Bhumandala Sanrachana: The Indian Worldview of the Natural and Plant World

Abstract

The Indian visualization of the natural universe, as described in textual sources and Indian art, declares plants as living beings. This idea is beautifully illustrated through the concepts of rta, rasa and manas. Trees are also likened to having tremendous sattvic element, which makes them a repository of sattvic plant, karma. Forests of trees have been described as sacred plant groves with high fields of energy. These traditional Indian associations with plant life have helped to create an environment of ecological conservation in different parts of the country. From my experience as an artiste and a dancer, herein, I have tried to highlight the powerful role of art and personal association. In human life, art and cultural associations are often the powerful network, through which we tap into the inner life of the natural world, and engage in conversation with plants as sentient beings. These ideas from across disciplines are presented to bring about a wider and more holistic understanding of the perception of plant life, with specific reference to Indian culture and thought.

As is a mighty tree, so indeed is a man

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Green to red, chlorophyll to blood.

Colours must ripen. Or they leave no progeny

How I became a Tree (Sumana Roy, 2017)