Environment: Concept and fact in Ramayana and Mahabharata

MadanMohan Tarun

We are flowing moments. We are subconsciously integrated to our past which is always on its journey. We are constant travelers. We never ever stop. From centuries to centuries we are traveling and changing ourselves and causing change to our surroundings without knowing it. In course of our eternal journey, we cross through rivers, mountains, face extreme weathers, enchanting beauty of nature, destructions sent from the sky and the earth, facing and fighting battles and wars and what not. We are not ordinary travelers. It is changing weather of time. We carry our environmentwith us. We are the products of it and we produce it. Our existence is interdependent.

Writings are the record of our journey, since when we learnt this art . Ramayana and Mahabharata, two great epics, give full details of their time. They cover variety of memories of their time they passed through. Let us see, what environment they carried, created and passed over to us.

Environment and its residents

It is not easy to understand the concept of environment in Ramaayan and Mahabhaarat exactly from our todays point of view. In these two great epics the nature is viewed as the extension of the same consciousness. As per Hindu -view of life, they all pass through eighty four lac yonis in their different births.

When Ram reached to Panchvati, during his exile, he met with Jataayu. Jataayu was a vulture ,a bird. It was so gracious with its huge body and feathers that Laxman, brother of Ram ,confused it to be a monster. Jataayu addressed Ram as vatsa ( a boy or son in loose terms) and introduced himself as a friend of king Dashrath, his father. When Ram wanted to know about his race,he gave full details of origin of seventeen Prajapatis and their origin. according to which , Prajaapati had sixty daughters. Eight of them were married with Kashyap, out of which only four could achieve motherhood. Aditi mothered thirty three deities ,twelve Adityas, eight Vasus, eleven Rudras and two Ashiwinikumars.

Kaalakaa mothered Narak and Kaalak. Birds were born from Taamraa. Krodhavashaa mothered Mrigi, Sharduli, Sursaa , Kadru and others, Human beings were born from Manu, the wife of Kashyap. Daughter of Krodhavasha, Iravati , mothered animals like Airaavat ,the king of elephant. Hari motherd loins ,Monkeys ,Apes , owls and others. Another wife of Kashyap ,Analaa mothered trees and in the same linage Kadru became mother of Snakes and Vinataa gave birth to Garuda and AruNa. And the same AruN fathered Jataayu and his elder brother Sampaatifrom from his mother Shenii .( 1)

The whole episode is explanation of the Hindu- View of life which does not differenciate between the existence of living and none livings. Sita herslf, was not mothered by any human being. She was born from the earth. Janak says to sage Vshwamitra about her in these words : One day when I was ploughing a plot, set apart for a sacrifice, I discovered a female baby arose from the track of the plough sphere. Since she was born in my field ,she was known as my daughter, (2)

Sita interred into the earth at the end and Ram went back to his own loka live with the members of his family, friends, residents of Ayodhya , monkeys , apes and birds and animals walking through river Saryu. (3)

Along with Raamaayan , Mahaabhaarat also maintains the concept of the birth from one yoni to the other. River Ganga was the wife of Shantanu and mother of. Bhishma. (4)

All the sons of Pandu were the products of the main elements of nature. KarNa was the son of Surya (the Sun) Yudhisthir of Dharma ( Truth) Bhima of Vaayu (Air) Arjun of Indra and from Maadri the second wife of Pandu, conceived her two sons Nakul and sahdeva from Ashinikumars.(5)

Draupadi was born from the sacrificial altar as well as her brother Dhrishtadyumna..(6)

There are many such examples where the distinction between the human beings and others looks to be abolished. Not only human beings ,but almost all the metals are the products of the discharged

semen of lord Shankar. They are his sons and daughters. Lord Shankar was so much charged by the charming vision of Agni that he could not control his semen and discharged it in the sacrificial alter resulting into birth of Skanda.

Wealth Of Nature

The world of RamaayaNa and Mahaabhaarat is blessed with the richness of greenery of nature. Its sky is clean, weathers perform their journey with their all qualities and remain uninterrupted , Its rivers are full of neat and clean water, the breeze is pure and nourishing and the flow of life around is healthy. In a kingdom where some one dies immature , is criticized. Growing trees ,making ponds are considered pious. There is no scarcity of natural fountains , but rich people have artificial fountains near their houses. People love nature and worship it like God. Elements of nature have been attached with the festivals., Many Rivers, Mountains, Trees , Animals and Birds are worshiped.

Nature has got maximum place in RamaayaNa. Some descriptions , giving details of the surroundings is worth mentioning. When Ram reached to Chitrakut , with his brother Laxmana and wife Sita , the kingdom of nature welcomed him with the Kinshuk tree laden with blossoms from all sides. Braches of Beil tree had gone down due to the weight of its flowers and fruits .Honeycombs were hanging from the trees. Chakravaak and peacock birds were crying and responding to their female mates. The whole jungle was full of chirping sounds of variety of birds and it looked as if trees were also responding to their calls.(7) Striking water of Gangaa against rocks assumed to be her horse laugh and the foam produced out of it reflected her bright smile. At some places its water produced sound of Mridanga and some where as falling sound of lightning. Trees on her bank s laden with flowers looked like offering garlands to her. At some places she looked like a young women , walking artistically , producing sounds of her waist jewels. This is not an ordinary river. This has originated from the feet of Vishnu and has come down to the earth through the mass of matted hair of head of lord Shankar. She flows in all the three lokas together.(8)

Where the Ganga flows today , there was no any source of water when Sagar ruled this territory.When his sixty thousand sons were burnt to ashes due to the curse of angry sage Kapil, the king could not get water to offer to the departed souls of his sons.(9)

The same episode has been produced in Mahaabharat as a horror creating ocean without water.(10) Much later, Ganga was brought to the earth by Bhagirath , and he offered them water.

Valmiki has mentioned many big and small rivers flowing there. Tamasa, Shonabhadra,Saryu, Ikshumati, Saraswati, Yamunaa, Shardand , Maalini , Vipaashaa, Saraswati, Shatadru, , Shilavahaa, Mulinga, Kapivati and SthaaNuvati are well known among them.

Likewise trees, mountains ,animals and birds also play very important role in healthy flow of our life. Our ancestors ,during RaamaayaN and Mahaabhaarat period were very close to them and they are well aware of the impact of environment on our life. Their enthusiasm and love for nature was boundless. After the completion of exile, pandavas went to Gandhamaadan mountain. They saw variety of creepers ,trees ,animals and birds there. Vyaas has given following details of those. Among trees Aam, Aamdaa, Nariyal,Tendu, Munjaatak, Anjeer, Anaar, Niboo,Kathal,Lakuch (Badhar),Moch,(Kelaa) Khajoor, Amlabeit, Paaraavat, Kshoudra, Sunder Kadamb, Beil,kaitha,Jamun,Gambhiraa, Beir,Paakad,Goolar,Bargad,Peepal,Pindakhajoor,Bhlaavaa,Aavalaa, Harre,Bahedaa,Ingud,Karoundaa,and wearer of big fruit Tinduk and other trees were swaying in healthy environment of gandhamadan pleasantly.They were laden with fruits and flowers.

Pandavas went forward watching and enjoying flowers of Champa, Ashok,Ketaki, Vakul, Punnag,SaptaparN, Kner, Kevada, Patal, Kutaj, sunder, Mandaar, indivar,Parijaat, Kobidaar, devadaru, Shaal, Taal, Tamaal, Pippal,Hinguk, semal, Plaash, Ashok, Sheesam, and Saral .Pndavas enjoyed presence of variety of birds like Kaadamb, Chakravaak, Kurar, Jala Kukkut, Kaarandava,Plub, hUnse, Vaka, Bhringraaj, Upchak, Lohprishtha and many others. (11)

Ramaayan and Mahaabhaarat cover rough and mild both the aspects of nature and environment. The journey of life is performed through them. At times we enjoy the heights of mountains for their

mystic beauty , at times crossing them becomes a problem, and we enjoy flowers, but cannot avoid thorns. At one hand arrival of clouds and pearl like rainfall fill our hearts and eyes with boundless pleasure , but they cause rivers flooded and they at times wash away our every thing . At times we are made to fight for our survival. We are bound to accept beauty and the beast both.

One day Ram was sitting on the mountain Malayavan with his younger brother Laxman. It was Rainy season. Clouds were roaming on the sky . He told his brother see the clouds resembling mountains After sucking the water of ocean through the sunrays ,the sky is giving birth to life. It carried the showers as a foetus in its womb for nine months. Rays of evening is reflecting red color in the clouds with their boarders white. They look as if the sky has dressed its wounds with moister laden white rags of clouds. The lightening flashing in the deep blue colored sky ,looks to me as if abducted Sita is panting with pain in the arms of RavaNa. The rivers run swiftly to the ocean . The female heron is joyously moving on her wings to the cloud. And a loved woman full of longing is approaching her darling. Peacocks are dancing, Bulls are eager for union with the cows. Rivers are rushing onwards, clouds are raining, elephants are trumpeting with joy. The kings of beasts exhibit their power and strength. Roaring clouds are hanging over the sky overpowering the roaring of oceans. They have overflowed all rivers ,ponds lakes and tanks. The whole jungle has become charming. Clouds have covered the whole sky. Neither stars are visible in the night or the sun during the day. Expeditions of kings have stopped. Their armies stand obstructed on the way. Their hostilities have subsided.(12) Ram feels sad without Sita in such a charming surrounding.

Presence of greenery around and other activities of nature make our heart receptive ,mild and humane. It helps in giving expression to our feelings and sentiments. Poetry of the whole world has given maximum place to nature as nothing is beyond that. Causing destruction to it, is our own destruction. Our ancestors knew this.

Weapons used

But it would not be correct to say that everything was all right in those days. There is no scarcity of such episodes in both the epics, where lot of environmental destructions had started taking place. During the rule of King Dashrath , people from RaavaNa family had started spreading its pressing influence on the boundary line of territory . There armies were gradually covering larger areas inside the jungles around. It not only was damaging higher values of life, but there presence was also causing great harm to the nature. Their destructive forces had become so much powerful that even highly influential sage like Viswamitra was finding it difficult to perform his daily religious rituals comfortably. He had to take help of Ram and Laxman, sons of the king. Even during the time of exile of Ram he had requested him to save his people from them . When Bharat went to meet his brother to the chitrkoot , he had to take a full army with him. The notoriety of those uncontrolled outsiders reached to its peak when they dared to abduct Sita wife of Ram and daughter in law of powerful King Dashrath. It was done by nobody else , but RaavaNa, the king of Lanka himself. We have no any record of life of common people ,but it can be guessed easily. It must be worst.

When king Dasharath wanted to know the strength of those people from Viswaamitra , he informed him: There is a powerful Demon RaavaNa , who rules Rakshasaas , descending from the line of sage Pulastya ,who has become a terror of the area. He himself does not interfere in our rituals , but two other Rakshasaas named Mareech and Subaahu under him , cause destruction. Dashrath expressed his inability to face them.(13)

While crossing river Gangaa , Viswamitra told to Ram and Laxmana , who had come to help him, that a women demon Tataka ,is gradually destroying the areas of Malad and Karush badly. Her army is spread over an area of one and half yojana. She has almost destroyed the area completely. No body dares to go to that direction even during day time out of her fear.(14)

Situation in DandaakaaraNya had become still worst. Armed forces of ShurpaNakha, sister of RaavaNa, under her control , were well settled there. It was huge and equipped with deadly weapons. Once she sent her fourteen thousand soldiers under the leadership of Khar and Dooshan to fight with Ram,but they were all killed by him. This type of encounters took place under the leadership of Trishir and Mareech and others also. This is enough to understand that how big army was settled around there. If some armed force is settled any where, there will be a big number of horses and elephants also. And for there free movement a hurdle free land is also needed and also fire , food also in huge quantity. This must have been the beginning of damage of environment to make it all available at the cost of natural wealth. In these battles and wars big number of destructive weapons was used . Some times those weapons caused rain fall ,some time they created storm of fire , flames and dust. Mountains were broken for constructing roads .Huge part of jungles must have been crushed under the marching feet of the soldiers. Thousands and thousands must have been killed. Their bodies either have been flown in the rivers or many of them must have been left abandoned to rot and spread epidemics.

When Bharat started with his family for Chitrakoot to meet Ram , he had to take his army also with him for protection. Exhaustive preparations were done for the smooth movement of his army. Vaalmiki has given details of those preparations. A group of technicians , engineers , expert in geographical details ,guides also went with him. They made path for the movement of the army and the kings family by removing creepers , bushes , stones and variety of trees. They filled many tanks and wells full of water , on the way , coming as obstacles, with dust. They made uneven land even. They also created new wells and ponds on the way as per the need of those areas from where they crossed.(15) When sage Bharadwas enquired about his armed forced to offer them food ,Bharat replied to him that he knowingly kept his army away from his hermitage for it has many hoses , elephants and huge number of men who may at times cause harm to the trees ,water , land and hermitages.(16) Ram himself came to know about the arrival of some army in chitrakut , seeing herds of agitated elephants, buffaloes and deers running to

wards various directions creating disturbing noises.(17) This shows that the movement of armed forces was not very friendly to the nature and environment. Variety of Highly destructive weapons was invented. by the period of Ramaayan . When Viswamitra encountered Vashishthha, he used variety weapons which were well known for their horrifying destructive capabilities. Apart from weapons like Raudra, Aindra, Pashupat and aisheek , Vishwaamitra used gaandhava,swaapan,jrimbhaN, maadan,santapan,vilaapan, shoshaN,vidaaraN, sudurjaya, vajraasta , brahmapaash, kaalpaash, VaruNpaah and pinaakaastr, He also used dry and wet , two types of Ashani , dandaastra,pishaachaastra, krochaastra, dharmachakra, kaalchakra,vishNuchakra, Vaayavyaastra, manthanaastra,hayashiraa, two types of Shakti , kankaalaastra,vaidyaastra, kaalaastra and kadakNaastra. Vashishta cooled down all these weapons only by using brahmadanda. When he used it, it looked smokeless and burning like horrible flaming fire of death.(18)

Brahmadand was once used by Ram also. When all other efforts of making path through the ocean to reach to Lanka with his army failed , he decided to use Brahmadand charged with brahmastra on the ocean. Before using it he warned the ocean telling him the repercussions of his arrows: O ocean! I will dry you up till your depth of pataal. None of your inhabitants will survive. A huge part of youre your water will turn into a land of sand. (19)

Finally in a dramatic situation , on the request of the ocean itself , Ram released his great arrow towards Drumkulaya, causing great destruction to the area and its inhabitants. The place ,where this great arrow with flashing lightening hit , turned the ocean into a desert. This part is known as Marukantaar. The arrow made big hole unto rasaatal piercing through the earth . The hole with water is known as VraNa (20)

The great bow of Shiva , kept in Mithilaa with king Janak. , was so huge and heavy that bravest people of its time could not move it from its place. When it broke , while Ram was stretching its string, it created sound as if lightings fell on the

mountain and mountain burst with its effect. This thundering sound caused earthquake and it was heard by Parshuraam who lived at a distant place. Hearing this he reached to Mithila. He could not believe that a young boy, introduced to him as Ram , can break such a powerful bow which proved even devatas , Ykshas and AsurasIn feeble before its unparallel weight and power. In order to judge the power of Ram , Parshuram gave his own huge and powerful bow to tie its string to the bow. Ram did it playfully within no time and he released his arrow from the bow which destroyed one of the Lokas of Parshuraam , situated far away.(21)

While his battle with Bhishma, Parashuram used some such weapons which produced horrifying fire with the density of twelve suns rose together.(22)

Gaandeeva , Famous bow of Arjun was famous for its enormous destructive powers. When it was used for burning Khandavaprastha , it destroyed many races of birds and animals for ever. Many ponds and reservoirs of water boiled killing its countless inhabitants. It continued to burn for months together. Those who remained alive , many among them lost their eyes, feathers , legs and other parts of body for ever.(23)

Many races of serpents were sacrificed in the Naagyagya , organized by king Janmejay. (24)

There were thousands and thousands of men and animals who were killed in these wars. Some parts of land lost its fertility for ever, some merged into the ocean, some turned into deserts , some races of animals living under water or on land and birds were wiped out for ever by variety of weapons used in these two wars. Some of those weapons were equipped with atomic power and were capable to cause boundless destructions. Oceans , rives and sky became polluted due to the poisonous gases released from these weapons. We know what destruction atomic weapons have caused in the second world war of our age and we can guess the intensity of suffering and destruction to which would have caused to the environment and living beings even of those periods.

References

1 Ramaayan By valmiki: AraNyakaand, canto 14, verses 1- 36 2Do, Balkaand, canto 66, Verses 13-15 3 Do, Uttarkaand, Canto 11o, and Verses 16-21 4 Mahaabhaarat: Adiparva\Sambhavaparva, Chapter 95, Verse 47 5 Do, Adiparva/Polomaparva, Chapter 122-123 6 Do, Adiparva/ Chatrarathparva, Chapter 166 7 Ramaayan By valmiki: Ayodhaakaand, canto 56 8 Do, canto 50 9 Do, Baalkaand, canto41, verse 15 10 Mahaabhaarat: AraNyaparva/Teerthayaatraapava ,Chapter 107.Verse 12 11 Do : AraNyaparva/Yakshayuddhaparva,Chapter 158 , Verses 42-52 12 Ramaayan : Kishkindhaakaand canto 28 13 Do , Balakaand canto 20 , verses 17- 20 14 do, Baalkaand ,canto 24,verse 32 15 Do, Ayodhaakand canto 80 16 Do, Do, Cato 91 , Verses 7-9 17 Do,Do,Canto96 ,Verse 8 18 Do, Baalkaand ,Canto 56 , verses 7-12 and 14-15 19 Do, Yudhhakaand ,canto 22 , verse1,2. 20 Do, Do , canto 22 , Verses 36-41 21 Do, Balakand ,canto 67 22 Mahaabhaarat, Udyogaparv/ Ambopaakhanaparva,Chapter181 , Verse 8 23 Do, Adiparva/Khandavapradaahparva , Chapter255 24 Do, Adiparva/ Asteekparva, Chapter 5

http://www.new1.dli.ernet.in/data1/upload/insa/INSA_1/2000c950-9.pdf