Essay name: Vrikshayurveda (and environmental philosophy)
Author:
Beenapani Mishra
Affiliation: Utkal University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies the Environmental Philosophy in the Vrikshayurveda Texts including English translation of extracts. This study researches topics such as 鈥淓nvironmental Values鈥� reflected in various Sanskrit Texts. Vrksayurveda represents the ancient Indian science of Horticulture.
Chapter 5 - Religious Significance of Plantation and Rearing of Trees
21 (of 39)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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IV.4. Tree Worship in Vedas and Pur膩峁嘺s: 196 In the Vedic literature
the A. V. says that God dwells
in trees. They destroy the
demons of pollution. Trees
are our friends. Y.V. also
narrates that water and herbal
plants are our friends. (A.V., 12. 3.15& Y.V., 6. 12) 132 The R. V.
also mentions that, vegetations are key to man's power. Trees,
plants, forests and herbs, all are precious gift of God to the
mankind. (R.V., 6.47. 27 & 10. 65. 11)133
Satapatha Br膩hma峁嘺 tells us that trees and vegetations are
incarnation of Lord Siva. Y.V. (in chapter 16) mentions that Siva or
Rudra is the master of trees, Vegetations, forests, herbal plants,
creepers and foliage, agriculture and farms lands. Siva took poison
to save the world from its devastating effect. When Siva starts
destruction he is called Rudra, Similarly, when trees are destroyed
they act like Rudra, as all kinds of catastrophes become inevitable.
(Satapatha Br膩hma峁嘺, 6. 1.3.12; Y.V., 16. 17 to 19)134 It is believed that Rudra is
132 Ganguli Pratima, environmental ethics, Ch.5, p.233.
133. Ibid, p. 234.
134. Ganguli Pratima, environmental ethics, Ch.5, p.234
