Religion and environment of environment law .pptx

Law BA LLB

1. Religion and Environment India – Secular Country The religious traditions of India are rich and various, offering diverse theological and practical perspectives on the human condition. All religions believe in respect for creation.  In every religion, it emphasize on the preservation and conservation of nature.

2. Hinduism Consider Brahma as a creator Panch mahabhutas -  earth ( prthivi ),  water ( jal ),  fire ( agni ),  air ( vayu ), and space ( akasa ) The earth - Devi - is a goddess and our mother and deserves our devotion and protection. Hinduism consider nature as “Body of God”. Hindu texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita (7.19, 13.13) and the Bhagavad Purana (2.2.41, 2.2.45), contain many references to the omnipresence of the Supreme divinity, including its presence throughout and within nature . Bhagavad Gita states that -Divinity is omnipresent and takes infinite forms. States that - Protecting the environment is a part of Dharma of every human being. Our Vedas, Upnishad , Shruti , Smriti has enough evidence of respect for nature . Main Motto – To live in harmony with nature.

3. Kautilya’S Arthashastra – It is the dharma of every individual to protect nature. People in India worship nature in different forms . Eg . Trees and plants – Peepal , Tulsi , Vat, Amla etc. Water – Varun Dev, Ganga, Saraswati etc. Land – Bhoomi Poojan Animal – Naag Panchmi , Lion ( Durga ), Rat (Ganesh), peacock ( Kartikeya ), Garuda (Vishnu) etc.

4. Rig Veda – Universe Consist of five elements which are the basis of live. Earth Air Water Fire Ether/Space Yajurveda – Yagya purifies air and thus keep environment healthy. Samveda – Yagya keeps mosquitos and insects away and purifies air. Atharveda – Pure water cures many ailments. Atharveda also emphasize on protection of plants and animals. Gayatri mantra - Scholars of the Vedas have held forth various texts and rituals that extol the earth ( bhu ),   the atmosphere  ( bhuvah ), and sky ( sva ).

5. Water is considered by Hindus as a powerful medium of purification and also as a source of energy. Rivers have been and continue to be an integral part of Hindu religious practice. More than fifty Vedic hymns praise the Sarasvati, a river (now dry) associated with the goddess of learning and culture. The Ganges River which flows through northern India likewise is referred to as a goddess originating from the top of Siva’s head in the Himalaya Mountains, giving sustenance to hundreds of millions of modern Indians. Traditionally , the rivers of India have always been considered pure. Modern industrial contaminants and human wastes have fouled the rivers, though Ganges water still plays an important role in India’s ritual life.  When in about 200 BCE charaka wrote about Vikrti (pollution) and disease, he mentioned air pollution specifically as a cause of many diseases. ( Caraka Samhita, Vimanastanam III 6:1.9 )

6. A number of rural Hindu communities such as the Bishnois , Bhils and Swadhyaya have  maintained strong communal practices to protect local ecosystems such as forests and water. When Bishnois are protecting animals(Deer) and trees( Khejri ), when Swadhyayis are building Vrikshamandiras (tree temples) and Nirmal Nirs (water harvesting sites) and when Bhils are practicing their rituals in sacred groves, they are simply expressing their tribute to nature. Hinduism has long revered the tree. Early seals from the Indus Valley cities (ca. 3000 BCE) depict the tree as a powerful symbol of abundance. References to India’s trees can be found in a wide range of literature, particularly in epic and poetic texts. India has a long history of forest protection, from the edicts of Asoka, to the individual work of various Rajas, to the modern Chipko movement, wherein women have staved off forest destruction by surrounding trees with their own bodies.

7. Consider every creature to be incarnation(manifestation) of God and hence, focus on conservati0n and preservation. Guru Nanak Dev Said – “Air is the vital force, water the progenitor, the vast earth mother of all, day and night are nurses fondling all creation in their lap. (Jap Ji sahab ) Emphasized on - human beings are composed of five elements – earth, air, water, fire and sky . Thus close relationship between nature and individual was recognized. Dharma – to sustain and ensure progress and welfare of all. – Duty to protect environment . Sikhism

8. Minimum destruction of living and non-living resources for the benefit of mankind. Believe in principle of simplicity i.e. to meet the minimum needs without overexploiting nature and natural wealth. Emphasize on living in harmony with nature . Focus on protection and preservation of nature . Jainism

9. Focus on simplicity – man should not overexploit natural resources. Ahimsa and N0n – violence – We should not kill animals. Emphasize on conservation and protection of natural environment. One should not become greedy to become rich and should not exploit natural wealth and living beings. Emphasize on plantation of trees and their preservation. King Ashoka promoted non-violence to be cultural heritage of people. Hence, prescribed punishment for killing of animals . Buddhism

10. Water – as a sign of purification . In every religion – common thread – purity of water. Pope Paul VI – United Nations Conference on Human Environment, Stockholm in June 1972 stated that the “ environment and natural resources are for everyone., they are inalienable property of everyone and there is no discretionary sovereignty over it exempting from responsibility towards humanity of today and tomorrow” (focused on sustainable development). Cleared that there is a close nexus between man and environment and one should not exploit resources in such a way that nothing is left for coming generations. Christianity

11. Genesis   1:26-28 - God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Isaiah 11:9 - " They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea .” God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it . - Genesis 2:15 Bible

12. The  Christian Declaration on Nature  drawn up at  Assisi  in 1986 makes the following points very clearly: All creation, both with and without humans, has a close  interdependence  which was made in this way by God. This  harmony  of creation is to the glory of God. Humans have the role of  protecting  all created things, not abusing or destroying them. All types of  exploitation  of the world and its resources and all creatures are rejected. Humans must not do anything that risks damage to the world, including  nuclear warfare .

13. States that everything is created from water and signifies purity of water. Allah is considered to be owner of land and everything. Man – Trustee and other creatures – beneficiary. Man : Trustee   :  “Believe in Allah and His messenger, and spend of that whereof. He hath made you trustees; and such of you as believe and spend (aright), theirs will be a great reward.” (Quran 57:7)  “It is He who has appointed you viceroys in the earth … that He may try you in what He has given you.” (Surah 6:165) A verse from the Holy Book, Quran, “ Every living thing is in a state of worship ”. He commented that when one hurts a bird or a plant, he/she is silencing a community of worshippers . To celebrate the symphony of life, all humans need to celebrate and protect biological and cultural diversity . The principle of conservation - waste not by excess : for Allah loveth not the wasters” (Quran 6:141, Yusuf Ali translation ). – Emphasized on awareness of the benefits of reducing, reusing, and recycling waste . “O children of Adam! … eat and drink: but waste not by excess , for Allah loves not the wasters.” (Surah 7:31 ) Islam and Environment

14. Islam also teaches humans that all creatures of God, whether it be the tiny ant or the huge lion , serves a certain purpose in the larger scheme of God’s world : “There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you.”(Quran 6:38 ) The Equilibrium of All Life - (Quran 22:18) Furthermore, Muslims believe that all creations of Allah, including animals and trees, glorify God in their own way. Quran 22:18 ) In 2015 in Istanbul, the Muslim world in its Islamic declaration for climate change s et the framework for an ethical code of conduct to build a low-emission climate resilient future .

15. The Qurān also states, It is Allah who made the earth a place of settlement and made the sky a ceiling . (Q. 40: 64). The Ozone serves as the protective layer of the earth.  Hence, now Neutralizing toxic gases and radiation is required if we wish to protect this protective ceiling.