Monday, 31 August 2020

Environment and life complement each other

Environment and life complement each other

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Dinesh Kukreti

Every living being depends on the environment around it (outer world), this environment happened in ordinary language.  The environment is made up of two words 'pari' (around) and 'cover' (covered).  That is, whatever object or creature is covered from all around, it is its environment.  All living beings are constantly affected by their environment and they themselves are also affected.  There are two elements that provide protection to the entire biosphere.  One is natural (air, water, rain, land, river, mountain etc.) and second human (protection received from nature in the attainment of the unseen).  The result of any imbalance in them can prove to be subversive.  We have also seen the glimpse of various disasters during the past years.

 If seen, the relationship between environment and life is eternal.  In the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads and other mythological texts, the harmony of all life and flora and human life is defined as environment.  It has been said that proper harmony between nature and human nature is necessary for the protection of the environment.  'Vrhadaranyaka Ó Upanishad states,' Oum purnamad: purnamidam purnatpurnamudachayate, purnasya purnamaday purnamemavashishyate. Ó It is clear that we should receive as much from nature as is necessary for us and it does not harm the perfection of nature.  Elderly women of the families still break basil leaves with the same sentiment.


 

A similar prayer has been offered in ‘Atharva Veda’, ‘Yatte bhumaya vikhanami kshiprandi rohtu, maa te marm vimrigvari or te hridyamarpitam.’ I.e. ‘O land mother!  Whatever I harm you, be compensated soon.  We should be careful in digging you to great depths (gold-coal etc.).  Do not waste its power by digging in vain. According to "Ishavasopanishad" it means that "we should exploit nature as much as it is necessary for life and it also maintains the true nature of nature".  This is also the meaning of Indianness, which in its lush green lush Vasundhara and it consists of waving flowers, thundering clouds, dancing peacocks and rivers flowing every day.  In the Indian tradition, not only the mother, the tree and the vines are considered as god-like.

In the Vedas, the environment is defined as water, air, sound, rain, food, soil, vegetation, flora, fauna, etc.  We know that air is essential for a living being.  Therefore, in the Rig Veda (Mandal 10, Sukta 186) it is said that the qualities of Vayu are said, 'Vata aa vatu bheshajam shambhu mayobhu na: hariday, prana ayushhi tarsit'.  (Pure and fresh air is invaluable medicine, which is as useful and enjoyable as medicine for our heart. Air increases our lifespan.) Similarly 'Atharvaveda 4 states,' Earth is the mother and cloud father of all flora.  The clouds conceive in the earth by pouring water in the form of rain and the earth produces all the vegetation that gives food and health.

Internal and external: two forms of environment

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The Vedas emphasize on keeping two types of environment pure, 'internal' and 'external'.  All gross objects are external and the subtle elements inside the body (mind and soul) are part of the internal environment.  All the events that occur in the external environment are the result of thoughts occurring in the mind.  In 'Srimad Bhagwat Geeta' the mind has been called very fickle.  As such, 'Chanchalam hi mana: Krishnam pramathi Balavaddriddham.' If seen, the external and internal environment are compatible with each other.  The more pure the internal environment especially the mind, the more pure the external environment will become.  That is, purification of mind is the first step for purification of the external environment.

Every component of nature is revered

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Each component of nature is given a divine form in the Vedas.  They are all worshipable for us and we all have an obligation to protect them by mind, word, deed.  So that the balance of nature does not waver.  But, today we have forgotten all these beliefs by being subjected to external glare.  It is stated in 'Aitereyopanishad', 'Imani panchamabhutani prativi, vayu:, aakash,, apajyotishi.' That is, the universe is composed of five elements earth, air, sky, water and fire.  Any imbalance in these elements gives rise to divine disasters like tsunamis, global warming, landslides, earthquakes.


 

One tree like ten sons

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In 'Padma Purana', a tree is considered like ten sons (Dasputrasamo Drum :).  This meant that we should take care of trees just like our son or daughter.  In order to save forests from destruction 'Rig Veda' also instructs, 'Vanani na: Prajhitani'.  Similarly, water has been called amrit (amrit or you :) in the Shatapatha Brahmin.  Whereas, saying 'Prithvsukta of Atharvaveda', Shuddha nor Apastenwe Ksharntu, considers the purity of water element absolutely necessary for a healthy life.  'Padma Purana' strongly condemns water pollution, says, 'Sukupananda tadaganam prapanan parantap, sarsan chaiv bhattaro nara niragyamin: .. (The person who pollutes the water of a pond, a well or a lake, it is hell-bent.)  That is to say, while the worship of the particles of earth and space proves the parable of the omnipresence of God, it also embodies the imagination of a healthy environment.

The environment around us

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Today, in what is called the ecological system, in terms of composition and function, the composite unit of different organisms and the environment is analyzed.  According to Gilbert, "the environment is everything that surrounds an object and has a direct effect on it." In EJ Ras's words, "the environment is an external force that affects us."  Environment and life are closely related to each other.  Life is not possible without environment and environment without life.

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