Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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reality Brahman.36 These naturalistic or environmental God and Goddess are often classified into three categories of the God and Goddess of the spheres of earth, air and sky and are said to be 333 in number.37 Even the 'Pitaras? (dead Kins) are invoked together with these devas (Gods).38
But within this politheistic tendency there was the inherent idea of the underlying unity among all the objects and forces of nature as a result of which ultimate regard for all of them was paid. Their devotion and concern for the environment and eco-system was so great that they gave clear commandments for their preservation.39 A clear instruction to avoid the cutting of trees even for the purpose of 'yajna' has been given and they regarded the trees as their friends.41 The Vedas takes the earth and its environment as the affectionate mother and the height of their devotion can be visualised from the the hymns contained in the Atharvaveda praying mother earth for its forgivenes for touching it with feet. 42 Similarly, the Vedas establish the relationship of mother and son between water and man. In Taitareya Samhita43 and Maittayani Samhita44 detailed description of the medical values of water and its peace-giving nature are given. The air (vāyu) has been considered as the father, brother and friend of men45 and human beings have been asked to maintain its purity, as pure air is the bestower of health, long life and happiness. 46 Similar accounts are available about the prime importance of the different objects, creatures and forces of nature for maintaining human-life and grattitude has been expressed to them for providing the human-race with all the ingredients needed for its preservation. Hence, the Vedic-society was very much conscious about the preservation of the purity of environment and showing reverence to all the objects of the eco-system. The famous 'Shānti Mantra' (hymn of peace) contained in the Yajurveda (Om Dyauh Shāntih Antariksham Shāntih.....) in which peace is invoked in the different objects of nature, speaks a lot about their earnest desire for the maintenance and preservation of environmental and ecological balance.47
This was also cheifly due to the fact that according to them all the objects of nature including man have a common source of origin. The Vedas declare that the Ultimate Reality is 'One' and the learned call by many names (Ekam Sad viprāh bahudhā vadanti)48.
Accepting this great contribution of the Vedas about the "One Supreme Being" as the primary source of the origin of all beings Maxmuller Observes that in course of the collection of Rig Veda Samhita the conviction had been formed that there is but One Being ..........which even at present is beyond the reach of many who call themselves Christains.949 This basic concept of “One Supreme Spirit” as the underlying force in all beings, whether living or non-living, echoed in almost all the
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