This small presentation discusses about the ancient Indian concepts of ethics and practices of bio diversity

1. Ancient Indian Concepts of Bio
Diversity – Ethics & Practices
Dr. J.S.R.A. Prasad
Asst. Professor,
Dept. of Sanskrit Studies,
University of Hyderabad
jsraprasad@gmail.com

2. Ancient India
“That land, created by the gods, which lies between the
two divine rivers Sarasvati and Drishadvati [is] . . .
Brahmavarta. . . . the tract between those two mountains
which extends between the eastern and western oceans,
the wise call Aryavarta (the country of the noble ones).
The land where the black antelope naturally roams, one
must know to be fit for the performance of sacrifices;
[this land] is different from the country of the
barbarians.” - Manusmriti

3. Ancient India
India is a treasure trove of invaluable knowledge.
Numerous traditions, rituals, rites etc. are followed
according to dharma.
Scientific outlook is inherent in all scriptural references
So the transition of a tradition knowledge: scriptural
references ↔ belief → tradition/custom → documented
knowledge

4. Belief vs Science?
यतवगिििगतं पापं देहे ितषित मामके ।
पाशनात् पञगवयिय दहतयििििवेनधनम् ।।
From skin to bones, what ever sins (diseases) are in
my body, are destroyed by panchagavya just as fire
destroys fuel.

5. Belief vs Science?
Ritualistic 'yajna' has tremendous power to protect
the environment as Butea Monosperma is used.
(यजादवित पजजनयः)
Fumes produced out of cow ghee and rice are
extremely helpful in eye diseases as they produce
ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and Formaldehyde
Cow dung - antiseptic, insect repellent
Cow urine & milk – anti toxic
Cow curds – efficient in diarrhea

6. Five Great Yajnas
Devayajna- worship of the gods (devas) through the
twilight prayers (sandhya), aupasana, and agnihotra
Pitryajna- offering libations to ancestors or pitrs
Bhutayajna- offering food ("bali") to animals
Manushyayajna- charitable offerings of food to
fellow humans
Brahmayajna- recitation of a section of one's Veda
("bráhman") in rotatio

7. Tree in Indian Context
“Ten wells are equal to one pond.
Ten ponds are equal to one lake.
Ten lakes are equal to one son and
ten sons are equal to one tree”

8. Five Cognitive Senses of Plants
All sthAvara and ja~nagamas have been manifested of five
gross elements. (N.P) – Plant species come under sthAvara
category.
घनानामिप वृकाणाम् आकाशोिित न संशयः ।
तेषां पुषपफले वयिििनजतयं समुपलभयते ।।१०।।
ऊषमते गलानपणाजन् तवकफलं पुषपमेव च ।
मलायते चैव शीतेन िपशजितेनात िवदते ।।११।।
वायवगनयशिन िनषपेषःै फलपुषपान् िवशीयजते ।
शोतेण गृहते शबदितिमाचछृ णविनत पादपाः ।।१२।।
वली वेषयते वृकान् सवजतशचैव गचछित ।
न हदषेशच मागोिित तिमातपशयिनत पादपाः ।।१३।।

9. Five Cognitive Senses of Plants
पुणयापुणयिै तिा गनधधै जूपशै च िविवधिै िप ।
अिोगाः पुिषपताः सिनत तिमाििजघिनत पादपाः ।।१४।।
पादःै सिललपानात् च वयाधीनामिप दशजनम् ।
वयािधपितिियतवाचच ििदते रसनं दमे ।।१५।।
वकतेणोतपलनालेन यिोधवव जलमाददेत् ।
तिा पवनसंयिु ः पादःै िपबित पादपः ।।१६।।
गहणात् सुखदःु खिय िछनिय िविोहणात् ।
जीवं पशयािम वृकाणामिचनतयं न िवदते ।।१७।।
( . . . . - )M Bh 12 182 10 17

10. Environmental concern
• For cutting off the tender sprouts of fruit-trees,
flower-trees or shady trees in the parks near a
city, a fine of 6 panas shall be imposed;
• For cutting off the minor branches of the same
trees, 12 panas
• For cutting off the big branches, 24 panas shall
be levied.
• Cutting off the trunks of the same shall be
punished with the first amercement; and felling
the same shall be punished with the middlemost
Amercement

11. Environmental concern...
• The same fines shall be levied in the case of
trees that have grown in places of pilgrimage,
forests of hermits, or cremation or burial
grounds
• For similar offenses committed in connection
with the trees which mark boundaries, or which
are worshiped or observed (चैतयेषिलिितेषु च,) or
trees which are grown in the king's forests,
double the above fines shall be levied. (A.S.
3.19)

12. The Vedic practice to cut a tree
Veda:
'इषेतिे'ित ििनिि ।
Ayurveda:
In the kshAra kalpa of Sutra sthana of Ashtanga
Sangraha, certain pooja vidhi has been
prescribed.

13. Sacred Groves

In ancient India, sacred groves were typically
associated with a temple/shrine/monastery

Panchavati -
नयगोध-उदमु बर-अशतथ-अशोक-िबलिािन
Ref: http://www.vedicvanas.com/

14. Sacred Groves...
BENEFITS :
Breeze from these trees - Gives out more oxygen.
- Very Cool
- All have medicinal values
- Brings good health
Powerful vibrations - Wards off evil forces
- Gives right way of thinking
- Clarity of thought
Fruit bearing - Naturally attracts many birds and other
insects

Historical references in Ramayana and classical texts

Efforts are required to include sacred groves under Wildlife
Amendment Act 2002

15. Shadow of no tree of any kind should fall on the
house. Even a gold-yeilding tree should not be
planted at the entrance of the house.
One should not plant a garden to the south,
southwest or the north east of the house as it
leads to quarells, distress and adversity.
West, north and east are the proper directions
for planing gardens near the house. It is
auspecious for a king and he is rewarded with
progeny.
Vrikshayurveda

16. Black, white, pale, dark, red and yellow are the
colors and sweat, sour, salty, pungent, bitter
and astringent are the tastes by which land is
subdevided.
The distance between two plants is fourteen,
sixteen or twenty forearm lengths. These
distances result in inferior, medicore and
excellent yeild of trees respectively.
Distance between two bushes should be four or five
forearm lenghts. Puga , etc. are planted carefully at a
distance of two to three forearm lenghts.
Vrikshayurveda

17. Oh tree, I shell take you to a better place from here
and shell water you in such a way that you shall be
satisfied.
You will grow there and shall have no fear from
lightning, etc. I shall look after you there, like a dear
son.
Trees alone on earth give happiness both here and
here after. Since they “save” from abject poverty
they are named”taravah” (the saviors).
Vrikshayurveda

18. The trees should be carefully nurtured as through
their shade, flowers and fruits they help immensely
in the pursuit of dharma, artha and kama.
Trees must be protected vigilantly from mist, storm,
smoke, fire and spider.
Newly planted trees in arid land should be watered
every morning and evening for a period of fifteen
days until the soil is fully soaked.
Well-rooted plants should be watered every alternate
day in winter, every evening in spring and thrice in a
Vrikshayurveda

19. The disease of all types of trees is stated to be of two
varieties: internal and external. The internal ones are
those which are caused by vata, pitta and kapha
(humors); and external ones are those which are
caused by insets, cold weather,etc.
Trees watered at the root with butter milk of a she-
goat. Then it blossoms into a tree with thousands of
branches and produces lovely flowers and fruits
round the year. This is no wonder.
If mud scented with buds of asoka, etc. is filled at
the root, trees get a very attractive and strong
Vrikshayurveda

20. Threat from exotic plants
Removal of Creeper Coverage in Bund: Khammam, AP
Submitted by iwp on January 27, 2009 - 06:43
In Khammam we have a Bund by name Lakharam Cheruvu.
Under tourism concept we were running boats in the lake but
for the last three years we are unable to run our boats because
the entire lake of about 27 acres area is occupied by creepers
(Horse shoe). They are known in the vernacular as "Gurrapu
Dekka". The local authorities want to clean this but they dont
have the knowledge / suitable technology to do so. We
request you to shed some light on how to tackle the present
situation. http://www.indiawaterportal.org/ask/5657

21. Threat from exotic plants

22. Conceptual Gardens
Dr.Kumuda Ranjan Ray listed some 341 in Charaka Samhita
whereas FRLHT, Bangalore has produced a CD that contains
620 plants mentioned.
University of Hyderabad implementing a project named
'Charaka Vana' spread in five acres of land.
Among the listed medicinal plants, plants are classified
according to the disease categories.

23. Save trees – Save mother earth
।। िृिो रिित रिितः ।।

24. Thank You!!