Environmental Conservation in Hindu Knowledge System

Abstract

This paper seek to analyse the Knowledge of Environment and Environmental protection in traditional Hindu religious and cultural texts. Hinduism is also called the "cradle of spirituality" and "the mother of all religions,” but the way we have started celebrating our festival goes against the very foundation of Hindu way of life. Every years Idol immersions in Durga Puja, Sarswati puja, and Ganesh Chaturthi causes much harms to our Rivers, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels in rivers increases dramatically. We celebrate different Festival and fairs on bank of river causing River pollution in multiple ways. Deepawali, festival of lights, becomes an ugly phantasm of noise and noxious smoke due to bursting firecrackers. The Conservation of plants and other natural resources has been an integral part of cultural, spiritual and religious ethos of Hindu way of life. Hinduism has no convergence with our polluting exercise on the name of religion. Hinduism is a very sensitive to environment and environmental problem. Perhaps, No religion lays as much emphasis on environmental ethics as Hinduism. The Mahabharata, Ramayana, Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas and Smriti preaches for the preservation of environment and ecological balance.