Partha Pratim Mazumder
We much accept our Bharatiya Marg concept for restoring our Paryavaran. Bharatiya texts such as the Arthashastra, Sathapatha Bhramanas, Vedas, Manusmriti, Ramayana, Mahabharata etc., enable us to understand the concepts of Paryavaran conservation and maintaining Paryavaran ecology. In Kautilya’s Arthashastra, great importance has been laid on Paryavaran protection, and clear punishments have been prescribed on the basis of the importance of various parts of a particular tree. Manusmriti mentions the optimum use of the resources of nature and also prescribes different punishment for causing injury to plants. People in Vedic times regarded nature and the Paryavaran in a holistic manner and revered each of its constituents and entities by carefully preserving them. In Rigveda, it has been mentioned that there are five elements that give basis to life and these elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Space and Air. In ancient India, philosophers like Chanakya emphasized the importance of Paryavaran protection. In his jurisprudence, the State wets required to maintain forests, fines were imposed for cutting trees and damaging forests, forest reserves were for wild animals and they would be killed or bound in outside the reserve forests when harmful. Animals and birds have also been accepted as part of nature and the environment. It has also been warned that animals should be safe, protected and healthy. The Atharvaveda talks about the relation of plants with earth, “The earth is the keeper of creation, a container of forests, trees and herbs.” And those plants are life forms. It is also maintained that “One tree is equal to ten sons”
There are mentions of “panchvati” in ancient Indian text including the famous epic Ramayana. Giving importance to five kinds of trees denotes a forest in which there is an abundance of those five kinds of trees. Many verses in the Rigveda and Atharvaveda have been devoted to the praise of Lord Surya (sun), Vayu Devta (Lord of the winds), Agni Devta (God of fire), Varuna Devta (God of water), Prithvi Mata (Mother Earth), Vanya Devi (Goddess of forests), etc. Therefore, cutting of trees, polluting air, water, land were regarded as sins as elements of nature were to be respected and regarded as Gods and Goddesses. Protection of their purity and wholesomeness was considered to be the duty of everyone. Hindu society did not consider it proper even to throw dust on a public path (highway).
Rigveda, Manusmriti and Charaka Samhita have emphasized on the purity of water and healing and medicinal value of water. We all now know that human well-being is directly dependent on healthy ecosystems and we must strive to heal our fractured relationship with Nature. The rampant Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the limits of our dominance on earth and undermined development goals and aspirations. While we all enjoy the bounty of Bhumi Mata, how much do we actually do to safeguard her interests? From global warming to pollution, there are plenty of man-made problems that we dump, literally, on earth. if we unable to change their habits. the earth day becomes only days .Other hand India’s Vedic civilization has always revered the Earth as Vasundhara or Bhumata – the mother, nurturer and provider of all wealth – with a relationship of love and care as its hallmark. Do you know, land was not sold in Indian philosophy. Selling land is a British policy. Other hands if we see tribal philosophy, we found that Adivasi take minimal resources from nature and It is part of their tribal philosophy.
It is very important for everyone to understand that it is all related to each other. You cannot leave the forest while talking about water, or you cannot leave water while working on the problem of soil. This is one aspect of the solution. The second aspect is the use of the combined power of society. Personal effort is important, but if it is not made a part of social effort, then we cannot achieve our goal. To fulfil greed is not even in the nature of Prakriti. Let involved our kids and youths for restore our Vasundhara, which is considered to be the best Karma! we have to be true for our paryavaran . We should take this promise from your heart .
