Forest, dharma, and the ecological imagination: Lessons from India’s epics

In an age where technology shapes nearly every aspect of human life, our understanding of “progress” has become increasingly growth-driven, competitive, and extractive. We continue to build what may be called a “shiny cage” of material success. This often comes at the cost of our ecological and spiritual well-being. Yet, long before contemporary conversations around sustainability, coexistence, and ecotourism emerged, India’s civilisational texts had already articulated a deeply rooted ecological consciousness.

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, two foundational texts of the Dharmic tradition, offer profound insights into the relationship between humans and the natural world. Far from treating forests as mere backdrops or victims, these epics position them as spiritual and transformative spaces. They are ethical, spiritual, and ecological arenas where human character is tested and refined.

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