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| Mythological Aspect of Biodiversity | | | Dr. Pragya Khanna | 12/7/2011 11:50:47 PM |
| I talk to him when I'm lone some like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that.-W.Dayton Wedge farth
Animals are an important force in life. The understanding of the role the animals play in all aspects of life has allowed me to understand the universal essence of the Indian spirit. Indian culture is extremely faithful and spiritual and respects and cherishes life in all its forms. Ancient Indian religious texts clearly express the view that man is an intrinsic part of his environment. Although the most superior of all of God's creatures, he is, nevertheless, conditioned by and dependent on all the forms of life that surround him. Each aspect of nature which plays its own special role in the cosmos is worthy of worship. Ancient Indians had recognized the animals' right to co-exist with man and therefore they were loved, nurtured and even worshipped. In order to impress upon the commoners about their importance, the animals were given the status of gods and g oddesses. They declared that Almighty incarnates in different animal forms. The kings and the emperors opted different animals in their emblems. Many festivals were/are observed in honor of several animals. In order to inculcate love for animals among children, animals were made heroes in stories. The rulers gave them prime position in art and architecture.
Cow the most sacred animal, gained its status because of its great value. The five products of the cow (Panchkavya) namely, milk, curd, butter, urine and dung are believed to have great purifying potency when mixed in a single mixture. Kamadhenu was a mythological cow said to have belonged to Vashishta that could satisfy all desires of mankind. Nandi, the bull is the mount of Shiva and is seen in most Shiva temples. Snake is also sacred and the legendary serpents Shesha, and Vasuki are symbols of both death and fertility. Shesha also is seen as a bed for the recumbent Vishnu while Vasuki was used as a rope used in churning of the cosmic ocean. Monkey had its importance because of Hanuman, Rama Chander Ji's faithful servant. Similarly, from the earliest of times the tree was worshipped in recognition of its role as a giver of shade, fruit, flowers, as a source of wood, for its medicinal properties and so on. Virtually every Hindu deity is associated with some particular tree or plant. Pipal (Ficus religiosa) was especially sacred and is associated with Shiv, banana tree to Ganesh, Vata, the banyan tree (Ficus indica) has also attained religious status. Women pray to the Ashoka tree for blessings in order to conceive children. The legendary Kalpa-vriksha was a tree that fulfilled all wishes. A plant called Tulsi is grown in the courtyard and tended with great care by women and is believed to be sacred to Vishnu. The Lotus is the most auspicious of flowers and is the seat of many deities. There are two types of grass Kusha and Darbha that are sacred from the Vedic time onwards. However the Soma plant from that period was forgotten. Another inanimate object that attained holy status is the Salagrama (a fossilized shellfish), which is recognized as one of the symbols of Vishnu. Symbols representing Om, Swastika and Mandala were considered to have cosmic and magical powers.
These days it looks as if human beings have forgotten that a particular natural condition on Earth enabled life to come into existence and evolve to the human level. Humanity is disturbing this natural condition on which his existence, along with the existence of all other forms of life, depends. This is like the action of a woodcutter cutting a tree at the trunk, on the branch on which he is sitting. From this belief stems respect for all forms of life. Since man has the most superior mind of all the earth's creatures he also has the greatest responsibility. Unfortunately, today we are neither adopting ancient Indians' compassionate attitude, nor scientific approach of the westerners towards these animals and hence we are heading towards a catastrophe. The activities of ancient Indians were woven around the animals. Therefore, they knew the happenings of animal world as much as today's ardent student of Zoology. Man must live in equilibrium with his environment only then it is possible for man to strive to attain his final destiny. There is no life that is inferior. All lives enjoy the same importance in the Universe and all play their fixed roles. They are to function together and no link in the chain is to be lost. If some link is lost, the whole ecological balance would be disturbed. All kinds of life-insects, birds, and animals-contribute toward the maintenance of ecological balance, but what is humanity's contribution toward this? Humans are intelligent animals; therefore our contribution should be the biggest.
All religions are very near to natural world. They ask followers to see God in every entity in the Universe. Worship of God in air, water, fire, Sun, Moon, Stars, and Earth is specially recommended. Earth is considered as mother hence is worshipped as very dear and near to God. All lives on Earth are considered as children of God and so are worshipped, loved, cared for and therefore protected. As it is, through ignorance we destroy our relationships in the family and within the environment this ignorance becomes the root cause of our suffering. The Sanskrit word for family is parivara, and environment is paryavarana. If we think of the environment as our home and all of its members as our family and help in conserving nature by paying devotion, love-giving and serving, we can attain natural harmony. |
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