SACRED ENVIRONMENTALISM
Oh Mother Earth, you who have the ocean as your garments, and the mountains as your bosom,
O Consort of Vishnu, Namaste to you; please forgive me for touching you with my feet!
Sanatana Dharma is the world's oldest living tradition that provides a framework for an individual, a society, and the environment at large to coexist, prosper, celebrate life, and pursue the greater goals of life that go beyond material well-being without undermining it. Its relevance in modern times cannot be overstated as we face large-scale environmental degradation1, a mental health epidemic2, an alarming increase in substance abuse3, decline of the family as a unit4, and many other challenges. Although Sanatana Dharma can play a major role in combatting each of these challenges, this article focuses on the issue of environmental degradation. According to the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), humans are using 1.6 times the resources that the earth can replenish every year. Clearly this is not sustainable and current efforts, although slowing the pace down, have largely been unsuccessful. The current growth-based development model has limitations. Humanity faces a dead-end in terms of fundamental assumptions that shape our lives, and a radical shift in current paradigm is imperative if we are to save the planet and along with it, the life that it inhabits.
इयं पृथिवी सर्वेषां भूतानाम् मधु, अस्यै
पृथिव्यै सर्वाणि भूतानि मधु |
—Madhu Vidya
(Honey Doctrine) of Sage Dadhyann. Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (2.5) 5
Every society
operates with an underlying philosophy of who we are, what is our purpose and
what is our relationship with the world around us. The modern world was largely
shaped during the colonial era and the industrial revolution. Industrial
production, consumer-oriented economy, and geo-politics over the control of
resources are the realities of human existence today. However, perhaps, the
underlying philosophy was shaped by the Judeo-Christian ideas of man and his
relationship with nature6.
Then God
said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule
over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all
the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
- Book of Genesis
1:26
As evident
from the Madhu Vidya of Rishi Dadhyann, Sanatana Dharma emphasizes the
interconnectedness of all life and the reverence for nature as a manifestation
of the divine. Its teachings, rooted in the ancient Vedas, Upanishads, and
Puranas, provide a spiritual and ethical framework for environmental
conservation. Sanatana Dharma prioritizes respect for the environment through
everyday common practices that symbiotically embody a deep reverence for nature
and its ecosystems over quantitative and academic understanding of these
complex relationships.
Below, are
some themes embodied in select shlokas that demonstrate how Sanatana Dharma can
play a role in prioritizing nature in our consciousness and everyday life.
Reverence for Nature as Divine
Sanatana
Dharma views nature as a sacred expression of the divine, with elements like
rivers, mountains, trees, and animals considered manifestations of Brahman (the
universal consciousness). This reverence fosters a deep respect for the
environment, encouraging sustainable practices.
यत्ते मध्यं पृथिवि यच्च नभ्यं यास्त ऊर्जस्तन्वः संबभूवुः ।
तासु नो धेह्यभि नः पवस्व माता भूमिः पुत्रो अहं पृथिव्याः पर्जन्यः पिता स उ नः पिपर्तु ॥१२॥
The earth is my mother, I am a child
of the Earth Mother’s. The sky and the rain cloud from the sun and sky is my
father. I am a child of Nature. May the father and mother give us total
fulfillment. —Atharva
Veda 12.1.11 (Translation by Dr. Tulsi Ram) 7
Interconnectedness of All Life
Sanatana
Dharma teaches that all beings (Jivatmas) are interconnected through the
universal consciousness, Brahman. This worldview fosters a sense of unity with
nature, discouraging actions that disrupt ecological harmony.
यस्तु सर्वाणि भूतान्यात्मन्येवानुपश्यति
।
सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं ततो न विजुगुप्सते
॥ ६ ॥
“He who sees all beings in the Self
and the Self in all beings, feels no hatred.”
—Ishavasya
Upanishad, Verse 6 (Translation by S. Sitarama Sastri) 8
This verse
highlights the unity of all existence, encouraging respect for all life forms.
Recognizing the divine in every element of nature fosters actions that preserve
ecosystems rather than destroy them. This principle supports biodiversity
conservation, sustainable resource use, and community-driven environmental
initiatives, as harming nature is akin to harming oneself.
Protection of Natural Resources
Sanatana
Dharma emphasizes dharma (duty) toward maintaining balance in the universe,
including the responsible use of natural resources like water, air, and
forests.
आपः शान्तिः पृथिवी शान्तिः औषधयः शान्तिः।
विश्वं शान्तिः सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव
शान्तिः सा मा शान्तिरेधि॥
This prayer for peace extends to all elements of nature, recognizing their role
in maintaining universal harmony. It calls for protecting natural resources to
ensure ecological balance. It underscores the importance of water conservation,
soil preservation, and the protection of medicinal plants, encouraging
practices like rainwater harvesting and sustainable agriculture.
Sacredness of Rivers and Forests
Rivers and
forests are revered in Sanatana Dharma as divine entities, with texts
prescribing their protection to maintain spiritual and ecological balance.
Rivers are personified as goddesses in Sanatana Dharma (e.g., Ganga, Yamuna).
The reverence for rivers inspires movements like the Ganga cleaning
initiatives, while the sanctity of forests encourages afforestation and the
protection of sacred groves.
In Valmiki’s
Ramayana, Hanuman meets Rama & Laxmana for the first time to investigate
whether they are Vali’s spies or friends. He uses his kamarupam siddhi (shape
shifting ability) in bhikshu-rupam (ascetic)and asks them in a somewhat
concerned tone:
राजर्षि देव प्रतिमौ तापसौ संशित व्रतौ
||
देशम् कथम् इमम् प्राप्तौ भवन्तौ वर वर्णिनौ
|
त्रासयन्तौ मृग गणान् अन्याम् च वन चारिणः
||
You look like tapsavis with daiva pratima, what brings you both to this desham (land) disturbing and scaring (trasayantau) animals/herds (mrug gaNaana) and other inhabitants of the vana? —Valmiki Ramayana 4.3.5,610
Readers
familiar with Valmiki’s Ramayana will notice a consistent undertone of concern
for not disrupting the order/balance of nature throughout the narration.
Upholding dharma means indulging in karma in a way that causes the least himsa
or disruption to everything and everyone around you, i.e., minimizing your
footprint on prakriti -- the very essence of Rishi Dadhyan’s Madhu Vidya. The
deep connection of overall well-being/ ecological preservation and powerful
story telling that recognizes all aspects of nature as a living being just as
real as oneself is deeply insightful. The fact that it does not attempt to
inspire one to achieve material prosperity (nor discourage it) but instead
aspires to transcend it in a joyful state as one traverses grihast (house
holder) stages of life is so progressive that many a modern mind, limited to
using rational faculties alone, often dismiss it altogether as primitive
superstition and becoming their own fatal impediment toward Sarvesham Mangalam
Bhavatu!
Practical Applications in Modern
Context
As discussed
earlier, Sanatana Dharma’s principles can be applied to modern environmental
challenges:
Sustainable Living: Practices like minimalism, reducing
waste, and using renewable energy align with the principle of aparigraha
(non-possessiveness).
Community Initiatives: Sacred grove conservation in India, rooted in
Hindu traditions, preserves biodiversity hotspots.
Policy Advocacy: The spiritual emphasis on nature can inspire policies
for pollution control, wildlife protection, and climate change mitigation.
Education and Awareness: Teaching these shlokas and their environmental
implications can foster eco-conscious mindsets in communities.
Conclusion
Sanatana
Dharma provides a robust framework for environmental stewardship through its
reverence for nature, emphasis on non-violence, recognition of
interconnectedness, and duty to protect resources. The quoted shlokas from the
Vedas, Upanishads, and Ramayana illustrate a timeless ethos that goes above and
beyond modern conservation efforts. By integrating these teachings into daily
life, individuals and communities can contribute to safeguarding the
environment for future generations.
1 https://www.unep.org/facts-about-nature-crisis
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587182/
3 https://drugabusestatistics.org/
4 https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/09/14/the-modern-american-family/
5 https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-brihadaranyaka-upanishad/d/doc117952.html
6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201%3A26&version=NIV
7 https://archive.org/details/atharva-veda-vol-2-of-2/page/136/mode/2up
8 https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/ishavasya-bhashya-by-sitarama/d/doc145023.html
9 https://archive.org/details/suklayajurveda/page/583/mode/2up?view=theater
10 https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/kish/sarga3/kishkindha_3_frame.htm
This article was first published in magazine Mandir Vani in September 2025: https://hmec.info/magazine/mandir-vani-2025-final-lowres/
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