Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature
Botany History of Vedic Literature in India – 8
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent – 22
By: Bhishma Kukreti M.Sc. {(Botany), B.Sc. (Honours in Botany), Medical Tourism Historian)}
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As per dictionary of Forestry, “Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits”. (dictionaryofforest.com)
There is notion that Forestry science and practices started in Western Europe and North America (1). However, the reality is that the Vedas discussed principals of forest sustainable management and forest conservation long before the Christ was born.
In Behavioural term, Indian culture teaches the attitude for gratitude towards every components of nature that helps the human beings.
Forest sustainability is part of Indian life from the early civilization days as cited in Atharvaveda (12.1.11) and guide us to protect ecosystem by conserving forests –
“O Earth! Pleasant by thy hills, snow clad mountains and forests, O numerous coloured, firm and protected earth. On this earth I stand undefeated, unslain,, unhurt.”
Another Atharvaveda (12.1.12) discusses about the valuables on the earth-
“The treasures of minerals and other elements that provide vigour indwell in your naval part; Offer these to us. Your land and clouds enshowering upon it nature us like a mother and father. May the shelter of these purity and strengthen us”
The Vedic rishi called earth as parents as Atharvaveda (12.1.35) cites –
“Whatever I dig from you, O Earth! May that have quick regeneration again; may we do not damage thy vital habitat and heart.”
The above two hymens tell us that in Vedic period the human beings well understood the importance of forests, forest produces, economy from forests and importance of forest protection (Ecology) . That is clear the Vedic People were well aware about forestry and forest protection.
Prime (2) details “The Vedic tradition affirms that every village will be complete when certain types of forest plants (Mahvana, shrivan and Tapovan) are preserved around the territory.
Therefore, it implies sure that there was system for forest conservation, forest management and forest exploitation together in Vedic Period
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References
1-Lewis J.G, 2005, The Forest Service and the Greatest Good, Forest History Society, Durham, North Carolina, USA, Pp286
2-Prime , R., 2002, Vedic Ecology, Practical Wisdom for surviving the 21st century, Mandala Publishing group, Novato, California Pp 157
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com , Mumbai India, 2019
HISTORY of BOTANY in Indian Subcontinent will be continued in next chapter -23
Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Andhra Pradesh India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Arunachal Pradesh, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Assam, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Bihar, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Chhattisgarh , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Goa, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Gujarat, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Haryana , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Himachal Pradesh , India, Asia; ; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Jammu Kashmir , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Jharkhand ,India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Karnataka, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Kerala, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Madhya Pradesh India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Maharashtra , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Manipur, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Meghalaya, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Mizoram , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Nagaland, India, Asia; ; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Odisha, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Punjab, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Rajasthan , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Sikkim, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Tamil Nadu, India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Telangana , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Tripura , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Uttarakhand (U.K.) , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Uttar Pradesh , India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of West Bengal ,India, Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of , Indian subcontinent , Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of , Myanmar , Indian subcontinent , Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of , Bangladesh , Indian subcontinent , Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Pakistan , Indian subcontinent , Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Baluchistan , Indian subcontinent , Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Nepal , Indian subcontinent , Asia; Forestry , Ecology in Vedic Literature , History of Botany of Afghanistan, Indian subcontinent , Asia;
