From Cosmology to Conservation: An Ethical-Ecological Analysis of Pur??ic Thought

Purāṇic literature articulates a philosophically integrated ethical-ecological framework, tracing a continuum from cosmological imagination to principles of environmental conservation and sustainability.Traditionally regarded as mythological and devotional narratives, the Purāṇas, when examined critically, reveal a systematic understanding of nature grounded in ecological interdependence, cyclical processes, and moral restraint.This paper undertakes a thematic and textual analysis of selected Purāṇic sources to explore how cosmological theories of creation, the doctrine of the pañcamahābhūtas (five great elements), water-centred cosmogony, and rainfall patterns collectively shape an understanding of nature as a dynamic and self-regulating system.It further examines Purāṇic prescriptions for the protection of trees, water bodies, and animal life, emphasizing the ethical principle of ahiṃsā and its extension beyond human society to the entire living world.These injunctions function not merely as ritual norms but as elements of a broader environmental ethic rooted in dharma, responsibility, and reciprocity between humans and nature.By engaging Purāṇic thought in dialogue with contemporary environmental philosophy and science, the paper highlights conceptual parallels with modern notions of ecosystem interdependence, sustainability, and non-anthropocentric ethics.The study demonstrates that Purāṇic environmental thought addresses concerns central to contemporary ecological discourse, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource management.By foregrounding culturally embedded principles of ethical responsibility and restraint, it offers a distinctive perspective for rethinking conservation practices and sustainability strategies within both philosophical inquiry and applied environmental contexts.