Sacred Groves. Do you know what they are?
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| Poyil Kavu Durg Bhagavathy temple |
In the district
of Kozhikode in Kerala India, there is a temple named Poyil Kavu in Chemmenchery, close to
Koyilandi.
Once I stepped
into the gate of that temple, I was shocked. There
lied before me a dense forest in the middle of a sprawling town. The trees towered
above, their branches twisting and gnarled like grasping fingers. A thick
carpet of leaves muffled my footsteps as I made my way deeper into the woods
towards the temple. Huge roots crisscrossed the sandy
ground. I was astounded by the enormous canopy that cast a light in shadows.
All but a few rays of sunlight were severely blocked from reaching the ground
by the thick canopy of trees.
I stood, dumbstruck and speechless. A 20-acre ancient dense forest of that size managed
to withstand the relentless assault of urbanization?
How and why?
As usual, curiosity made me want to know more about it and what I found out was even more astounding.
Similar to
early 20th century when US President Theodore Roosevelt actively
engrossed in conserving forests all around the USA to protect the environment,
India had a process to do so that started 1000 years ago in the form of Sacred
Groves.
Many of you
have probably never heard of Sacred Groves, but you should be aware of it nonetheless.
Any tree grove
that holds significant religious value for a specific culture is referred to as
a sacred grove or sacred woodlands.
Our ancestors were fully aware that the natural resources that supported them needed to be preserved for the benefit of coming generations. The groves and their surrounding areas are significantly impacted by the mix of the trees and the other medicinal plants found in the sacred groves. In addition to offering healing sanctuaries and medicines, they have been demonstrated to increase soil stability, stop topsoil erosion, and supply irrigation for agriculture in dry, desert settings. Lakes, ponds, streams, and the vegetative mass that stores water and releases it during dry spells are all found in many groves.
Every town
especially in Kerala has a temple, and historically, each temple was always
connected to a Kavu, or sacred grove, which has a specific ecological
diversity. Except for religious purposes, people were not permitted to access
the Kavus, and any other activity was prohibited. However, over time, Kavus
gradually vanished for a variety of reasons, including changes in the
socioeconomic landscape, strain on the land, and a decline in belief in the
sanctity of groves. Small-scale replicas of the Kavus that formerly existed
were preserved in certain temples and this temple was one of them.
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| An ancient vine on the forest floor of the sacred grove of the temple that I visited |
Around
14,000 sacred groves have been reported across India, which act as reservoirs
of rare fauna, and more often rare flora, amid rural and even urban settings.
Experts believe that the total number of sacred groves could be as high as
100,000. Threats to the groves include urbanization, and over exploitation of
resources. While many of the groves are looked upon as abodes of Hindu
deities, in the recent past a number of them have been partially cleared for
construction of shrines and temples. Sacred groves are places
of pilgrimage for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs.
In Sanatana
Dharma, sacred groves are usually connected to a concept of a
presiding deity. Many nature spirits and guardians, known as Yakshas (a
number of nature spirits), Nāgas (serpent guardians), and guardian tutelary
deities (such ayyanar and amman) are also known as sacred deities. These
deities are frequently connected to Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist deities. In the
states of Kerala and Karnataka alone, there are more than a thousand deities
connected to sacred groves. The gods of sacred groves are the subject of
numerous unique local art forms and folktales, which constitute a significant
cultural element intimately related to sacred customs.
Three sorts of
forests are recognized in Sanatana Dharma: Tapovan, Mahavan, and Sreevan.
Saints and rishis lived in tapovan forests, which are connected to penance (Tapas).
Mahavan alludes
to the vast, unspoiled forests. Since common people are not permitted to access
these forests, Tapovan and Mahavan are regarded as Rakshas
("sanctuaries") for flora and fauna.
Sreevan, which
translates to "forests of the goddess of prosperity," is made up of
groves and dense forests.
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| The dense canopy above the walkway to the temple |
In Kerala,
every big multifamily home known as a Tharavad had a sacred grove in their homes named Sarpa
Kavu where the Snake Gods were revered.
Why snakes you
may ask.
A component of
the people's rich cultural heritage especially in Kerala is snake
worship, which is deeply ingrained in daily life. In India, snakes are still
highly adored and worshipped, both inside and outside of the sacred groves for
many reasons.
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| Puja at the Snake shrine in my maternal family temple |
There is also an environmental significance in worshipping them. Reptiles and the soaring birds of prey who live in these groves eat rodents which are the main enemies of farmers. Because they consume pests, insects, and rodents that harm crops and plants, birds also have a significant ecological and economic role in preserving the natural balance of the environrment. They live a free and fearless life in the Sacred Groves, free from human intervention or danger from hunters. The serpent grove's trees and plant tiers contribute to the production of oxygen necessary for life, stop soil erosion, preserve water, and clean the air.
Groves were
connected to many festivities, religious ceremonies, and leisure time. In North India, recreational activities like jhoola/jhoolan were common in these groves. It represented how Radha and Krishna enjoyed blissful
swinging in the holy groves of Vrindavan. In Kerala and
Nagmandalam, among other places, ritualistic dances and dramatizations based on
the native deities that guard the groves are known as Theyyam.
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| Theyyam at my husband's family shrine. Even though it is a kavu, the sacred groves have long gone. |
Panchavati, a
group of five trees symbolizing the forests, was kept up in some villages. The
Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space elements were symbolized by these trees.
These groves might
help preserve biodiversity, foster a sense of community and belonging, and help
people get closer to nature and we have to do everything we can in our capacity
to visit them and conserve them for our future generations.
Iringole kavu in Ernakulam is a must see said a friend of mine as it has 50 acres of dense forest around it. Here are the details: https://www.facebook.com/tripuntold/photos/a.1105792536190425/1807732502663088/?type=3
Good job Ammu 🙏🙏👍🏻👍🏻
ReplyDeleteExcellent article. Learnt something new . Thank you Ammu.
ReplyDeleteI learn something new each time I read your posts, chechi. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHare Krishna
ReplyDeleteVery good info on Kavi and sacred Troves. I recollect the one near Kowapporum during the late 60 s. It was very very dense and thick. Over the years it has diminished in size and density. We would be very frightened to go near it as there was Nagakovil. Good old days are gone by now.
Rgds Thelakkath RadhaKrishnan Nambiar
Thank you for this very informative article. Though I have offered worship at some Kavus, never developed curiosity to know more about them. Yes, I had never heard the term "Sacred Groves". Praying for collective efforts to preserver the Kavus.
ReplyDelete- Kumar
Fantastic article! Very well written with lots of information that brings a lot of aspects that we watched in our childhood about our rich heritage and culture that implores us to live in harmony with nature. It is a very timely article for our present generation to ponder. Thank you so much!
ReplyDelete