This is a sacred Bodhi tree found next to a bus stand in the Nilgiris.
In Sacred Groves and Local Gods: Religion and Environmentalism in South India the author makes the argument that with the deepening of the global environmental crisis, many Indians concerned about the effects of deforestation have claimed the sacred groves as ancient indigenous ecological tradition. The way sacred groves are used, is not just a form of resource management, but is part of something stronger and more respected: religious custom and tradition. Even so, many in the academic community refer to the sacred groves as an exemplary system of “traditional community resource management.” This is because natural resources held in common are conserved for the long-term benefit.
This article also makes an interesting argument for why the sacred groves have been preserved for so long. It is not, as I’ve found in other articles, simply nature worship or superstition. The trees are thought to be the alankaram (which literally means adornments, and by extension beauty or decoration) of the outdoor temples, but more importantly, they are owned by the gods themselves. They understand the trees to create a healthy space. They create a beautiful cool environment, and often such an environment brings good health. This thinking especially makes sense in such a hot climate.
This article was also very useful for my own research as it gave a specific example of a sacred temple dedicated to the local form of the pan-Indian deity Vishnu, Sri Azhagar. The formal name of the temple, Tirumaliruncolai, literally indicates the cool and beautiful place created by the many trees and plants. Interestingly, the vast tracts of lands around the Azhagar temple were held in the name of the deity. Any produce from the land was shared among those who provided service to that deity. In this way, the land was preserved in the deity’s name for many centuries.
But, through colonialism, the land was seized for the Forest Department and the sacred groves were deforested almost comletely. The Tamils rightly believe that people and the land they inhabit mutually reinforces each other’s character. This was proven clearly through the ecological marginality of the grove and the political and social marginality of the people who once protected them. The Tamil Nadu people were brave enough to engage with the fierce and unpredictable gods of the forest who illustrated the qualities necessary for survival under unpredictable and harsh environmental conditions. As we may someday once again find ourselves facing similar conditions of scarcity, the lessons learned by these people and reflected in their use of land, may become more relevant.
Source:
1) Kent, Eliza F. “Sacred Groves and Local Gods: Religion and Environmentalism in South India.” Worldviews 13 (2009): 1-39. Print.