Air Conservation (वायुसंरक्षणम्)
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Air is also one of the five great elements.
Air is a mixture of several gases, dust, smoke and water content. About 21 percent of the total volume of air is of oxygen. Oxygen is also called Prana-Vayu. Without this, we cannot live.[1]
AIR CONSERVATION IN THE VEDAS
the importance of air in the Vedas and conservation of air.
It is not possible for us to survive without breathing in pure air, so it is very important to concentrate on conservation of air.
• To know the importance of air in Vedas; and
• To understand the basic spirit of air conservation in the Vedas.
IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION OF AIR IN VEDAS
In the Atharvaveda, mentioning the importance of air, it has been said that air helps in transporting the sky water everywhere, which brings prosperity in the Annadi.
उत्समक्षितं व्यचन्ति ये सदा य आसिञ्चन्ति रसमोषधीषु । पुरो दधे मरुतः पृश्निमातॄंस्ते नो मुञ्चन्त्वंहसः ॥२॥[2] utsamakṣitaṁ vyacanti ye sadā ya āsiñcanti rasamoṣadhīṣu । puro dadhe marutaḥ pr̥śnimātr̥̄ṁste no muñcantvaṁhasaḥ ॥2॥
(Atharvaveda 4.27.2)
That is, those who carry the water through the air here and there in many ways, who take it to annadi medicines, I keep them in touch with the air deities that touch the matter and the sky. Such air deities release us from all sufferings.
In the Vedas, giving respect to air, it has been said that the air protects us.
त्रायन्तामिह देवास्त्रायतां मरुतां गणः । त्रायन्तां विश्वा भूतानि यथायमरपा असत् ॥५॥[3] trāyantāmiha devāstrāyatāṁ marutāṁ gaṇaḥ । trāyantāṁ viśvā bhūtāni yathāyamarapā asat ॥5॥
(Rigveda 10.137.5) In the imbalances happening in nature, there is a prayer in the Vedas against the rage form of air i.e. the storm, the loss which occurs from the storm; that O Lord of the Gods, our prayer is that you should always be friendly with everyone.
मरुतां मन्वे अधि मे ब्रुवन्तु प्रेमं वाजं वाजसाते अवन्तु । आशून् इव सुयमान् अह्व ऊतये ते नो मुञ्चन्त्वंहसः ॥१॥[2] marutāṁ manve adhi me bruvantu premaṁ vājaṁ vājasāte avantu । āśūn iva suyamān ahva ūtaye te no muñcantvaṁhasaḥ ॥1॥
(Atharvaveda 4.27.1)
That is, I will always remember in my mind the destructor of the air (wind). May that wind bless me and make everyone happy and capable to be able to give food. I have called beautiful winds like fast moving horses for my protection. May those winds grant us freedom from all sorrows.
Here the sage is requesting air (wind) to remain good.
Pointing to the concern of environmental security, the sage says that air (wind).! Do not harm the fields with trees (Annadi), tree-
यत्सीमन्तं न धूनुथ ॥६॥[4] yatsīmantaṁ na dhūnutha ॥6॥
(Rigveda 1.37.6) Air protects us from many types of disorders occurring in space. That is why the sage of the Rigveda prays that O Pavan protect us from the disturbances in Space
सूर्यो नो दिवस्पातु वातो अन्तरिक्षात् । अग्निर्नः पार्थिवेभ्यः ॥१॥[5] sūryo no divaspātu vāto antarikṣāt । agnirnaḥ pārthivebhyaḥ ॥1॥
(Rigveda 10.158.1) In the Atharvaveda, air has been described as a destroyer of filth and suffering.
अपेतो वायो सविता च दुष्कृतमप रक्षांसि शिमिदां च सेधतम् । सं ह्यूर्जया सृजथः सं बलेन तौ नो मुञ्चतमंहसः ॥४॥[6] apeto vāyo savitā ca duṣkr̥tamapa rakṣāṁsi śimidāṁ ca sedhatam । saṁ hyūrjayā sr̥jathaḥ saṁ balena tau no muñcatamaṁhasaḥ ॥4॥
(Atharvaveda 4.25.2)
That is, O air and Sun God, both of you together remove the filthiness here. Cure the diseases and remove the sufferings because both of you mix with spiritual satisfaction and with physical force. Therefore, give us freedom from sufferings and sorrows.
In this way, we see that oxygen has been called the pranavayu (deathbed) in the Vedas and it has been ordered that we should keep trying to conserve air i.e. to keep the air in pure form. We should not pollute the air and whoever pollutes such air, its crime is unforgivable.
Stating the importance of air, it is said that air provides purity to all other things. It purifies the water. Therefore, the Vedas instruct us not to do any act which makes the air impure. We should keep our daily routine in such a way that we conserve air and we should not let even the least amount of air pollution happen.
The Vedas have been prayed to protect the Earth from ultraviolet and other poisonous gases coming into space.
In short it is said that, Vedic literature has placed a lot of emphasis on maintaining the purity of air.
• Importance of air in Vedas
• the main way of conserving air in Vedas[7]
References
- ↑ Vijnana - Level A (Chapter 7), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Atharvaveda, Kanda 4, Sukta 27
- ↑ Rigveda, Mandala 10, Sukta 137
- ↑ Rigveda, Mandala 1, Sukta 37
- ↑ Rigveda, Mandala 10, Sukta 158
- ↑ Atharvaveda, Kanda 4, Sukta 25
- ↑ Vijnana - Level A (Chapter 8), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).