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International Research Journal of Commerce, Arts and Science Issn 2319 – 9202 INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, ARTS AND SCIENCE ISSN 2319 – 9202 An Internationally Indexed Peer Reviewed & Refereed Journal Shri Param Hans Education & Research Foundation Trust WWW.CASIRJ.COM www.SPHERT.org Published by iSaRa Solutions CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 Eco-Consciousness in Bishnoi Sect Dr. Vikram Singh Associate Professor Vaish College, Bhiwani (Haryana), E-mail: [email protected] The present paper is an endeavor to analyze and elucidate the ‘Eco-Consciousness in Bishnoi Sect’ as Guru Jambheshwar laid twenty-nine principles to be followed by his followers in the region of Marwar. He was a great visionary and it was his scientific vision to protect our environment in the 15th century. A simple peasant, saint, and seer, Jambhuji1 (Guru Jambheshwar 1451-1536 A. D.) knew the importance of bio-diversity preservation and ill–effects of environmental pollution, deforestation, wildlife preservation and ecological balance, etc. He not only learnt it himself, but also had fruit of knowledge to influence the posterity to preserve the environment and ecology through religion. Undoubtedly, he was one of the greatest environmentalist and ecologist of the 15th and 16th century as well as the contemporary of Guru Nanak2 (1469 - 1539) who composed the shabad to lay the foundation for a sacred system for the environmental preservation: Pavan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat. Pavan means air, which is our Guru, Pani means water, which is our Father, and Mata Dharat Mahat means earth, which is our the Great Mother. ’We honor our Guru’s wisdom by believing that all humans have an intrinsic sensitivity to the natural world, and that a sustainable, more 1 Jambhoji: Messiah of the Thar Desert - Page xiii 2 Burghart, Richard. "The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect". In Ethnohistory 25, 2 Spring 1978, pp. 121-39.Also see in detail, Hawley, J. S. and Mark Juergensmeyer, trans. Songs of the Saints of India (New York: Oxford UniversityPress, 1988) International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 219 CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 just society is possible, where water, air, land, forests, and biodiversity remain vibrant, living systems for our generation and future generations’.3 Guru Jambheshwar initiated new faith Bishnoi with the 29 principles at the village of Samrathal Dhora (Sand Dune) near Nokha in Bikaner District of Rajasthan in 1485 A.D (on the eighth day of the black fortnight of the month of kārtika of the Vikram Samvat 1542) which would govern the lives of his followers i.e. Bishnois - derived from ‘bees’ and ‘noi’, which means 20 and 9 that was unique seed of conservation of nature sown in the Marwar region in the 15 th century.The Majority of the peasants of the Marwar region of the Bishnoi sect whole- heartedly accepted the twenty-nine principles4 of Guru Jambheshwar which were specially designed to conserve ecology and bio-diversity to ensure eco- friendly healthy environment for the people of the region as well as for our future generations. In this way, the Bishnoi Sect came into existence when the people of Marwar accepted the twenty nine tenets proclaimed by Guru Jambheshwar. It is often said in the local dialect; “Untees Dharma ki akhadi, hirday there Joye, Jambheji kirpa Kari, naam Bishnoi Hoye” which means those who will follow these twenty-nine principles by strictly heart, Guru Jambheshwarji will bless them and they will be considered true Bishnoi. The eight tenets out of the twenty nine are strict guidelines for the preservation of the environment, bio-diversity, ecology as well as these also motivates good animal husbandry and compassion for living things. These eight principles also strictly prohibit killing of animals, sterilization of bulls, felling green tree and motivates preservation of all life forms. His followers were also directed to use the firewood without small insects protecting them. Guru Jambheshwar urged his followers not to wear clothes dyed by using ‘Neel’ as the dye for colouring is obtained by cutting shrubs.5 The Bishnoi sect has a simple and scientific way of living. A small sect spread in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, which contributed more 3 Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Guru Nanak and Ecology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 2004, pp.40-47. 4 “29-Rules”. http://www.bishnoisamaj.com. Retrieved 24 January 2014. 5 Chapple, C. K. “Religious Environmentalism: Thomas Berry, the Bishnoi, and Satish Kumar.” Dialog 50, no. 4 (2011): 336–343. International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 220 CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 preservation and protection of the environment as well as wildlife than any other religion or sect. The followers of the sect believed in the sanctity of the environment and the need to protect trees as well as animals who also learnt how to nurture Nature without exploiting it. They felt proud in protecting the trees as well as animals. The people of this sect are devoted conservationists and ecologists having the scientific attitude to whom religion meant for the preservation of vegetable life. The Bishnoi are very fierce in defending flora and fauna who attacked the poachers and chased them away to protect wildlife. The Bishnoi Sect is based on principles of conservation, including compassion and preservation of wildlife, deforestation as well as prohibits on idol worship whose basic concept is to treat all living things with dignity as we depend on our environment to sustain life. They sacrificed their lives to conserve and protect the flora and fauna since the origin of the sect. Preservation of the environment, wildlife and Nature is a part and parcel of these natures-loving people’s traditions. The principles of this community are rays of light for eco-friendly, environment, for health, peace, harmony, love and ecological balanced Nature which are very beneficial for human being irrespective of religion. The old Chipko song in Garhwali language draws inspiration from the philosophy of Bishnoi Sect: “Maatu hamru, paani hamru, hamra hi chhan yi baun bhi... Pitron na lagai baun, hamunahi ta bachon bhi”6 The meaning of this old Chipko Song: Soil ours, water ours, ours is these forests. Our forefathers raised them, it’s We who must protect them! There are some activities and practices which are unique in the Bishnoi Sect that are complemented with Nature and their eco-consciousness in life style. The Bishnoi’s abode is full of flora and fauna where they live in a complete harmony with Nature in the oasis. The Bishnoi Sect preaches love and peace with harmony among human beings, plants, animals and the 6 Sengupta, Amit. “Chipko! Hill conservationists”. tehelka.com. Retrieved 29 July2012. International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 221 CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 biosphere, etc. Many Bishnoi tenets inspire harmony and peace in Nature, prohibiting the eating of meat and felling of trees and direct us “be compassionate toward all living beings.” They have developed their farming and animal husbandry scientifically so that they have their own self sustained economy. The Bishnoi people are very religious as they may be hungry and thirsty, but they will never allow an animal or bird to die due to deficiency of fodder, food or water. This eco-conscious community has a strong bond with nature and is in complete harmony for more than 500 years following their Guru Jambheshwar’s tenets. The Bishnois are true devotees of their Guru Jambheshwar who can sacrifice their life and become violent and aggressive to guard Nature i.e. flora and fauna. A hunter cannot escape from a Bishnoi’s eye to be caught which might prove worst thing for such hunters. The Bishnois bury their dead, unlike Hindus to avoid cutting of trees following their Guru Jambheshwar’s instructions. The Bishnoi carpenters never cut trees, but they would wait for trees to fall down due to storms or natural calamity. The Bishnois do not chop green trees, but they use dried cow dung cake as fuel. Though the Bishnoi were mainly depended on agriculture, yet they also carve wood when they are not busy with agricultural practices. The Bishnois protect the black buck from poachers and allow to graze them freely on their farms as they are sacred to their religion who believe that the black bucks, nilgais and chinkaras have their first right to the crop and whatever is left belongs to them. To provide water for animals, especially black bucks, they construct tanks in their fields and grow trees in groves to provide habitat and food for birds and animals. A Bishnoi temple in Jajiwal village, Dhora, Jodhpur, is an instance of the rarest dedication to the environment and Nature in the world. The Bishnoi live in the Thar desert where these groves also help to bring rain and maintain moisture in the desert soil. The Bishnois are practicing naturalists, committed conservationist and guardians of the wild animals. The Bishnoi women do not lag behind men, as they have deep maternal affection for the rescued orphaned calves. It is not uncommon for a Bishnoi woman to breastfeed a newly born, orphaned calf of a black buck. We cannot ignore the pragmatism and scientific attitude of Bishnoi people who are especially associated with nature and divinity. The Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) tree known for its sacredness in Bishnoi Sect which provides food, fodder, and building materials. It has played a vital role in the ecology, especially in the Thar desert. Therefore, in the Bishnoi’s cosmology, flora and fauna are viewed intrinsically venerable whatever they are useful or not.
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