This report is focused on how religious belief of Hindu people in my country affects the understanding, use and management of some animals and plants.

Animal and plants occupy an important place in Hindu culture. Pashu Vidhya (Animal knowledge) was an important topic for study. Still there is practice of herbal medicine which is either commercial or homemade. Many people still believe that animal is not born but re- born containing their ancestors and late family members. That’s why animals and plants are protected either in the name of religion or culture. Some animals like Tiger, Elephant, Cow, Bull, Dogs etc. present ritual, spiritual and symbolic significance and part of the culture.

We consider the carriers of god as powerful creatures which also have a purpose in creation. That’s why they are worthy of worship and veneration. As deities, they are worshipped by devotees on their special days. Lord Shiva rides a bull which is named Nandi. The bull symbolizes Virility. An eagle like creature called Garuda is served as carrier of lord Vishnu. Indra’s vehicle is a white elephant and it denotes royalty.  Hanuman, a monkey is also sacred as a devotee of Lord Ram. Dogs and crows are worshipped every year as a messenger of Yama (King of Death). Cows and Bulls are treated as god during Laxmi puja and Govardhan Puja (special festival of Hindu People). People feed monkeys during their visit in the temples like Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath. People also love to feed the fish and other aquatic creatures found in the lakes around the temples and religious places. People consider some of these animals as a part of family. For example, chapati prepared in home, first and last is always for cow and community dog.

Not only the animals but also the plants are used in various ritual activities. Some plants like Kush (Dsemotachya bipinnata), Tulasi (Ocimum basilicum), Pipal (F. religiosa), Bar (Ficus bengalensis) are commonly used in some rituals such as worship ceremony, Bratabandha, marriage and death rituals. There is practice of occasions like Tulasi Vivah(marriage) and Tulasi plantation to make sure this plant is available in every house. As we know Tulasi is a commonly used herbal ethnic medicine. In Nepal, about 82 species of plants are used in different religious performances (Acharya 2003). A part of Nepal’s forest is protected as a religious forest.

The role of traditional belief has been proved successful to conserve natural resources and biodiversity in some extent. These plants and animals have significant conservation values. As earth is common for every species, I believe that assessing of their ecological role and formulating more scientific strategies will be helpful to keep up biodiversity balance.

 references: 

Niroula, G., & Singh, N. (2015). Religion and Conservation: A Review of Use and Protection of Sacred Plants and Animals in Nepal. Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 20(2), 61-66. https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v20i2.13950

Acharya, K.P. 2003. Religious and Spiritual Values 

of Forest Plants in Nepal. The XII World 

Forestry Congress, 21-28 September

https://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/essays/sacred-animals-of-hinduism.asp

photo reference: https://skrisshphoolbari.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/haribodhini-ekdasii-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%80/