Ancient Indian Wisdom: Timeless Lessons For Modern Sustainability

In ancient India, the creator and creation were viewed as one and the same, fostering a spiritual culture that shaped a circular economy. This perspective led to a deep reverence for the natural world, encouraging sustainable practices long before the term “sustainability” was coined. Today, however, the global perspective often separates the creator from creation, leading to a more exploitative relationship with the environment. Ancient India embraced a culture of interconnectedness, recognizing the synergy between all things on Earth and beyond. This article explores a few ancient Indian practices that offer valuable lessons for addressing our current climate crisis.

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The Vedas, the oldest and most sacred texts of ancient India, contain profound knowledge on how ancient Indians lived in harmony with the Panchamahabhutas – the five foundational elements of nature: Water (Jala), Soil/Earth (Prithvi), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), and Space/Ether (Akasha). These teachings emphasized the interconnectedness of these elements and the importance of maintaining balance for the well-being of individuals and the environment. The Atharva Veda, for instance, poetically describes the Earth as our Mother, with all living beings as her children.

In this worldview, the elements, along with trees and animals, were considered sacred. Devotion to these natural forces served as a bridge to the divine. This reverence led to a culture of innovation that fostered a circular economy, where resources were used and reused in harmony with nature. Nurturing one element nurtured the others. The following traditional practices exemplify the interdependence and synergy among these foundational elements.

Soil

The Atharvaveda contains a hymn known as the Bhumi Suktam, dedicated to the Earth. This hymn venerates the Earth as the universal mother who nourishes all creatures, and it emphasizes the need to live in harmony with nature. The soil is considered sacred, a provider of food, medicine, and all the materials needed for life. It is also seen as a witness to all human actions, much like the sun in Vedic thought.

Vriksha Ayurveda, an ancient Indian treatise on plant science and agriculture, underscores the holistic relationship between plants, soil, and the environment. Authored by Surapala around the 10th century, it provides insights into sustainable agricultural practices that enhance both soil health and air quality. It advocates for the use of organic manure, compost, crop rotation, and intercropping to maintain soil nutrients and prevent depletion.

A key example is Panchgavya, a traditional organic preparation still used in Indian agriculture, made from five products derived from cows: milk, curd (yogurt), ghee (clarified butter), urine, and dung. These ingredients are mixed and fermented, often with other natural additives, to create an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. Panchgavya not only improves crop yields but also enhances the resilience of plants against pests and diseases.

Chemical-free soils have also been used in mud baths for health and the treatment of various ailments. Several studies now highlight the strong association between soil health and human health, emphasizing the interconnectedness between the environment and our well-being.

Ancient Indians revered animals for their role in reinvigorating forests through the dispersal of dung and seeds. Great saints like Swami Sri Yukteswar (Guru of Paramahansa Yogananda, a revered global spiritual leader) wrote The Holy Science in 1894. The book aims to show that The Bible and The Bhagavad Gita convey the same spiritual truths, referencing a plant-based diet and emphasizing ahimsa (non-violence), better health, spiritual progress, and human digestive anatomy, which is more aligned with herbivores. 

Today, it is well-known that the carbon footprint of meat production is high and negatively impacts land and water resources. Modern scientific evidence also suggests that human digestive anatomy, based on tooth and jaw structure, the length of the intestinal tract, and stomach pH, aligns more with herbivores. Therefore, a shift to a plant-based diet based on climate, health, and biological considerations could positively influence land use and sustainability.

Air

Air in the Vedas is considered the carrier of Prana, the vital life force that sustains all living beings. 

The plant-based diets of ancient India supported the cultivation of a diverse variety of fruit-bearing trees, benefiting both the air and soil. In her book The Sacred Plants of India, environmental historian Professor Nanditha Krishna explains how sacred trees such as the Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Neem (Azadirachta indica), and Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) are revered not only for their religious significance but also for their ecological benefits. These trees are known for their ability to purify the air by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen, creating a unique synergy between spirituality and environmental conservation. Her other books, The Sacred Animals of India and Hinduism and Nature, offer valuable lessons on biodiversity protection, conservation, and community efforts in ancient India.

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, also emphasizes the connection between the environment and human health. Ayurvedic texts recommend growing certain plants like Tulsi (Holy Basil), Neem, and Sandalwood for their air-purifying properties. Dhoopana (fumigation), the burning of herbs and resins such as camphor, guggul, and neem leaves, was believed to cleanse the air of pathogens and negative energies while also repelling insects and purifying living environments.

Homa Therapy (also known as Agnihotra or Yajnya) is an ancient Vedic practice that uses fire rituals to purify air and soil. Homa Therapy involves performing specific fire ceremonies at precise times to release healing energies into the environment. Studies by Ulrich Berk and others highlight how these rituals can neutralize pollutants, improve air quality, and enhance soil health.

Water

The Rigveda, the oldest of the Vedas, contains numerous hymns dedicated to water, praising its ability to cleanse both physically and spiritually. The Varuna temple, Gujarat, India, is dedicated to the water deity.

Ancient India was home to tens of thousands of water bodies, including wetlands, mangroves, lakes, ponds, tanks, and reservoirs, which were integral to local communities. These water bodies played a vital role in water conservation, air purification, flood control, and agriculture. However, the number of freshwater bodies in India has significantly declined due to urbanization, pollution, and neglect. 

Startup Vaidic Srijan is working to restore dead and degraded water bodies in India using “Vedic technologies.” These methods, inspired by ancient Indian practices, focus on natural and sustainable solutions to revitalize water resources.

Similarly, Turenscape, a Chinese landscape architecture company, integrates traditional Chinese agricultural practices with modern landscape design to create ecologically sustainable environments. Their projects, such as the Qunli Stormwater Park, use wetland ecosystems to manage urban stormwater, demonstrating the potential of combining ancient wisdom with modern innovation.

Sahana Singh, an author and water management expert, explores the water wisdom of ancient India in her 2017 book The Great Indian Tradition of Water Management. She delves into traditional knowledge and practices that ensured sustainable water use and management over centuries, offering insights into how these ancient methods can inform modern water management.

Energy

Vastu Shastra, or Sthapatya Veda, comprises ancient Indian architectural and design principles. Vastu Shastra uses the Panchamahabhutas – earth, water, fire, air, and space – by aligning architectural design with these elements to enhance energy efficiency. By positioning structures to optimize natural light, airflow, and thermal balance, Vastu ensures that buildings harmonize with their environment, reducing the need for artificial energy sources. It creates a balanced living environment. Ancient temples of India were built on the principles of Vastu. Natural materials are used in Vastu.

The 13th century Konark Sun temple in India is one well known example that utilizes the principles of Vastu; its design and orientation reflect a deep understanding of solar movements. The temple’s intricate architecture, with its 24 wheels and seven horses, is believed to symbolize the 24 hours of the day and the seven days of the week, respectively. Each wheel of the chariot also serves as a sundial, with the spokes casting shadows that indicate the time of day. The temple’s design reflects the Vedic understanding of the sun’s importance in daily life and cosmic order. 

In the Rigveda, the sun is referred to as the “eye of the world” (Jagat Chakshu), emphasizing its role as the observer and sustainer of life. The sun’s ability to illuminate and reveal all things is metaphorically linked to the concept of divine vision and wisdom.

Space

In Vedic philosophy, space is regarded as the medium through which all things exist and interact, highlighting that nothing exists in isolation. Ancient India’s understanding of space is evident in its sophisticated astronomical and cosmological concepts. For example, the number 108 holds significant symbolism; it reflects the ratio of the average distance from the Earth to the Sun (approximately 108 times the Sun’s diameter) and the distance from the Earth to the Moon (about 108 times the Moon’s diameter). This sacred number illustrates the interconnectedness of cosmic and earthly scales, suggesting a profound harmony between the universe and individual existence.

Current Vedic scholars, such as Subhash Kak, David Frawley, and Tony Nader, MD, PhD, emphasize the deep connection between the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (the individual). Their key message is that Vedic teachings reveal an intrinsic unity between the cosmos and human beings, where the structure and principles governing the universe are mirrored within the individual self.

For instance, in the Vedic worldview, the moon (Soma) is often revered as a deity, representing the mind, time cycles, and the nourishing aspects of nature. The moon plays a vital role, from acting as a stabilizer for Earth to influencing plant growth and reproductive behavior. This reverence suggests a deep respect for the natural world and its elements, which can be interpreted as a call to avoid exploiting the moon for its natural resources or building space stations that serve as hubs for living on other planets.

To draw a simple analogy, consider the change in methane levels from the pre-industrial era to the present: according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), methane levels in before the Industrial Revolution were approximately 700 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.00007% of the atmosphere. By 2024, they have risen to 1,922 ppb or 0.00019% – a level that is now considered concerning for global warming. Similarly, if the moon were to lose even 0.00001% of its mass, it could potentially have an unpredictable impact on Earth. 

Everything in the universe is built in the right proportion including distance from celestial bodies to Earth to nurture life; the lesson of ancient wisdom cultures is to respect this balance, harmony, and interconnectedness.

Takeaways for Modern Sustainability

Wisdom teaches us that creatures, from the tiny bee to the massive whale, take little from nature but give back far more in benefits. In contrast, modern humans extract much from nature, returning only debris and degradation. Ancient wisdom urges us to rehabilitate our planet’s health by reorienting our administrative and educational systems around the five foundational elements. To manage these elements effectively, we could develop a unified measure, such as an Environmental Health Index (EHI).

Integrating ancient wisdom from diverse cultures fosters a humble approach to problem-solving. By overhauling tax models into a five-tier indirect tax system, we can influence consumer behavior at the point of purchase. Lower tax tiers for nature-friendly products would encourage the growth of clean tech startups, leading to thousands of innovations that positively impact all five foundational elements. Conversely, higher taxes on nature-unfriendly products would gradually phase them out. This market-based approach requires no major reforms – people would pay in proportion to their environmental impact, a concept deserving serious consideration.

Furthermore, if nations collectively agree to reduce defense spending year by year and instead focus on nature-based solutions, we could make significant strides in rehabilitating our planet.

Just as we successfully embarked on the Industrial, Space, and Information Technology revolutions, the time has come for a revolution to restore our planet’s health and prosperity. Ancient wisdom can serve as a guide.