Environmental conservation was an integral part of Indian
culture. In Vedic texts there were many instructions to conserve forests,
wildlife and the environment.
Adarva veda says,
Yathe, bhume vikhanami
Kshipam thathapi rohath
Ma the marma vimrugwari
Ma the hridayamarpitham
This
means,
“What
of thee I dig out
Let
that quickly grow over.
Let me not hit thy vitals or thy heart.”
Later the great king Asoka who ruled a major part of the
present India defined a king’s duty as not merely to protect citizens and
punish wrong doers but also to preserve animal life and forest trees.
These conservation messages and instructions passed by
religious texts and great rulers to the general public did not disintegrated by
the passage of time. You can see those instructions are still observed by many
parts of India. You can see a typical example for this at Vallikattu kavu, a
small temple surrounded by thick forest area situated at Chikkilode, a small
hillock place about 25 kilometers away from Kozhikode town in Kerala state of
India.
Vallikattu kavu temple premises is 18 acres of dense forest
far away from Government owned reserve forests. The temple and its surrounding
18 acres of forest were in the ownership of Varoti mannaradampath Nair families
until it was taken over by Malabar Devaswom Board. The deity in the temple is
of the Goddess Durga. Priests are from Vallikattu and Karakkat Namboothiri
families. Worship ceremonies in the temple last till 10 A M everyday.
There are more than 200 monkeys in the forest area
surrounding the temple. Devotees from various parts of Kerala come here not
only for worshiping but for feeding the monkeys with plantains, coconuts, biscuits,
groundnuts etc. And spend a little time with them. Monkeys of the temple never
disturb devotees. When you reach the temple premises, the monkeys soon approach
you without showing any unfamiliarity. All the visitors of the temple are their
acquaintances. Normally the monkeys gather around you when you reach the temple
premises, thinking that you will not come there without carrying any food stuff
for them. If you are a newcomer, you will surely get scared of the chattering
sounds of the monkeys. Then just show them a coconut that almost every devotee carries
as a part of worship. The monkeys could understand that you have come there
only to worship and did not bring anything for them. In that case, they will
not show any grudge and leave you so calmly.
The temple has no compound wall and central shrine. The
monkeys present there protect the area from intruders. A major part of devotees
come here for a divine remedy for their infertility. The worshiping ceremony
for this is offering boiled rice prepared in 101 earthen pots to the deity.
After the pooja all the food is given to the monkeys. Thus the conservation of
monkeys is ensured.
This forest area is abode of many wild species of trees,
plants and wildlife such as foxes, tortoises, peacock, wild boar and snakes.
A never drying-up small water stream that starts from Eliot
hill and passes by the temple shows you the inter-relationship between water
and forest. A bath in the natural pond of the temple will refresh you and will
show you the power of pure and serine water.
The existence of this rich forest area is a boon to the
nearby villagers, as it provides water and manure for their farm land. The
predator birds living in the forest area controls pests of their agricultural
land. All the ecological benefits of forests can be seen live in this small
area. Many water birds and other small creatures are abundant in the
surroundings of this grove.
In this grove you can see knee roots of various trees.
Nearby villagers believe that once there were wild elephants roaming in the
area. The Goddess Durga created these roots on the earth of the grove to
protect villagers from the attack of wild elephants.
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