Hinduism Environmental Friendliness And Protecting Nature
                     Hinduism: Environmental 
Friendliness And Protecting Nature
Chaitanya Kumari
Writes informational articles on ancient Indian 
artisan vocational education, 64 kala or 
vocational education, along with others articles on 
finance, health, sanathana dharma and wisdom.
Since time immemorial, there has been a deep connection between 
Hinduism and nature. Protecting nature and furthering 
environmentalism has always been among the most important 
tenets of Sanatana Dharma.
•The sacredness of nature: One of the core principles of 
Hinduism is to see divinity in the entire creation. This includes 
respect for the environment, as well. Various forms of nature such 
as animals, plants, rivers, and mountains are personified as deities 
and worshiped as manifestations of Paramatma.
•Earth as mother: The Goddess of Earth is a deity that is 
extensively worshiped in Hinduism, with the name of Bhumi Devi. 
This throws light on a key aspect of Hinduism – displaying the 
utmost reverence towards Earth and taking care of it like a mother.
•The circle of life: Reincarnation is a pivotal concept in Hinduism 
that stresses the fact that all life forms are interconnected. Here, 
humans are inseparable elements of nature. Thus, causing harm to 
the environment invariably endangers the well-being of humans, 
especially the interests of subsequent generations.
•Sustainable living: The medicinal system of ancient India, 
Ayurveda, asks people to adopt a lifestyle that conforms to the 
precepts of environmentalism. People have to use natural resources 
judiciously and try to lead a simple life. Likewise, Sanatana Dharma 
encourages vegetarianism, chiefly from the environmental 
perspective.
Environmental practices – Examples
Let us now take a look at some practices of Hinduism that 
emphasize the relevance that sanatana dharma gives to 
environmentalism.
•Sacred groves: In several zones of India, we see pockets of forest 
areas that are treated as sacred groves. These patches, which are 
protected for religious purposes, serve as sanctuaries for many 
endangered species of plants and animals.
•Worship of rivers: In India, many rivers such as Yamuna, Ganga, 
and Godavari are treated as holy. There are several festivals and 
rituals about these water bodies. The primary objective of all these 
special occasions and rites is to safeguard the cleanliness of the 
rivers.
•Protection of animals: In sanatana dharma, cows are treated 
with a lot of reverence; they are worshiped. Along with that, 
compassion for all other living beings is something that Hinduism 
encourages people to follow. A significant chunk of Hindus stick to a 
predominantly vegetarian diet. There are a few individuals who 
religiously adhere to non-violence (ahimsa) towards every living 
creature. These people are strict vegetarians.
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