Sacred Ecology

'This collection of essays about South Asian nature-related folklore provides an unusually multi-faceted overview of folk wisdom on humanity’s connection with nature. As most of the essays were written in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by authors with condescending and positivist points of view, the introduction provides important social and political background for the reader. The collection, however, offers a unique opportunity to understand – and perhaps reclaim – the necessity of water, plants, birds and other animals, and even inanimate parts of nature to human survival.’ Suzanne Hanchett, Ph.D., Planning Alternatives for Change, LLC & International Women’s Anthropology Conference/IWAC; Author of Water Culture in South Asia: Bangladesh Perspectives ‘The vital connection in the Science-Religion-Society triad to build/destroy all in our ‘Earth Home’ significantly permeates this set of purposefully selected and relevant research articles, published nearly a century ago, and hard to come by today. True! They are coloured by a ‘Colonial mindset’ and ‘Western Science’ influence; nevertheless, through narratives (focused on flora and fauna, precious stones, omens and superstitions, figurative stories and myths), and reflections and analysis on them, they present us with the vision, wisdom and world view of a bygone era in which there was resonance and integration between humans and nature. The creative critique in the Introduction to the book enlightens us about the roots of the devastation that the triad continues to inflict today on our ecology. ‘Sacred Ecology in India’ points the way for a better tomorrow.’ Vincent Braganza, S.J., Ph. D, Scientist (Emeritus) and Ex. Chairman, Xavier Research Foundation, Ahmedabad, India