How Can Hindus Contribute to Environmental Preservation?
Essay by Nalini Parasram Rajballie of the Gyaan Deepak Kirtan Mandali (Category: 18 and over) Swadeshe 2009 “The air is his breath, the trees are the hairs of his body, The oceans his waist, the hills and mountains are his bones, The rivers are the veins of the Cosmic Person, His movements are the passing of ages.” – Srimad Bhagavatam, 2.1.32-33 Reverence for nature. Harmony with all creation. Veneration of the environment. Throughout the ages, Hindus’ relationship with the environment has been intertwined inextricably with their relationship to God. Ancient Hindus felt the presence of the Divine in everything around them. This belief is given tangible form in our many rituals: our pujas revere Mother Earth and many plants, such as the tulsi, neem, bael and paan, enjoy a sacred status. To the Hindu, the issue is not merely one of protecting the environment for the use of future generations, but also a matter of acknowledging one’s intrinsic connectedness with nature and the recognition
