The Madhukeshwara Temple at Banavasi: the southern capital for the spread of Hinduism in South India
In the hilly region of the Western Ghats of South India, the people have preserved Sacred Groves for almost 3000 years. Their decision to preserve these patches of old growth evergreen forest is largely because these forests are fundamental to their livelihood. They prevent soil erosion and species extinction, while also providing an abundance of resources, including clean water. While sustainability was at the Sacred Groves origin, religion has been a driving force in its survival. As Hinduism spread throughout India, the nature gods housed in the Sacred Groves were absorbed into the Hindu religion as various forms of Shiva, the nature god. While the original Sacred Grove had no temples because the spirits were thought to reside in the trees, the trees were cut to build temples as those spirits were adopted into Hinduism. Later, stone temples were erected and dedicated to a deity who protected the remaining Grove. In many ways, they share the same formal qualities of the preceding grove. More interestingly, they share a sustainable quality and stand as prime examples of how a people have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. By employing the methods of academic literature review and field documentation, this research records the history of the Sacred Grove from its origin, three millennia ago, up to the surviving Groves and temples of today. This time-tested knowledge of sustainable design is then applied towards the resource scarcity we face today.