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Environnement Protection Awareness

in Ancient India

Presentation By

Dr.A.S.Nene

Professor of Civil Engineering, (Retd.)

VNIT Nagpur

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Engineering sciences were very advanced

in ancient India (3500 - 5000 BC).

More than thousand texts-(Shilpasamhitas)

on the various engineering sciences are

still available

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Indian Sages gave the mankind

3 Tra

Mantra Tantra Yantra

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1.Mantra -Sanskrit hymns

Water is mother of welfare, May our

mother show the way of prosperity

and imparts her strength to us

Rig-Veda 10-9-1

Mantras are mystical arrangements ofsacred sounds

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2.Tantra -Technology

Definition of Shilpa

Shilpa -The word Shilpa is derived from words Sheel

samadhou , which mean any thing that please the

mind. Sage Bhrugu has given a definition ofShilpa

Shilpa includes many articles (things), machines,

innovations, metals, and artificial means.

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3.Yantra -Machines

Arihatta = Rope +pots = Water Mill = Persian wheel

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Ancient references

A Water-mill rotates continuously, as the sky

moves - Bhaskaracharyya

Pots of moving water-mill are empty, partiallyfilled or full, similar as destiny - Nitishastra

Water fountains, Water-mills and artificial rainsare wonders of water - Rajgruhanirman

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1)Earth Prithwi

2)Water Aap

3)Air Vayu

4)Sky Aakash

5)Light- Tej

Aitariya Upanishad gave the concept

of Panchmahabhotas

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1- Prithwi-Earth

Earth is my mother, I am her son.'

Earth is not for the different races of men alonebut for other creatures also

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Prayer of Motherland

Land, which contains oceans, rivers and canals; Whose

farmers produce food grains and live together; Where

each living persons works with vigor; Such our

motherland may nurture us with her juices.

Atharvaveda chapter12

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2- Aapah- Water

Water occurs in five forms: Rain water, Natural

spring, Wells and canals, Lakes and Rivers

Waters are nectars

The only three precious things on the earth are

water, food and pleasing words.

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Jala Shastra = Water Resources Engineering

Sanchetan = Water Supply

Samharan = Drainage

Stambhan = Storage of water

Three Vidyas (Techniques)

Related to Water

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3-Vayu - Air

Yadya is best sacrifice

Air is nectar, it gives us long life. The pure airwhich we inhale enriches good health.

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Worship trees which gives us medicines

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Trees save those, who saves trees

One tree is equal to ten sons.

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y Kills the germs of T.B., measles, smallpox and

cow-pox.

y Lessens the effect of atomic radiation to a great

extent.

y Controls the air -supply and temperature

variation due to sacrificed substances of firewood

Creates a pure, hygienic, nutritional and healing

atmosphere

It has been proved that Yadnya

Ghee and different types of wood and grasses were

offered to gods through Yadnya

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The word "Paryavaranam" is

combination of four words

"Pari+ang+vru+lyut"

A Sanskrit word "Paryavaranam" was

prevalent in ancient India

Thousand years prior to advent of modern science

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The Arthshashtra contains provisions meant to

regulate a number of aspects related

to the environment.

The fifth pillar edict of Emperor Ashoka(269 BC to 231 BC)

also contains such regulations

Kautilya (350 B.C - 283 B.C)

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All eighteen Puranas have a separate chapter

on site selection (Bhumipariksha)

Germination Test

Flower Test

Lamp Test

A site is selected on the basis of

To test the level of ground pollution

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Nitisutras of Chanyakkya

Aphorisms - pithy sentences predicts;

God Vishnu and River Ganges would abandon this

earth after ten and five thousand years

(respectively), but only after twenty-five hundred

years the earth would be a barren land.

(Prediction of Global warming?)

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Rock outcrop,

Types of trees and their foliage, Presence of anthill,

Presence of hibernating animals

Brihat Samhita of Varahmihir

The prediction of

depth, quality and quantity of water on the

basis of surface features

Chapter 54 - Water divining

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One who destroys wells, tanks or temples is awicked person.

The person who pollutes waters of ponds, wells

or lakes goes to hell. Padmapurana-96-7-8

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One who renovates wells, tanks, temples getseight times results than that of constructing

new structures.

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If ground is waterlogged, then the water should

be drained out by digging drains parallel to north

east and refilling the trenches by brickbats and

stones so that excess water drains out.

Waste Disposal -Bhrugusamhita

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Water drains should be below ground,

The bottom surface should be smooth and sloping,

If such drain is not provided then the owner should be

fined (54 coins).

Bhrugusamhita

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Waste disposal sites should be on north east side and

far away from residential areas. KautilyaArthshashtra

Rivers, roads, agricultural fields, green lands,

sunshades and public places should not be

polluted (by urination or excreta) -Vashishtasamhita

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One should not excrete or urinate in

water, one should not spit or take bath

without any cloths on the body

Taittiriyaranyaka

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Waste Disposal

Throwing garbage on the streets

- 2coins

Throwing garbage in drains - 4coins

Throwing garbage at religious places - 16 coins

Throwing dead animals 48 to 96 coins

depending upon size of animalCremation at unauthorized places -192 coins.

Kautilya fixed Fines for

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Noise pollution- Aapstamb Gruhyasutra

Students should observe silence from evening till thestars appear in the sky.

The vow of silence (Mauna) is prescribed in various

rites and rituals.

Speech is restrained after the performance of

principal rites

The consequences of sound pollution were foreseen

by Vedic Seers

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Pollution of space

Effect of wireless communication on

birds.

Effect of mobiles on human health.

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Conclusions

1. The term Environment was first well defined in ancient

Indian texts.

2. The residential sites were selected on the basis of

environmental factors such as land, trees and water etc.3. Methods for pollution prevention were described in these

texts.

4. The ancient knowledge is consistent with modern

environmental engineering

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References

1.A

itariya Upanishad2.Arthshashtra (Kautilya)

3.Atharva Veda

4.Bhrugusamhita (Bhrugu)

5.Brihat Samhita (Varahmihir)6.Manushyalayachandrika

7.Nighantu

8.Nitisutras (Chanyakkya)

9.Taittiriya Aranyaka10.Vashishtasamhita (Vashishtha)

11.Vasturatnakar

12.Vishwakarma Prakash (Vishwakarma)

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King Bhagirath,worlds first irrigation engineer.

Sage Kashypa reclaimed the water-logged land

of Kashmir(Land ofKashyapa)

Varahmihir was the first hydrologist to predictlocations of aquifers.

Sage Parashar developed astronomical methods

to predict rain fall.

Ancient text Kadambini" describes forecasting ofrains based on traditional methods.

"Nighantu" mentions one hundred meaningful

names of water.

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Sage Vashishtha and Sage Bhrugu were

the first to describe properties of flowing and

steady water. (Much before Archimedes).

Water mills were first developed in India

and then the technique was adopted in

Persia.

Kautilya gave guidelines for construction of

dams, canal, wells, pollution prevention etc.

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