The Pantheistic Hermit and the Sacred Forest Perspectives of Vedic Ecology

Abstract

Chandamama, a monthly magazine published in 13 Indian languages, was tremendously popular in the country in the latter half of the 20th century. It played a very influential role in the life of Indian children of the time. Chandamama predominantly attempted to portray through its stories an Indian society in such a manner that it would inculcate “Indian traditions, values and culture” among children. This article observes how several stories in Chandamama reflected the problem of deforestation and the depletion of wildlife caused by increasing industrialisation and urbanisation in 20th century India. Moreover, the stories in Chandamama also constitute a call for the protection and conservation of wildlife, which is achieved through the representation of a Vedic society with the recurring image of the “holy,” pantheistic hermit residing in the pastoral forest, and also the representation of the creatures of the forest as sacred and as possessing special powers that they use for the welfare of humans who live in harmony with nature.