Conservation of wildlife and forest - Sanatana Dharma

Sanatana Dharma teaches its followers to respect nature. Trees, mountains, animals, rivers, lakes and ocean are revered and respected. Animals and plant life forms are jeevatmas and are considered to be equal to human beings. Conservation of wild life and forests was praised in ancient vedic societies. Trees belonging to certain species could not be cut down. If a person cuts down a tree, that person has to plant seven saplings belonging to the same species. Cutting down a gooseberry tree is equal to killing a Brahmin. A person has to apologize to the plant before plucking fruit or flower from it. Any flower plucked without apologizing to the plant and requesting it’s permission will not be accepted by God when the flower is offered to him. Flowers and fruits should not be plucked from the plant using sharp instruments or by pinching them with finger nails. They must be gently plucked using only the fleshy portion of the index finger and thumb.

Many animals are considered to be the vehicle of transport for the Devas. Deer is the transport for Varuna who is in charge of rain, peacock is the vehicle of Kartikeya the commander of the celestial army, elephants remind us of Lord Ganesha, peacock reminds us of Lord Krishna (an avatara of Vishnu) since he sports a peacock feather in his locks, cobra reminds us of Adishesha as Lord Vishnu lies down on Adisesha, a lion reminds us of Lord Narasimha (an avatar of Lord Vishnu), lions and tigers are also revered as they are the vehicle of Goddess Durga, cows in general are revered as they give us milk; they are treated as our mother, monkeys remind us of Lord Hanuman and so on. As every animal has a connection to divinity they are respected and people think twice before killing them. Hunting was allowed only for kings and soldiers for the purposes of target practice. Even kings and soldiers were not allowed to hunt during certain months.

All rivers were worshiped as goddesses and people treat rivers with respect. Littering and polluting areas near a river was prohibited. The very earth we walk on is Goddess Bhumi the consort of Lord Vishnu. Every day before stepping down from the bed in the morning one has to request permission from Bhumi to walk on her.

The entire world along with the Universe is pervaded by paramatma Lord Vishnu and hence everything is treated with respect since he is found in every living or non-living entity. Sometimes when it becomes necessary to kill an animal or cut down a tree, the person requests God to pardon the misdeeds and takes corrective measures like planting seven trees to take the place of the tree that had been cut.