Diwali is one of the favourite punching bags of Paryavaranjeevis. It is the time concern for nature and its conservation is at its peak among these Paryavaranjeevis, who drive around in fuel guzzling vehicles and can’t live without ACs in their offices and homes. However, Hindus need no lecture on saving the environment because respect for nature is embedded in it.
Being brought up in a Hindu household, nature has been close to my heart since childhood. I’ve developed a healthy respect for nature from the numerous rituals and customs followed in my family. In this article, I shall discuss how Hindu Dharma promotes environmentalism.
The Tulsi plant and its regular worship is an indivisible part of most Hindu households. Rearing cows is another standard feature of Hindu families. In Mumbai, it is difficult to rear cows but whenever I visited my village, playing with the cows and calves raised by our family there was fun to say the least.
Hindu Granthas have accorded a place of great importance to Prakriti (nature). It is said that Maheshwara separated Devi Adi Shakti from Himself and gave Her to Brahma so that the latter could complete the task of creation. Devi Shakti then took the form of Prakriti and hence every being in this universe is said to be permeated by Her. Hindus see Devi in every aspect of nature and hence, revere nature.
From the time of evolution, ecology has been flourishing and the myriad species that inhabit this planet have been playing a crucial role in the sustenance of this planet. Nature existed much before humans evolved and will continue much after we perish. The issue of pollution and destruction of nature that we see all around today is a result of human greed.
If we observe carefully then we would see that no specie takes more than what it requires; no specie except humans that is. Human greed knows no limits and often times it is this that leads to overdrawing from nature. Just as overdrawing from a bank attracts interest on the overdrawn amount, one has to pay the price for overdrawing from nature.
Our Rishis and Munis recognised the importance of nature and the diverse species that lives in it. Hence, they included nature worship in our shastras. We have an occasion to celebrate various aspects of nature; right from Gaumata to Shaligramas and from snakes to trees among others.
Nag Panchami is not just about feeding milk to serpents but the significance is deeper in the sense that Nagas are worshipped as life giving deities. We can understand this if we look at it from the ecological perspective where serpents kept the rodent population in check thereby helping farmers protect their crops. We worship trees such as the Vat Vriksha (Banyan tree) because according to Hindu Dharma, the same universal soul (Paramatma) resides in all living as well as non-living beings.
Besides the fact that it is the same universal soul that permeates every being in this universe, we are also united by the fact that we share a common progenitor. Shastras state that all living beings came from Rishi Kashyap (who hailed from Kashmir valley and after whom the valley itself has been named).
He married the daughters of Prajapati Daksh so as to bring to life every living form. His children were – Adityas or demigods from Aditi, Daityas or demons from Diti, Garuda and Aruna from Vinata, Nagas (serpents) from Kadru, Pisachas from Krodhavasha, Asuras and rakshasas from Kala, Danavas (giants) from Dabu, Yakshas from Khasa, Apsaras were born to his wife Muni, Ira gave birth to all vegetation, Tamra to all birds, Arishta was the mother of the Gandharvas (celestial beings), Sursa gave birth to Uragas (dragons) and Surbhi was the mother of Kamadhenu and other cattle.
Each Devi or Devata is seen riding a particular animal or bird; that is each animal is the vahana of a particular deity. Not just animals but even specific plants, trees and flowers are associated with different Devis and Devatas in Hindu Shastras. This was essentially done to bring home the point that we need to respect these beings as well.
Another interesting aspect is that there are many devatas who are a combination of various animals or humans and animals such as Narasimha, Hayagreeva or Sarabeshwara. Even the Dasavatars of Shri Hari Vishnu corresponds to some aquatic or terrestrial species. Our Granthas often used symbolism to make things easily understandable for humans. These aren’t merely tales or stories but depictions of deeper concepts and philosophy made easier for us.
It is important for us to realise the significance of nature and the need to protect it. Hindu Dharma teaches us to respect every being, both living and non-living, and see the same Parmatma in everything. Respecting nature comes naturally to us. However, in our greed we have not just wiped out species from the face of planet earth but continue to inflict untold horrors which are destroying this beautiful planet we call home.
Here’s what Ishopanishad teaches us:
Shloka: ॐ ईशा वास्यमिदँ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ।।
Transliteration: îsHâ vâsyamidam sarvam yat kiñca jagatyâm jagat,
tena tyaktena bhuñjîthâ mâ gRidhaH kasya sviddhanam
Meaning: Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one must not accept other things, knowing well to Whom they belong.
The next time you are strolling on the beach or lazing in a garden amidst nature recall this quote from the Ishopanishad and remember that we cohabit this earth with other species. When the thought that God permeates everything will guide us we shall certainly preserve nature instead of misusing and abusing it.
Hindus do not need lectures from Paryavaranjeevis, who damage the environment 24/7/365, on saving nature. We should stick to our Granthas and traditional practices. It isn’t the one day of Diwali or any Hindu festivity but what is done the rest of the time/year that is important for saving nature and the environment.
