Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India

Sacred mountains played a vital role in the conservation of local ecology and the environment. A variety of themes are often found within sacred mountain traditions. The beliefs demonstrate an important link between the community’s cultural identity and traditional patterns of land conservation. Sacred mountains are distinguished from other sacred sites as being exceptionally comprehensive ecosystems. Due to their topographic and bio-cultural richness they provide opportunities for climate change adaptation and act as refuges for plants and animals from environmental change and from competing species. They provide opportunities for species to move up and down and to adapt to climate change, which can play a vital role in a species’ survival.   Sacred Mountains and sacred sites within mountains have resulted in communities maintaining and preserving their natural resources in often-pristine conditions. Indigenous communities have long realized the value of the high diversity and natura

  Caves are considered sacred if they are associated with Gods, Goddesses, deities or mythical and magical figures, saints and preachers. They are also considered sacred if they are source of sacred rivers and streams or house sacred animals.   The use of caves for religious practices by individuals and groups extends back in time for at least several millennia in India. The Buddha dwelled and meditated in caves, forests, and other kinds of natural sites, practices which became common for Buddhist monks and nuns during his lifetime and beyond. Whenever Buddhism spread beyond India into other parts of Asia the religious use of caves spread as well. The same was the case with Jain Thirthankaras and their followers. Caves serve monks and nuns as secluded and peaceful places for monastic life, meditation, and chanting. A holy person might dwell in a cave for merely a few days or for months or even years. (1)   Caves affect the environment in positive ways. They support a natural habitat fo

The sacred groves are an undisturbed patch of vegetation left on the outskirts of the villages in the plain or a part of a forested area.  They are dedicated to local folk deities or  ancestral spirits that are protected by the local people through social traditions and taboos incorporating spiritual and ecological values   and are  called sacred groves . These groves are found all over the country with local names and associated deities.     SACRED GROVES RESTORED BY CPREEC (SPATIAL MAP) Link :  http://cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/SacredGrovesResortedbyCPREEC_2392.aspx SI. No. State & District Place Name of the deity   TAMILNADU     1.           Thiruvallur Velliyur Vinayagar 2.             Veeranathur Veeranatheswarar 3.             Iyaneri Ponniyamman 4.