Conservation of Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India

  (Source: Hinduism and Nature by Nanditha Krishna, Penguin India, Delhi, 2018) Nanditha Krishna At the beginning and end of every Hindu ritual, a shanti mantra is invariably recited, such as this stanza from the Yajur Veda (36:17):    “May peace radiate in the whole sky and in the vast ethereal space, May peace reign all over this earth, in water, in all herbs and the forests, May peace flow over the whole universe, May peace be in the Supreme Being, May peace exist in all creation, and peace alone, May peace flow into us. Aum—peace, peace and peace!” Every shanti mantra invokes peace on the forces of nature: if there is harmony among the elements, in Nature, there will be harmony on earth. The basis of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain culture is dharma or righteousness, incorporating duty, cosmic law and justice. Environmental protection is a dharma or law of righteousness. It is sanātana, or eternal, for it is without beginning or end, and it supports the whole univ

  Source:  The New Indian Express Chennai, 04/11/2024, pg.6.

    The generic name  Thespesia  is derived from a Greek word meaning “divine decree”, because it is regarded as a sacred plant, grown in and around sacred places such as churches or temples. The epithet populnea means “of poplars” and indicates the resemblance to the poplar tree. Distribution It is commonly found in the Southern states of India, particularly Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andaman. It is also found in Burma, Malaya, Africa and the Pacific Islands. The Portia tree is extensively planted as an avenue tree and grows widely on beaches and tidal forests of the east and west coast. Description It is a large evergreen tree with a crooked stem and attains a height of 30 to 40 feet. The leaves are glossy and dark green in colour. The flowers are large, bell-shaped, yellowish and deep maroon, resembling the flowers of the cotton plant or ladies finger. The flowering season is during the cold weather. The fruits are a capsule, somewhat rounded and flattened at the top. The pods

  Plastics, particularly the ubiquitous plastic bags, owing to their non-biodegradable characteristic, have long been considered as a pestilence that needs to be done away with. At last legislation has been passed, banning the manufacture of bags of thickness 2 microns or less. It is a definite and encouraging beginning even though there is much more plastic in use.  The onus is now on the individual to  see how the use and disposal of plastic goods can be reduced. What is life full of care, when there is no time to stand and stare? These words were said by an eminent English poet and aptly suit today’s situation though they were penned before the dawn of the 21st century. Today, people are totally unaware of the nature around them. Gone are the days when we used to admire the rain bearing clouds that enveloped the earth in its darkness, the sweet smell of jasmine that floated in the early morning air, the cool breeze that blew gently on a full moon day or the sweet, haunting and the m