Abstract
This communication is an effort to decipher phytogeographic alterations particularly due to exotic plants associated with the teachings and disclosures of Lord Buddha. The various exotic taxa on Indian landmass in Lord Buddha’s time had an important role to play in human sustenance and civilization. The present author, therefore, analysed plant species as contained in ‘Pali Tipitaka’ in view of plant invasion in ancient period in Indian territory. It was possible to identify total 70 exotic plant species pertaining to 66 genera and 41 angiospermic families. Majority of them (47 species) are introduced for cultivation in India to sustain human life, while 19 species exhibit wildness and integral to Indian biodiversity in present time. Their native geographical regions are deciphered consulting relevant literature. They belong to both Old and New Worlds. Importance of ancient religious scriptures is brought under clearer focus from standpoint of phytogeography and plant invasion.
Highlights
The Lord Buddha was born in Majhima-Desha, the broad fertile plains surrounding the rivers Ganga and Yamuna in India
He spent his whole life in this environment. His teachings were committed to memory but compiled later on in ‘Pali Tipitaka’
There are three divisions of Tipitaka viz. (i) Vinaya Pitaka (Rules of conduct of daily affairs within community, (ii) Sutta Pitaka (Discourses attributed to Lord Buddha and Buddhism) and (iii) Abhidhamma Pitaka (Underlying doctrinal principles presented in Sutta Pitaka recognised systematically)
Summary
The Lord Buddha was born in Majhima-Desha, the broad fertile plains surrounding the rivers Ganga and Yamuna in India. He spent his whole life in this environment. The said Tipitaka contains information relating to economic, social, cultural and political life of Lord Buddha’s time. It informs the ancient natural environment soils, habitats, topography, seasons, forests, etc. Pali Tipitaka is replete with references to various plant species, crop plants, forests, useful botanicals, etc. Pali Tipitaka reflects floral elements of northern India of ancient period. Present account focussed the exotic plant species gleaned from the said scripture and dilated the subject matter pertinently
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