Nature and Hinduism are so entwined that it is quite impossible to think about one without the other. The need for an ecological balance is stressed in the Vedas and Upanishads and this message is repeated in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita, Puranas and in the messages of Hindu saints. Mother Nature is worshipped in Hindu religion. But for majority of Hindus, worship is confined to temples and homes and thus they are equal contributors in global warming, pollution and emissions.
Here are a few thoughts which ancient seers of Sanatana Dharma had shared more than 5000 years ago regarding the importance of nature and majority of them are highly relevant today.
- One should not destroy the trees. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-48-17)
- Plants are mothers and Goddesses. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-4)
- Trees are homes and mansions. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-5)
- Sacred grass has to be protected from man's exploitation (Rig Veda Samhita vii-75-8)
- Plants and waters are treasures for generations. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-70-4)
Earth, in which lie the sea, the river and other waters, in which food and cornfields have come to be, in which lives all that breathes and that moves, may she confer on us the finest of her yield. Earth, in which the waters, common to all, moving on all sides, flow unfailingly, day and night, may she pour on us milk in many streams, and endow us with lustre. (From the Atharva Veda - Hymn to the Earth - Bhumi-Sukta)
May those born of thee, O Earth, be for our welfare, free from sickness and waste, wakeful through a long life, we shall become bearers of tribute to thee. Earth my mother, set me securely with bliss in full accord with heaven, O wise one, uphold me in grace and splendor. (From the Atharva Veda - Hymn to the Earth - Bhumi-Sukta)
- Earth, atmosphere, sky, sun, moon, stars, waters, plants, trees, moving creatures, swimming creatures, creeping creatures all are hailed and offered oblations. (Taittiriya Samhita i-8-13)
- One should protect the habitation. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-71-3)
- Waters as friends of man give full protection to his progenies. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-50-7)
- One shall take care of quadrupeds. (Taittiriya Samhita iv-4-10)
- One shall be auspicious to animals. (Taittiriya Samhita ii-3-14)
- One shall not find fault with animals. (Chandogya Upanishad ii-18-2)
- Waters represent splendor. (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-13-5)
- Waters bear off all defilements and cleanse people. (Vajasaneya Samhita iv-2)
- Whoever injures the essence of food, kine or steeds is a robber who sinks both himself and his offspring into destruction. (Rig Veda Samhita vii-104-10)
- Offerings are dedicated to waters of wells, pools, clefts, holes, lakes, morasses, ponds, tanks, marshes, rains, rime, streams, rivers and ocean. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-13)
- There was only water in the beginning. (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad v-5-1)
- Waters and herbs should have no poison. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-39-5)
- Waters are to be freed from defilement. (Atharva Veda Samhita x-5-24)
- Waters cleanse humanity from the evil of pollution committed by it. (Atharva Veda Samhita xii-2-40)
- Waters are healing and they strengthen one to see great joy. (Taittiriya Samhita vii-4-19)
The Mahabharata says that 'even if there is only one tree full of flowers and fruits in a village, that place becomes worthy of worship and respect.’
‘No religion, perhaps, lays as much emphasis on environmental ethics as does Hinduism. It believes in ecological responsibility and says like Native Americans that the Earth is our mother. It champions protection of animals, which it considers also have souls, and promotes vegetarianism. It has a strong tradition of non-violence or ahimsa. It believes that God is present in all nature, in all creatures, and in every human being regardless of their faith or lack of it.’ Dr. David Frawley
We Hindus are always proud to hear others praise our culture. We publish them, discuss them in social circles but rarely follow the unparalleled teachings in our scriptures.
Lord Ganesha, Holy Cow, Worship of Mountains, Worship of Nagas (Snakes), Tulsi and the numerous other plants and animals that form part of Hindu worship are nothing but messages incorporated by wise Hindu Saints to teach us that we humans are part of nature and not outside it and above it.
The Hindu concept of Brahman, the Supreme Soul, suggests that all animate and inanimate and all born and yet to be born are part of Brahman. Therefore an imbalance in a particular part will affect all other parts. The Supreme Being then finds out a method to transform that defective part. Since Brahman is present in all, it is easy to transform. And we humans might term such a transformation as the End or Death or total annihilation. For the Supreme Soul, it is a small repair work carried out by a minute virus.
Mother Nature is not dependent on Human Beings but Human Beings are. Ancient Seers knew it and therefore they worshiped Nature. Modern Humans termed it as animism and replaced it with more refined worships. And the result of such a refined worship ...
‘In our arrogance and ignorance we have destroyed the environment of this planet. We have polluted the oceans, we have made the air unbreathable, we have desecrated nature and decimated wildlife. But the Vedantic seers knew that man was not something apart from nature, and, therefore, they constantly exhort us that, while we work for own salvation, we must also work for the welfare of all beings.’ Karan Singh
Only a people’s movement can save the earth from destruction. We are armed with wise teachings of our saints. Now what we need is its implementation.
Courtesy: Quotes from Vedas as found in the articles of Dr. S Kannan and Dr. Karan Singh
26 comments:
Great Information...Keep up the great work!
iam that iam.
very good infomation.welldone.
well done.hari om tat sat.
Great article. By design, nature is self contained and in our day and age we don't take enough time to appreciate this model presented to us. As humans, we've been granted with intelligence and the ability to think - but we're also endowed with an ego, & pride - and this may sound very opinionated to others, but as a human race, we often forget that we have not created anything of superiority during our presence - perhaps we are merely re-discovering what is already in nature...What a better world it would be, if stopped to appreciate this and focus our energies on sustaining Mother Earth, and each other?
As humans, we must perform our duties as given (karma), but due to our "intelligence" we seem to defeat our own purpose....why are humans facing so many issues/creating so many issue...in the natural world, there are seldom examples of something similar - ie) are there any species of animals facing problems of overpopulation, hunger, poverty - that they out of their own actions have created?
We may be superior in some ways, but often Nature which runs its own course, is perhaps the only true follower of its own duty or Karma, doing what it must do by design.
Hari Aum Parmatma
M. Prajapati
Dear Friends,
Hello. Not relating to the article above, but relating to Nature, I would like to share the following quote and commentary:
"Sir G. Wilkinson, the great archaeologist, found some grains of wheat in a hermetically sealed vase in a grave at Thebes, which must have lain there for three thousand years. When Mr. Pettigrew sowed them they grew into plants."
Swami Abhedananda
However, let us also understand that there was no life in those seeds. That is to say, life was not hidden or dormant in those seeds, but rather, due to favorable conditions when sowed, life entered those seeds making them grow according to their own natures or DNAs.
Many Blessings,
Satyakama
Nature teaches every thing to everybody if human beings starts hearing the language of nature (Silence with devotion). The above article is what every one should follow in their day to day life to leave in harmony and to give our environment to our generation is the same manner our ancestor given to us.
-Balaji
Nature lover
so proudly say i am a hindu
Please sign our petition for the legal ban of meat.
http://fleischverbot.info/petition/
Only if India is to connect, we will be able to collect 100 000 signatures!
Excellent Information....
Hi All
Sanatana Darma is the only religion which talks about world and universe in whole.
Each and every festivals of Sanatana Darma talks about environment, ecology, psychology, economy,health. For example Vinayakar Chaturti is one which we can quote. This celebrated just a month or 2 before the rain starts. We use clay to make the idol. This is done by potmakers. During rainy season they cannot earn there income. So this festival helps them to earn extra money with which they can survey during rainy season. The food preparation during the celebration are less instead we offer more of fruits and vegetables to Vinayagar and we eat them. This develops immunity power and helps to stand against the rain and the period after rain which is nothing but disease season. There are so many hidden thing in celebrating each and every function. Its all not function but to save ourself from the natural calamities. Also it indirectly make us to spend the money which in turn help circulation of money which ensure economic growth. Hinduism is not a religion of a group its universal religion, more over its not religion and its the name to identify person living in Bharat(Indians).
Regards
P.Mani
What about a hindu eating non-veg?? is a hindu allowed to eat animals then??
Namaste.
All are welcome to join the Google Group : Foundation for Indian Scientific Heritage where Vedic Sciences and allied topics are discussed.
Pranams.
Dr.S.Ramakrishna Sharma.
(Group Owner)
foundation-for-indian-scientific-heritage@googlegroups.com
Namaste.
All are welcome to join the Google Group : Foundation for Indian Scientific Heritage where Vedic Sciences and allied topics are discussed.
Pranams.
Dr.S.Ramakrishna Sharma.
(Group Owner)
foundation-for-indian-scientific-heritage@googlegroups.com
hi,
thats a great piece of information. I and a few like minded people have formed an organization for a cleaner community and greener environment called 'ek titli'.
you can read more about us at www.ektitli.org and follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/ek.titli
we hope to be the people's movement that u have mentioned on yr post.
regards
I always thought about Hinduism (SANAT DHARMA) as the paramount and PHD of all philosophies and it is very endearing to find this information of how the ancient Rishish were so conscious about all around, including the environment.
Question is: How is that today we don’t see that type of environmental sensitivity and painfully we see mother Ganga and Jamuna , to mention just two rivers, that are so grossly and heavily polluted and we don’t see people caring much into this subject. Without mentioning others areas like airpolution, sound pollution, etc
It is totally lamentable that the teachings are the scriptures but politician don’t care much to put it in practice.
I’m a Videshi practicing Hinduism for the last 40 years.
Thank you! This is the writing of a beautiful and aware heart and mind. Reading it makes me feel whole and inspired. I've always felt connected and at one with nature. It is our foundation and basis for life. I feel off-balance if it is not at my center. Sitting by the ocean, by the trees, in a field, always restores me.
I love the picture of leafy Ganesh.
Living in urban San Francisco, covered with concrete, makes it a challenge to stay connected to nature. The tree outside my window is my savior and I've spent long hours meditating with her. She helps me come back to my own nature. I teach awareness and intuition classes http://tarotreadingsbyjeannie.com . I also teach symbolism through Tarot cards, and always instruct students that the symbols are only reminders of the lessons and elements of life. We must also see what life is telling us.
Thank you for writing this beautiful piece.
Jeannie Zukav
Intuitive Tarot Readings by Jeannie San Francisco
Hello Mr.Mani, u may be true regarding VinayakaChavithi in one aspect. But,main reason isnt that. We make idol with Clay and worship with different kinds of leaves like Neem,japatri,jajikaya etc each having different kinds of medicinal values.
After 3days, they say to submerge our idol along with all those leaves. Those leaves and idol together clean up the waters and purify them. That is the reason they ask us to submerge in your own well(if u have any) or nearby river etc.
Also, Deewali, festival of lights, comes after a rainy season. Rainy season brings lots of mosquitos and bugs. The smoke produced from litting those crackers kills bugs and protecting us from them.
I am so very proud to be born and raised in India! I thank the all mighty God with all my heart for placing me in a Hindu Family!
Yeah, keep going on and on about the greatness of Hinduism and its support towards the environment. While this may be true, how are YOU playing your part to protect and conserve the environment? The vedas, scriptures, gurus and swamis have done their part. It’s now your turn.
If activities I’ve been witnessing these many years were anything to go by, we are only moving far away from nature. I live in Malaysia. It has become a penchant in our Hindu temples to serve every food items and drinks in styrofoam (polystyrene) plates and cups. Recently I attended the Vinayagar Chathurthi celebration at a renowned temple for noon prayers and had to go without lunch as it was being served on Styrofoam plates and cups. The used plates and cups were strewn all over by our beloved Hindu devotees. This has been going on at many temples here, for many years. For some this means nothing but I see it differently. If you can respect your own temple, you’re not going to respect the environment which HIS manifestation.
But it was not like this some time ago. Devotees and temple committees took the time to serve food on banana leaf. We have become all of a sudden too busy, to the level of cutting corners and bargaining our ways to suit our convenience in religious environments. I invite you to make a point to attend Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves in Malaysia. The litters and polystyrene mountains created during this time are second to none - another lackadaisical collective attitude from our Hindu devotees. So what gives?
Thiaga
Malaysia
Correction to my post:
If you can't respect your own temple, you’re not going to respect the environment which is HIS/HER manifestation.
Thiaga
Malaysia
Great article!
I think it is important that the Hindu scripture calls for a respect to nature. Also, great job at incorporating ideas along the lines of spirituality. I do not want to offend anybody by saying this, but I feel as though the spirituality aspect of the article and of religion is much more important than the scripture part. Although I am young and not as well read as I would like to be, i seem to find that literal interpretation of scripture can cause problems. Also, since I am American and of no Indian descent, I am probably more accustomed to seeing fights over scripture than the numerous followers of the Hindu religion.
I would like to share my love for some of the aspects of the Hindu religion pertaining to the conservation of nature...
Again, looking at it from a spiritual perspective, the idea of the Brahman is simply beautiful. I think that it is very important and fascinating to constantly think, I should not harm anything because I am everything and everything is me. All is one. Also the idea of the mother goddess is truly amazing in the hindu religion. From what I read, and i can be mistaken, it seems as though she is a highly feared and respected goddess and nobody would dare offend her by harming her body, the earth.
If anybody is interested in watching me attempt to reconcile western and eastern religion, philosophy, and mythology; watch out for my blog... http://ifinktherforeiam.blogspot.com/
The blog should be underway shortly
JBFinkle
Let us group together to do something to protect the great tradition of protecting the universe as well as human and all livig beings along with mother earth.
Will it possible to include references from the Ramayana in the article? There amazing things about Shri Rama's relationship with animals who are his best friends which deserve to be included here.
Excellent. I find Hinduism very interesting. People long ago were truly wise. Animals and nature are indeed gifts, not put here for us humans to use and discard as we wish. Are we too arrogant today as a modern society to return to that one simple understanding? Sometimes I fear so.
We humans are closely connected to the nature. When we take some time from our busy life to enjoy nature and spend some time with animals, we can really see the connection between us and nature. It is a fact accepted world-wide. These thoughts are appreciated and adopted by a lot of Westerners. The way this connection between humans and nature is presented to the layman in the movie Avatar is incredible. Animals and plants have life. They love and expect love back just like humans do.
Reincarnation is one of the main teachings of Hinduism and the eastern religions, much different from the western belief that human is the enjoyer and nature is the enjoyed. It is very easy to forget the principle of reincarnation – even for the most religious person. Reincarnation is the most logical explanation of after-life accepted by many in the scientific community. I heard several incidents during my childhood in India about some kid telling his/her past life experiences. I saw some movies that were taken with stories based on reincarnation. However I was not aware of the acceptance of this principle in the western countries. One day when I was in the New Orleans aquarium, one of the employees, a lady in her mid-40s started talking with me about reincarnation. She mentioned about the acceptance of reincarnation in the West and some incidents of reincarnation in the west similar to what we heard back in India. One of these western incidents can be found on the web site at: http://www.reversespins.com/proofofreincarnation.html. These historic incidents – however few they may be, are bold explanations of the cycle of life. Reincarnation can be the biggest reminder of our responsibility to take care of nature. As living beings, we may come back to the same planet in any life form – one of the 840 thousand alternatives. With this many life forms, there is a very high probability that a human being’s next life on the earth will not be as the enjoyer but as the enjoyed. It is in our best interest to protect nature.
Most of us claim that we love our children. Some more than others believe and express strongly that we love our children and we are ready to sacrifice everything for our children. We accumulate money and wealth in outrageous quantities even as we grow older claiming that we are doing it for the children. But most often times, we forget the fact that our children need the nature more than money. What good is money for them if they don’t have pure water and air required to live a healthy life. What good is all the wealth that we pass on to them if they can’t live a normal life. This really stuck me when I recently had to attend a cremation. After the cremation, we were asked to take bath in river Godavari. When I saw the water, I lost my heart. About 25 years ago, I would love a picnic and swimming in Godavari. The water was so clean that it supplied drinking water for most of the middle class and less privileged people. Today, the water is not good enough even for taking a bath. It is scary to imagine the status of the natural resources in another 25 years. For our children’s future, we should think of how countries in the world will be at war for natural resources.
It is unfortunate that our mid-life is so taken away by our work and other responsibilities that we forget the fundamental responsibility to nature. However we can take small steps in the right direction to help the great cause. I am sure many of you have made far more contributions to this cause than myself. I humbly respect your contributions. I would like to share one simple thing that I could adopt easily. In the US, and now even in India we use paper towels everywhere. We are usually careful when it comes to the use of paper towels at home that we purchased, but not so much with the freely available ones. Just being aware, I have reduced my consumption by 75%. All it took was a very simple thought.
Thank you for bringing up this most important topic about nature.
Naren
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