Sacred Plants of India  (English, Paperback, Amirthalingam M)

Discover the mythical stories of the Sacred Plants of India in this book by Nanditha Krishna and M. Amirthalingam.

Summary of the Book

Nature is constantly deified and worshipped throughout the world. Religions have always incorporated plants into their fold, explaining their importance in one way or the other. Indian stories are no different, and in this thought-provoking book, readers will learn about the various trees and plants which have sacred importance in our country. The Pipal is associated with the Buddha, who meditated under it. The Banyan tree is said to hide spirits behind its branches. The Ashoka is a vital part of the Ramayana, as Sita sheltered beneath it. And the holiest of plants, the Tulsi is worshipped in every Hindu home. Readers will learn about the sociocultural roots of the plants of the Indian subcontinent, and they will also understand the ecological importance of these plants. Thorough in its research, this book blends mythology, botany and religion to tell the story of the plants of India.

About the Authors

Nanditha Krishna is an environmentalist, historian and writer. She is based in Chennai and is currently the Director of the C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation and C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre. She holds a Ph.D. in ancient Indian culture and she has spearheaded the documentation of the ecological traditions of India. She has also been involved in the restoration of over fifty sacred groves and has established the C. P. R. Indological Research Centre, several schools and the Shakunthala Jagannathan Museum of Folk Art. She has also written: Sacred Animals of India, Book of Demons, Book of Vishnu, Madras then Chennai Now, Balaji Venkateshwara, Ganesha, Painted Manuscripts of the Sarasvati Mahal Library, Arts and Crafts of Tamil Nadu and Art and Iconography of Vishnu Narayana.

M. Amirthalingam is an Indian botanist and the Environmental Education Officer at C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre. He has also written Sacred Groves of Tamil Nadu, Sacred Trees of Tamil Nadu, Temple Tanks of Chennai and Flora and Fauna of Valmiki’s Ramayana.