A comparative study of the environment protection values as depicted in the Ramayana and the modern world

Abstract

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in a resolution 2030 Agenda (September 2015), formulated and adopted seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as Global Goals, which are roadmaps for the well-being of the people and the planet. In today's world, we face many environmental issues which have put human and planet's life sustainability in danger. Major pollution issues include air, water, soil, marine life and soon drifting us away from environmental concerns. A proper balance between development and environment protection is need of the hour, which the UNGA rightly addresses. In this paper, we attempt to evaluate and compare today's environment protection values with that of the Ramayana period. Ramayana period was a perfect period with beautiful portrayals of different aspects of nature, life in vanas, animal characters, flora and fauna, rivers, mountains, etc. reflecting the integral relationship of human life and its interdependence with the environment. Almost all the events in Ramayana happened in the forest during the 14 years of vanvasa of Lord Rama. He stayed in ashramas in deep forests with tribals and at places such as Panchvati which was located near unpolluted river and fruit bearing trees, medicinal plants, herbs etc. and moreover very fresh and pure air all around. There is also a mention of wild animals, squirrels, birds etc. Famous story of Lord Hanuman lifting and bringing Dronagiri Mountain having Sanjivani to save the life of Lord Laxmana depicts that knowledge of such miracle plants existed during that period. The references to rivers such as Ganga, Yamuna, Sharayu, Alaknanda etc. is found and stories were related to animals and birds such as Jatayu, Bali, Sugriva, Hanuman, Angada and so on. It teaches us how we must protect our nature and go close to the environment and ecology. There existed a system of Devrai (sacred groves) meaning God's forest and protection of the same benefited people with the fresh air from the groves, flora and fauna. The paper also aims to depict the bonding of human life with nature during the Ramayana period and attempts to address modern-day environment protection issues.