Religion, Nature and Anthropology: A Perspective From the Bishnois of India

Presenter:

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Abstract

There are numerous communities all over the world that have a close relationship with their environment, particularly with natural resources and wildlife. The Bishnoi is one such community in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India with distinctive religious practices called Bishnoi Dharma since the 15th century AD. They follow wildlife and other natural resources conservation practices as part of their religious doctrine. The agro-pastoralism and agroforestry have been the major lifeline of the inhabitants in the Thar Desert for the centuries. The Bishnois are well known in the Indian Great Desert region by following Agroforestry and agro-pastoralism by protecting indigenous trees, such as Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), kankeri/ Kankedia, Jal, plants and herbs; local wild animals and birds and numerous other species for the centuries.

However, recent changes in land use and urbanization have affected the Bishnois’ relationship with the environment. This paper-based on intensive fieldwork among the Bishnois of the Khejarli village in western Rajasthan, for a period of 15 months using anthropological methods. The combination of both religious beliefs and local ecological knowledge practices have been the major factors for the Bishnois to conserve trees and wild animals in their surrounding habitat for the centuries. The paper attempts to address the origin of Bishnois religion and worldviews, history, theological understanding as well as how these religious beliefs and practices contributed to the conservation of nature and shaping their culture. The paper also focuses on the Bishnois’ respond to the contemporary discourse in conservation, politics and religion changes.