Rajasthan, where the sun beats down relentlessly and the desert winds howl through the barren landscape, a community of warriors has been fighting an age-old battle. Not with swords or guns, but with their lives. The Bishnois, a lesser-known but extraordinary Vaishnavite sect of Hinduism, have dedicated themselves to protecting trees and wildlife for over 500 years. Their sacrifice, bravery, and unwavering commitment to the environment make them the world’s first environmental warriors – long before the term ‘environmentalist’ even existed.
The Vision of Guru Jambheśvara: A Way of life rooted in nature
In 1485 CE, a 34-year-old man named Jambheśvara stood beneath the scorching sun of Marwar, Rajasthan. As the region reeled from a devastating drought, he watched villagers cut down trees and hunt animals to survive. This sight troubled him deeply. As a Rajput by birth, Jambheśvara could have lived a life of comfort, but instead, he felt a growing responsibility toward nature. One day, after meditating on the suffering around him, he had a powerful vision: humans and nature were in conflict, and unless they learned to coexist, neither would thrive.
Determined to change the course of this destruction, Jambheśvara founded the Bishnoi Sampradaya on the eighth day of Kārtika, Vikram Samvat 1542 (1485 CE). He named his followers “Bishnoi,” meaning “those who follow 29 principles” (Bish meaning 20, and Noi meaning 9). These principles were not just moral guidelines; they were a way of life that centered around the protection of all living beings and the preservation of the environment.
His teachings were radical for the time, and yet they were rooted in ancient wisdom. Jambheśvara was deeply influenced by the Vishnu Purana, which condemned deforestation and the killing of animals. He reminded his followers that those who wantonly destroy trees would face Asipatravana Naraka, a hell filled with sword-like leaves. Under his guidance, the Bishnois became the protectors of nature, spreading their influence across the arid lands of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.
The 29 Commandments: Principles of environmentalism and compassion
Guru Jambheśvara’s 29 principles covered a wide range of practices, from reciting the holy name of Vishnu to prohibiting the use of alcohol, opium, and other intoxicants. Yet, the heart of these commandments lay in their environmental ethos:
- Prohibition of tree cutting – The Bishnois believe that trees are sacred, and cutting them down without necessity is a grave sin.
- Compassion towards all living beings – The Bishnois do not kill animals or eat meat. They establish animal shelters and care for injured and orphaned creatures.
- Fostering cleanliness – Personal and environmental cleanliness are essential aspects of their faith.
- Fasting and meditation – Spiritual practices are tied to their love and reverence for nature.
These principles were meant to ensure that the Bishnois lived in harmony with their surroundings, even in the unforgiving deserts of Western Rajasthan, where water is scarce, and trees are a rare blessing.
Over time, the Bishnois’ villages became oases in the desert. Trees planted by Guru Jambheśvara and his followers took root and flourished, leading to higher rainfall in Bishnoi settlements compared to neighboring regions. Wildlife, especially the blackbuck antelope and the chinkara, began to thrive under their protection. The Bishnois’ commitment to these creatures was so strong that they regarded them as family members.
But the path to protecting nature was fraught with danger, as the Bishnois would soon find out.
The Khejarli Massacre: 363 Lives for a forest of trees
It was an ordinary September day in 1730 in the small village of Khejarli, near Jodhpur. The villagers were going about their daily lives when a group of soldiers, led by Minister Girdharidas Bhandari of the Jodhpur Kingdom, arrived with orders to cut down the village’s khejari trees. The king needed the wood for a royal construction project, and the soldiers were prepared to follow orders.
As the axes struck the first tree, a woman named Amrita Devi ran toward them. She was a Bishnoi, and for her, cutting down these trees was not only a violation of the community’s sacred principles but also a personal attack on her way of life. She pleaded with the soldiers to stop, but her words fell on deaf ears. Determined to protect the trees at any cost, she hugged the trunk of the khejari tree, wrapping her arms around it.
“If a tree is saved even at the cost of one’s head, it’s worth it,” she declared.
Her resolve did not waver even as the soldiers’ axes swung toward her. Amrita Devi, along with her daughters, was brutally killed in front of the entire village. But the Bishnois did not back down. One by one, they hugged the trees, and one by one, they were slaughtered. By the time the massacre ended, 363 Bishnois had sacrificed their lives for the khejari trees.
When news of the massacre reached the Maharaja of Jodhpur, he was horrified. He immediately ordered an end to the deforestation and issued a royal decree forbidding the cutting of trees in Bishnoi territory.
The Khejarli Massacre remains one of the earliest and most significant acts of environmental activism in history. To this day, a memorial stands in Khejarli to honor the 363 martyrs who gave their lives to protect the trees.
The Bishnoi legacy of protecting wildlife
The Bishnois’ commitment to nature did not end with Khejarli. Over the centuries, they continued to protect trees and wildlife, often at great personal cost.
In 1570, two Bishnoi women, Kheevani and Netu Naina, were killed while defending khejari trees from a local strongman named Gopaldas. In 1604, two other women, Karma and Gaura, were martyred in Revasadi village for the same cause. The Bishnois’ willingness to die for their beliefs became legendary, and their sacrifices were seen as a matter of pride and duty.
In the 19th century, the Bishnois shifted their focus to protecting wildlife, particularly the endangered blackbuck antelope. These graceful animals, with their spiraled horns and lithe bodies, roamed the Bishnoi villages freely, knowing they were safe under the protection of the Bishnoi community.
In 1947, Gorkharam Bishnoi and his sons were killed while defending antelopes from poachers. The following year, Arjun Ramji Bishnoi and Chunaramji Bishnoi were also killed while trying to save blackbucks from hunters. The Bishnois’ fierce opposition to poaching continued, with more sacrifices over the years. In 1977, Hanuman Singh Bishnoi was killed while protecting a gazelle. His father, though heartbroken, proudly stated, “My son became a martyr for dharma.”
Bishnoi Women: Nurturing Nature with Mother’s Love
Perhaps one of the most unique and heartwarming aspects of Bishnoi culture is the role of women in nurturing wildlife. Bishnoi women, in their villages surrounded by the harsh desert, often take in orphaned or injured fawns. These women care for the fawns as they would for their own children, even going so far as to breastfeed them.
“I have grown up with these little deers. They’re like my brother or sister,” said Roshini Bishnoi, a 21-year-old student. “We communicate with them, and they understand our language.”
The bond between Bishnoi women and the animals they care for is not just physical but deeply emotional. For over half a century, Bishnoi women have been breastfeeding fawns, ensuring that they survive in an environment where their mothers may have been lost to poachers or predators.
Mangi Devi, a 45-year-old Bishnoi housewife, spoke of the fawns she cared for: “These baby deer are my life, and they’re like my own children.”
The Bishnois’ unwavering dedication to protecting trees and wildlife is not just an environmental movement – it is a way of life that has been passed down through generations. They live by their Guru’s teachings, which emphasise the interconnectedness of all living things. For them, trees are not mere plants, and animals are not just creatures. They are family, part of a sacred duty to protect and nurture life in all its forms.
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