.26) described forest

and animal sanctuaries,

where animals were

protected fromslaughter.

The Bishnois sacrifice:


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The Bishnois sacrifice:

In 1730 at Khejadli (Rajasthan):

363 women, children and men

laid down their lives to protest

against the cutting of Khejadli

trees. Led by Amrita Devi and

her three young daughters,

they died chanting one of their

Gurus teachings: Sar SanteyRookh Rahe To Bhi Sasto Jaan

If a tree is saved even at

the cost of ones head, it is

worth it.The Maharaja of Jodhpur

apologized and prohibited the

cutting of trees and hunting of

animals in all Bishnoi villages.


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Sacred groves in

Tamil Nadu

(Perambalur dist.).

This traditionexists in many

parts of India,

especially the

Western Ghats

and the North-East.


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Harnessing Nature


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WaterStructuresat Dholavira

(Rann ofKachchh), a

majorHarappan site

(2600-2000BCE)


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Computerreconstructionsof Dholavira, with

its reservoirscovering over athird of the wholecity (47 ha).


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Interconnected stepped reservoirs in the Castle


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Circular well and

water chute in theCastle


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Stormwater drains

in the Castle


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Eastern reservoir:73 x 29 x 10m


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The rock-cut Southern reservoir (33 x 9 m), with asecondary reservoir at the bottom


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Huge or small underground drains connecting

several reservoirs on the southern side


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Water Structures

in Historical Times


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Indias water

harvesting

systems:

Shringavera-pura

(Allahabad

dist., U.P., 1st

century BCE)


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Kallanaior Grand Anicut. Its initial structure is said to

have been built by Karikala Chola some 1800 years

ago on the Cauvery (320 m long, 20 m wide).


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Settling tank andchannel near Patan(Gujarat), diverting

water from thenearby Sarasvati

river


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Shrines to Gang, Yamun and Sarasvat

at the end of Patans channel


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The famous Rn Ki Vv at Patan


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Varha with apsaras (nymphs)


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Shiva with apsaras (nymphs)


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A temple tank at the Modhera Sun temple (Gujarat)


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Step well at Chand Baori(Rajasthan), built in the 9th

century: 3500 narrow stepsin 13 levels.

Rainwater collection


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at Sravanbellgola


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Irrigation through

networks of

bamboo in the

North-East

Water Structures in Inscriptions


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Numerous inscriptions record constructions of

tanks (tatka) and ponds (vpi), also their

maintenance: desilting, repair of embankments,sluices, irrigation channels....

Irrigation with well water was also prevalent.

Taxes paid by water diviners are acknowledged in

some inscriptions.

Water Structures in Inscriptions

The Arthashstra and Irrigation Works


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Kautilya (300 BCE?) mentions water divining, water-

lifting devices and various irrigation techniques.

Farmers had to pay for water: the lowest rate for water

from their own water works, the highest when set

flowing in channels by a mechanism.

Tanks were built for common use by pooling resourcesfrom local inhabitants. Tax exemptions of varying

durations were granted for new or renovated tanks.

Fines were prescribed for obstructing or diverting a

water course, failing to cooperate in the building of anirrigation tank, damaging embankments, or causing a

lower tank to dry up by constructing a tank on a higher

level.

The Arthashstra and Irrigation Works

Th h f thi t


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The shape of things to come

Effects of global warming: Mumbais sea frontunder water in 2020, Ganga and Brahmaputra

seasonal by 2050, spread of epidemics,

disappearance of many species of flora and

fauna may have disappeared, coastal T.N.

submerged by 2100...

Disruption of monsoon rains, depletion of water

resources, possible water wars.

Severe pollution of air, soil and water, and

consequent decline in general health.

Decrease in agricultural yields: possible food

wars.

Depletion of the Ganges


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(Courtesy TIME, 19 July 2010)

Rajendra Singh, the waterman of


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Rajasthan, is a winner of 2001 Ramon

Magsaysay Award. Since 1985, his Tarun

Bhagat Sangh has been working atrevivingjohads, streams and rivers in the

Alwar district. More than 4,500johads have

been revived, and some rivers have started

flowing again.

Anna Hazare at Ralegaon Sidhi: treeplanting, terracing to

reduce soil erosion, digging canals, solar power,

biogas

Sunderlal Bahuguna and the Chipko movement.

Many individuals across India have silently planted

millions of trees and reclaimed degraded land.


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Five Principles

for Nature conservation Restore the sacredness of Nature.

Remember that all creatures are interdependent.

Let us keep our needs under control.

Development must respect environment.

Get involved before we get extinct.

india’s ecological traditions

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