Educational Quest- An International Journal of Education and Applied Social Sciences
Year : 2010, Volume : 1, Issue : 1
First page : ( 109) Last page : ( 113)
Print ISSN : 0976-7258.

‘Living in Harmony with Nature’ Message of Ancient Hindu Spiritual Texts

Ranjan Malvika

Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, BHU, Varanasi – 221005, Email: malvika.ranjan@gmail.com.

Abstract

Environmental protection has become a global issue inviting discussions and debates. Human beings are both, generators and victims of environmental problems. Given that ecological processes and human actions are interrelated and produce changes in the immediate environment, these generally have unforeseen and cumulative impacts that do not recognize political and physical boundaries.Environmental threats therefore have a global dimension. To combat these problems, solutions are being sought. Much emphasis is being laid on nature conservation. In this respect, lessons of environmental ethics can be learnt from the ancient Hindu texts such as Vedas, Upanishads Puranas etc These scriptures preach about valuing nature as nature sustains life and its destruction would inevitably endanger life on earth. ‘Man, born in the lap of nature, should nurture nature’-is the message imparted. This paper is an attempt to revisit the ancient Indian period through a study of these religious texts bringing forth lessons of environmental ethics, to inspire human minds to protect Nature in present times.

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Key Words

Hindu Spiritual Texts, Peace.

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