COP 11 biodiversity: Vedic ecology attracts experts on biological diversity, biosafety

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad:  Vedic ecology is the in-thing at the ongoing
Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity, here.

A group of activists popularising the concept among COP delegates is
projecting Vedic ecology as a natural science that revolves around the
five elements of Nature and ancient yagnas and pooja rituals. Many
delegates were seen collecting details about the Vedic ecology.

Dr B Lakshmi, who is leading the Vedic ecology promotion group, told
this correspondent that though the concept is not new to India, it is
becoming popular only of late. “It is the ancient doctrine of
protecting the nature through a set of principles espoused in the
Vedas. Ecology is interconnected to several other disciplines of
biology as it has profound relation with human life and environment.
Similarly, Vedic ecology evinces an intimate relationship to a mode of
life and religion,” Dr Lakshmi said.

Explaining the concept of Vedic ecology, she said eminent Austrian
scientist Erwin Schrödinger had shown that the continual work of
pumping out disorder was necessary if one wished to maintain internal
order. This concept was followed by Vedic people thousands of years
ago by performing yagnas.

“Our belief in the existence of Asthadikpalakas is based on Vedic
ecology. Asthadikpalakas are the eight deities ruling the eight
quarters of the universe, whose attributes and actions can be
correlated with the bio-geo-chemical cycles. After the pooja, people
immerse the idol along with the leaves and flowers in a lake. The
fungi developed on plants are useful in the recycling of minerals
especially phosphate. The phosphates play a major role in life energy
cycle,” she said.

The principles of Vedic ecology can be easily implemented in villages
and rural areas.
Dr Lakshmi pointed out that in early times, extract of natural
medicinal herbs, fruits and leaves of various plants were smeared on
the temple drums and trumpets. When these instruments are played upon,
they prevent snakes, scorpions and other venomous crates from entering
the temple premises.

“The leafy matter, which falls in the water during idol immersions,
plays a key role in enriching the water with nutrients and
eutrophication. Plant leaves create nutrients in water and help
develop the positive nature of water. “Our ancestors knew this and
thus they began the tradition of putting leaves into water during
festivals”.

The varieties of leaves thrown into lakes during particular period are
decayed by microorganisms, which are abundantly present in the water.
By this water is purified, energized by amino acids. It is important
to continue this process and Vedic ecology is the answer to the
population of water pollution, Dr Lakshmi explained.