TRADITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

 India is a country whose traditions are said to dead back to 5000 B.C. David Frawley of the Institute of Vedic Studies in the U.S. would put it much farther back. The father the start, the more difficult would become the tracing of the tradition. India experiences of repeated onslaughts and political conquest and made retrospect difficult because of the haze of battles and the trauma and disconnections that inevitably followed. Nevertheless an attempt can be made to understand India's traditional concerns relating to the environment. The start in necessarily with the Vedas, the farthest possible point of reference, and which are regarded as audible revelations from the Almighty and therefore described as 'Srutis' from 'shrutham' -what is heard. Smritis - what were remembered -followed logically and the puranas, ancient chronicles, of events that are believed to have occurred in this great land. These three, the shrutis, smritis and the puranas, are the basic sources of Indian traditional law. Over the march of Time, Buddhist, and Jaina traditional got categorized separately presumably because India had always given weight to customs, usages and practices of particular groups and even of particular families only provided they were not repugnant to the principles of the principal sources. This has only added to the difficulties of tracing traditions. The earliest India reflection of an ordering principle is denoted by the expression Rta. Which stands for a harmonizing balancing holographic representation of the governing energy principle. It encompassed the universe. Rta and Satya (Truth) were initially regarded as separate principles but later thought acknowledge Rta as the Truth; much later Dharma as Truth. Dharma is derived from Dhru-Dhar - that which sustains. Therefore it can be said that traditional thinking required a harmonic , balancing sustaining principle as the measure of the right and the just. Concerns about the environment reflect these as the absolute requirements.

The definition in S.2(7) of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 can provide a framework for analysis. It defines environment as 'including "water Air and Land and the inter relationships which exists between water air and land and human beings other living creatures, plants , microorganisms and property in short everything outside of the individual. Environmental pollution is understood as unfavorable alterations of surroundings through direct or indirect effects of changes in energy pattern". R'ta: as the harmonizing balancing energy released by god spoken of as Allah in Quran, Thein, Ti in Chinese, Yazdan in Zoroastrian Texts and Ishwara in India. The idea reflected seems to be that an ordering or balancing energy pattern was laid down by divine intelligence as necessary for sustenance. The Qur'an puts it this way: " Where you turn, there is God's face" god represented unity, self-subsistence and omnipotence. The same idea was reflected in India thought right from the start. The Kathopanishd asserts " Tena Vina Trunamapi na chalathi" not even a blade of grass will move without your will. God is believed to have created the sky, water, earthy, plants animals and mankind, in that order (M.M. S.B.E. Vol. 5 pp 99 et.seq) 'OM' stands for either, the origin of all things. (SBE 1, XXV, 1) and is regarded as the highest reality, (SBE 48-522) OM is identified as the primordial un-struck sound which is produced by the energy vibrating in each cell or atom. (An easy verification can be through an ENT specialist testing your hearing. When he places the tuning fork behind your ear, what is head is a delightful resonance of the sound of 'OM' which would keep you transfixed and you feel unhappy when not hearing it). This is Nada, sound from which has arisen everything else. IT is now scientifically recognize that sound, or vibrational energy, can influenced and organized matter for good or ill. Music is one such form of vibrational energy, music made out of love, heat incredibly. It reduces hear rate, regulate breathing and lower's cholesterol. Alkaline music such as soothing classical music and chant increases the body's ability to ward of disease. Music is evolving fast into an alternative system of medicine (Kate Muccii @ Glaxy of Health) . " Patience recovering from earth attacks and strokes respond quickly to treatment. Stress hypertension headaches depression and loneliness are eased by music. AIDS, HIV and STD, Cancer and diabetes are treated and cure by music (http://www/findarticles.com/mONAH/nln27/20152688/pl/article/j'html). This healing effect of music is described as Mozart effect. Music is now known to build your baby's brain this was long known to Indian classical music and study of classical music was almost routine. Certain Ragas were used to produce rain - the Amruthavarshini, Deepaka ragaa would ignite fire. Learning music was part of Indian tradition now nearly forgotten. The Gandharva Veda details the use of musical scales for healing. The Raga Research Institute at Chennai is presently conducting studies on this. Music is employed to make people harmonious and benign by the Chinese. The Chinese have given a special music for every month and even notes of the earth. Either is 'OM' (Space had only the quality fo sound 'OM' Indian tradition enjoyed the chanting of 'OM' and other mantras which are sound patterns produce energy vibrations. 'OM' is described as a sound of silence - the un-struck sound - anahata -which is located at the region of the heart Chakra. One can here this if one practices the art of stilling his mind. Through ether we call through the ether, answer. In the ether everything is bond and towards it everything tends when bom (SBE 1 pi) therefore hooking up to that energy band through the chant of 'OM' can put one on the Pranic web. Perhaps the most profound finding was a Prana. The life force enveloping everything moving or non-moving and the methods for its control and use. With the access to this quintessence energy everything was found possible. Even conquering death but the knowledge got wrapped up in a kind of intellectual property regime and had to be sought by eager aspirants to that wisdom. The multitude lost out through closed access regimes over this knowledge even for day to day benefits, like preservation of health and promotion of well being. The greatest factor of the environment got locked out for many. Dr. Royal Rife, a San Diego a Physician as found that bacteria and virus resonated at their respective electro-magnetic 'signature' frequency and that by bombarding them with frequencies harmonic to the primary they could be destroyed. The Japanese and Chinese form of Pranic healing would seem to be effective for this reason. The same is the case in India methods of Pranic Healing. Cancer is said to be on the rise because it is found to be caused by incessant exposure to dis-harmonic frequencies of sound. Soft quiet music is found to be a remedy but prevention would be better than cure and noise pollution would have to be taken serious note of in the light of these findings. Shrill and loud horns in motor vehicle may have to be banned altogether. In Indian tradition aggressive tones, or tumultuous dins were reserved of war music to evoke aggressive response. This is the same with war music everywhere. In India aggressive tones or loud shouts inside the house or in peaceful relations was not to be done. In tradition, now long lost, the study of the Vedas and performing the duties prescribed therein precluded the use of sound other than properly. Picking up lost threads over a span of 20,000 years is next to impossibility, yet the water marks can be discerned.

Air was identified as the second deity springing from ether. (SBE 8- 337; 38-18 seq). "Namasthe Vayoh". Twameva pratyaksham Brahamasi is the prayer which would go to emphasize the importance given to it. Air was venerated as the element representing the union of heaven and earth (SBE 1-247). Fire is conceived of as produce from Air and dissolving into air. Air is regarding as dissolving into ether. The revelations from inside the pyramid since 1997 of strong esoteric wisdom till then concealed presents the Universe as a holographic whole where time and space are no barriers and thought speed is the measure for contacts and functions. The Ancient Indian's knew this but the wisdom was confined to the sears and sages lest it should be misused. This Ancient India wisdom has now become easier to access through the revelations from inside the Pyramid with the assurance that the energy released can be applied or functional only for beneficial actions not for harm. In this newly revealed knowledge there is no rigidity of shape or form; everything is plastic and pliable. Only selected types of woods or plants were permitted to used as to be fire wood. For sacrificial oblations more selective was the pick keeping an eye to effect of the smoke on the atmosphere. The use of these methods for benefit the humanity was scientifically verified at a Parjanya Homa at Panjal near Shoranur, Keral some years back. The atmospheric changes were measured by scientists from the United States and at the conclusion of the Homa it rained as it was predicted it would. This would seem to reflect he traditional wisdom relating the connection of the elements, a wisdom which is now a preserve of a very few. Inside homes fumigation was only with "Sambrani" or another gum extract from a plant. Sambrani smoke was considered safe even for tender children. For pujas only ten select dd ingredients were taken the Dashanga. Use of incense sticks now which have synthetic chemical perfumes would be suspect from the pollution angle.

Plants were recognized as living beings and treated with respect and concern. Their property of reacting to whatever happened around them as now discovered seem to have been known even then. It was expected that only dried branches or twigs could be taken from the plant. To cut a plant for dire necessity it was expected to submit a request to be forgiven for causing pain. Even flowers could be plucked in the afternoons the medicinal and magical properties of several plants were known and used variously from protecting oneself to even strengthening the steel for the sword. The use of plants and flowers in daily life can even be relatable to aroma therapy which is now surfacing as an alternative medicine. Eco friendly practices using natural produce as protections (eg. Cowdung as protection against snakes) got into dis-favour with modem methods taken over regardless of eco system destruction The earth is looked up on as a deity emanating from water (SBE 1-94). It is looked upon as Mother. Mahi swaroopena bibharthi vishwam (in the form of earth you support the Universe is the Indian thought). The Sikhs regarded the earth as a Mother all. This worshipfull attitude would ensure that the earth will be handle only properly and for necessitate. 33 kinds of earth were identified. The Vaastu Shastra has identified the lands fit for human house-building as well as the harmful effects from living on 'unfit' laws. This learning is resurfacing. The energy factors seem to be the basic for the prescriptions and for the prohibitions although they are stated in terms 'religious'. If followed, the principles can automatically create lung spaces and jungles of human habitaments would not results. The earth is represented as a great cube (SBE 16-61 note). It is the 'OM' from which everything has sprung. Each day everyone is require to connect his heart with the heart of mother earth and the heart of god to become a conduit for Devine energy. In Indian thought even flowing the earth was regarded as causing injury to the body of mother earth and forgiveness was to be sought for the pain and harm caused. The Zoroastrians have details of factors polluting the earth and steps for purification. Water receives venerable attention. Even the earth is supposed have been produced from water (SBE 1-94). "Apamswaroopa sthitaya twayai tad apyayate kritsna malngaveereye" in the form of water the goddess is said to quench the trust of all the living beings. Now water has been significantly shown to have memory, a knowledge which has been traditionally used in sprinkling water with incantations. Water is now revel to carry the palatinum ray energy highly beneficial to humanity but this wisdom has been disclosed only in 1997 and is yet to gain currency. Water is known to wash away negative energies if applied with suitable thought intention. The Abhisheka ceremonies applied d the same principle, but to charge water has memory and is a vehicle. Pollution of water is detailed in the Ahurmasda of the Zoorstrians in the Vaastu Shastra does not permit the use of the same source of the water for washing and drinking except when it is running stream. The injunction of tradition to every one is to recite the Dasha Shanti Mantras which had invocations to Earth - Prithivi Shanthi - let the Earth be undisturbed ; to - Water - Apah Shanthi - let the Water be undisturbed; to- Fire - Agni Shanthi - let Fire remain be undisturbed to - Varuna - Varuna Shanthi - the Lord of the Water's and custodian ofRta and remain undisturbed to - Air - Vayu Shanthi - let the Air be undisturbed to -Forest - Plants - Vanspathayah Shanthi - let forest plants be undisturbed to -Medicinal - Plants - Oushadhaya Shanthi - let the medicinal plants be undisturbed to - the Sky - Antariksham Shanthi - let the Sky remain undisturbed and above all the state of undisturbed quiet itself- Shanthi reva Shanthi.

The Shiva Stuti the Chamakas all have references to Environmental matters invoking beneficial effects. When the recital of the Vedas was routine and all were required to study them by hearts proper attitudes formed in the Individuals by the effect of repeated chanting of 'OM' and other Mantras. The shaping of attitudes is on of the tasks every society does according to its lights. Custom or usage were the initial devise for cultivating desired attitudes and social pressure was the sanction against the deviant. The law also has the same objective - to arrest bad tendencies. Its technique how ever is different and would not seem to lend itself to these aspects of individual attitudination . A William of Occam in the West disputed the duty to obey god and the defiance has spread. Modem societies are more heterogeneous and regard individual attitudes as outside state interference except when causing harm to another. Enacted law was believe to produce the necessary attitudes the device would succeed only if the law is strictly enforced. Private social norms fail to respond because of the looseness in the social fabric. The legal order in Traditional India recognized even individual family custom has locked provided they were not repugnant to the principles in the "Shrutis , Smrutis and Puranas". All these societal norms with all the variations would qualify for possession as legal norms. The tradition concerned itself with very much with environment and its proper use. The failure of sanctions, as in the case of secular law, has tended to push the practices and associated concepts into oblivion. A secular study and practice of these standards along can revive and revitalize them into actual observers but the "intellectual property regime" built around them and the time investment inevitably necessary to activate them would seems to make its actual realization a distant dream.