Restore Lost Groves

The decline of sacred groves began in the Indian plains in tandem with agricultural expansion.

- M D Subash Chandran

Soon, they were replaced by temples. But compared to most parts of the world, where dogmatic religions wiped out nature cults, sacred groves persisted in large numbers in India, especially in the highlands, as repositories of primeval biodiversity, moderators of local climate, protectors of soils and watersheds, giving rise to perennial streams and springs and recharging groundwater.

Some 25 centuries ago, when Gautam Buddha lived, the Gangetic plains were dotted with sacred forests dedicated to sylvan deities like yakshas, yakshis and mother goddesses. Buddha’s sermons were mostly from vanas (sacred groves) or aaramas (parks) like the Deer Park of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh. He meditated in Jetavana of Sravasti, an ancient city on the Gangetic plains; established a monastery in the Veluvana (bamboo grove) there; and spent his last days in the