PROTECTING NATURE... LESSON FROM ANCIENT VEDAS : Swami Udit Chaithanya

13/09/2018

According to ancient Vedas it is said.... MATA BHOOMI PUTROHAM PRITHIVYAH which means Earth is my Mother and all creations on earth are her beloved children.

YATHA AUSHADHAYA DEVEDYA TRIYUKAM PURAH MANDAMI BABRUNAAM AHAM SHADHAM DHAAMANI SAPTHAHJHA.....

The plants and trees are children of nature. My heart rejoices at the mere sight of these innumerable varieties of creations. In ancient India these slokas show that, nature was considered to be the most important part of human life. Animals and Plants were looked after as part of their families. They were never seen as a mere resource for human consumption, while Today the earth is taken for granted and used for enjoyment.

The Vedic Seers advocate a caring and reciprocal attitude. The verses of the Vedas reveal a deep respect towards the earth. Nature’s relationship to humans should be seen as a Mother Child relationship .Mahabharata..... Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshita.... those who protect Dharma they alone will be protected by Nature. In Vedas Titriyam Krishna..... DHARMO VISHWASYA JAGATHA PRATHISHTHA meaning,

This whole Nature is existing where there are Values and Cultures. The word VANASPATI has been used by them, which is ‘GOD OF FORESTS.’ Unfortunately we were not taught these values of protecting Nature as our Primary Duty until Scientists warned of the immense dangers arising out of unceasing exploitation.

Today we are paying a heavy price for our wrong Actions and then crying about Nature. If our schools include the importance of protecting Nature in our curriculum , we can avoid Calamities like floods, landslides etc. Our present attitude of degrading Nature and later crying and panicking when Nature hits back at us ... is not a Solution to our tragedy.

As a result of ignoring our ancient Values and Teachings, today innocents are suffering. This teaches us that without CULTURE there cannot be NATURE. From an experience of mine, I have learnt this practically. When the floods came in with an unimaginable speed, a huge clump of bamboos which was there on a shore of the river, protected the soil , our buildings and various structures on that side. Though the water forcefully crushed and smashed out the bamboos it could not uproot it.

This reminds me of the story of JATAYU who lost his wings and was badly injured trying to save Sita from Ravana.

Therefore this teaches us a Great Lesson...... If we Protect Nature, Nature will not leave Us.

We need to cultivate this caring through Education in order to reduce the gravity of such catastrophic calamities and protect people’s Life in future. Let us protect our MOTHER EARTH and act WISELY. Let me conclude with a joke.... People visit waterfalls, beaches and boating etc and call it as Fun, but when the same water rushes and reaches their places they call it Disaster. Together let us think Wisely and Act with this VISION.

SAVE OUR MOTHER EARTH ...