Sacred groves of India

"For the article about sacred groves in general, see Sacred grove"

Sacred groves in India refer to forest fragments of varying sizes, which are communally protected, and which usually have a significant religious connotation for the protecting community. Hunting and logging are usually strictly prohibited within these patches. [ Gadgil, M. and Vartak, V.D. ; Sacred groves of India : A plea for continued conservationJournal of Bombay Natural History Society, 72 : 314-320, 1975] Other forms of forest usage like honey collection and deadwood collection are sometimes allowed on a sustainable basis. Sacred groves did not enjoy protection via federal legislation in India. Some NGOs work with local villagers to protect such groves. Traditionally, and in some cases even today, members of the community take turns to protect the grove. [Sudha, P., Rekha, P. V., Gunaga, V. S., Patagar, S., Naik, M. B., Indu, K. M., and N. H Ravindranath, [http://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/archive/00000166/00/sudha.pdf Community Forest Management and Joint Forest Management: An Ecological, Economic and Institutional Assessment in Western Ghats, India] , Presented at "Crossing Boundaries", the seventh annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, June 10-14, 1998] However, the introduction of the protected area category community reserves under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 has introduced legislation for providing government protection to community held lands, which could include sacred groves.

Indian sacred groves are sometimes associated with temples / monasteries / shrines or with burial grounds (which is the case in Shinto and Ryukyuan religion-based sacred groves respectively in Japan). Sacred groves may be loosely used to refer to other natural habitat protected on religious grounds, such as Alpine Meadows.

Historical references to sacred groves can be obtained from ancient classics as far back as Kalidasa's Vikramuurvashiiya.

Beliefs

Typically, such groves are associated with the concept of a "presiding deity". While most of these sacred deities are associated with local Hindu gods, sacred groves of Islamic and Buddhist origins, and some based on smaller local religions and folk religions (like the folk deities "ayyanar" and "amman" ) are also known of. There are over 1000 deities associated with sacred groves in the states of Kerala and Karnataka alone.

Locations

Sacred groves are scattered all over the country, and are referred to by different names in different parts of India. Sacred groves occur in a variety of places - from scrub forests in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan maintained by the Bishnois, to rain forests in the Kerala Western Ghats. Himachal Pradesh in the North and Kerala in the South are specifically known for their large numbers of sacred groves. [A [http://www.cseindia.org/dte-supplement/forest20031231/forest-index.htm series] of articles in the journal "Down to Earth" on sacred groves]

Around 14,000 sacred groves have been reported from all over India, which act as reservoirs of rare fauna, and more often rare flora, amid rural and even urban settings. Experts believe that the total number of sacred groves could be as high as 100,000. Malhotra, K. C., Ghokhale, Y., Chatterjee, S. and Srivastava, S., Cultural and Ecological Dimensions of Sacred Groves in India, INSA, New Delhi, 2001] [Ramachandra Guha, The Unquiet Woods, University of California Press, 2000 (ISBN 978-0520222359)]

It is estimated that around 1000 km² of unexploited land is inside sacred groves. Some of the more famous groves are the "kavu"s of Kerala, which are located in the Western Ghats and have enormous biodiversity; and the "law kyntang"s of Meghalaya - sacred groves associated with every village (two large groves being in Mawphlang and Mausmai) to appease the forest spirit.

Among the largest sacred groves of India are the ones in Hariyali, near Ganchar in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, and the Deodar grove in Shipin near Simla in Himachal Pradesh.

All numbers are quoted from the records of the "C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre" of the Government of India. Starred numbers are likely to increase. The centre also maintains a complete list of identified sacred groves in India, most of which is online. [ [http://www.ecoheritage.cpreec.org/04_02__sacred_groves.html Database] at the CPR Environmental Education Centre]

Uses

Traditional uses: One of the most important traditional uses of sacred groves was that it acted as a repository for various Ayurvedic medicines. Other uses involved a source of replenishable resources like fruits and honey. However, in most sacred groves it was taboo to hunt or chop wood. The vegetation cover helps reduce soil erosion and prevents desertification, as in Rajasthan. The groves are often associated with ponds and streams, and meet water requirements of local communities. They sometimes help in recharging aquifers as well.

Modern uses: In modern times, sacred groves have become biodiversity hotspots, as various species seek refuge in the areas due to progressive habitat destruction, and hunting. Sacred groves often contain plant and animal species that have become extinct in neighboring areas. They therefore harbor great genetic diversity. Besides this, sacred groves in urban landscapes act as "lungs" to the city as well, providing much needed vegetation cover.

Threats

Threats to the grove include urbanization, over-exploitation of resources (like overgrazing and excessive fuelwood collection), and environmental destruction due to religious practices. While many of the groves are looked upon as abode of Hindu gods, in the recent past a number of them have been partially cleared for construction of shrines and temples. Other threats to the sacred groves include invasion by invasive species, like the invasive weeds "Chromolaena odorata", "Lantana camara" and "Prosopis juliflora".

Traditions

A large number of distinct local art forms and folk traditions are associated with the deities of sacred groves, and are an important cultural aspect closely associated with sacred traditions. Ritualistic dances and dramatizations based on the local deities that protect the groves are called "Theyyam" in Kerala and "Nagmandalam", among other names, in Karnataka. Often, elaborate rituals and traditions are associated with sacred groves [ Chris A. Gregory, [http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JSS/JSS-08-0-000-000-2004-Web/JSS-08-2-085-178-2004-Abst-PDF/JSS-08-2-093-104-2004-Gregory/JSS-08-2-093-104-2004-Gregory.pdf The Oral Epics of the Women of the Dandakaranya Plateau: A Preliminary Mapping] , J. Soc. Sci., 8(2): 93-104 (2004)] , as are associated folk tales and folk mythology.

References