Spiritual and Religious Significance in Biodiversity Conservation
Exploring the Connection Between Spirituality and Biodiversity Conservation
by Dr. Ashok Ku. Sahani*,
- Published in Journal of Advances in Science and Technology, E-ISSN: 2230-9659
Volume 19, Issue No. 3, Sep 2022, Pages 1 - 4 (4)
Published by: Ignited Minds Journals
ABSTRACT
Human beings have an intense relationship with nature from the origin of the human species, which was more utilitarian until organized religion. Animism was the primitive form of religion believed in having spirit in every living being and objects thus, creating a human-nature inter relationship. Early humans were aware of the importance of natural things, such as earth, fire, water, air, and light, to continue and survive human life and they worship those elements as God is called Panchhtatav. Religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Confucianism, and Shinto are repeatedly reminding us about the interdependence between humans and nature. The philosophical systems of these religions explicitly prescribe the conservation of wildlife for human survival. Even the archaeological evidence from Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa suggests worshiped many animals and India during proto-historic times (Dwivedi etal, 1987). Even in present days, some communities', especially the tribal (indigenous people) and other forest-dependent communities practices are evident in conserving biodiversity. In rural India some indigenous communities consider some specific plantstrees, animals, or even rivers and mountains as their ancestors and protect them as God or Goddess. Historically, the tribal communities have been harmoniously co-existing with their surrounding environment by following their traditional beliefs, practices, experiences, and indigenous knowledge. Their in-depth ecological knowledge has made them adopt a particular environmental condition through sustainable conservation practices of flora and fauna. Spirituality means awareness, a deep sense of liveliness, the importance of awareness, understanding, and recognition that we are living for a specific purpose and connecting our physical life and our physical world with something greater than knowledge. Rural peoples consider all living being have a soul, and thus they must respect all living organisms. They give equal values and respect to living and non-living beings like mountains, earth etc. So, biodiversity is the variation of life on earth that lives in different ecosystemshabitats and is interconnected.
KEYWORD
spiritual, religious significance, biodiversity conservation, relationship with nature, human-nature inter relationship, interdependence between humans and nature, conservation of wildlife, indigenous communities, sustainable conservation practices, variation of life
