How are environmental elements and components like forests, lakes etc. envisioned in Indian philosophy?

Environmental elements and components like forests, lakes etc. envisioned in Indian philosophy:

Indian philosophy has an eagle eyed lenses of viewing the relation of humans with nature and how human beings should behave with the nature/environment. There are three categories of forests mentioned in the Vedas, namely tapovana, mahavana and shrivana. The tapovana forests were mainly known for the dwellings of sages where the kings, princes and commoners could go and meet them for advice.

The word tapa means meditation, and through the technique of meditation, the sages could sharpen their intuitive knowledge. The mahavana forests were usually bigger in size and were the abode of all wild plants, trees, herbs and shrubs and animals. The shrivana forests were associated with temples and their flora was exclusively meant for religious use. Since endemic plants grow in specific climatic conditions, such native forests in the vicinity and jurisdiction of the temple were instrumental in the preservation of the indigenous flora and fauna. However, it may be noted that the association of fauna with flora was considered to be secondary as the primary focus was on the endemic plants. Such forests or groves were distinct to certain communities living in specific geographical locales. Each community in the pre-Vedic times had some sort of beliefs associated with certain plants, and these were dedicated to their local deities. Groves in such situations got associated with gods, goddesses, and ancestral holy spirits.

Lakes in India have always been the reservoirs of water. The pure rain water was stored in the lakes, and the village ponds. Apart from daily supply of water for household needs and cattle requirements, these water bodies served as agents of replenishing the water table. Digging of ponds, lakes and wells was considered to be a noble act and many well off people were engaged in the maintenance of these water bodies. Like other elements of nature, the lakes were also significant for their direct relationship with the heavenly powers. One may recall the famous lake Rakshastal located to the west of Mansarovar. It is at one of the islands of this ubiquitous lake that the famous king of Lanka, Ravana offered each of his ten heads, one after the other, to lord Shiva till he granted him the powers he wished for. Unlike the Mansarovar lake which is round in shape, Rakshastal is of a crescent shape.

The former is considered to be pious while the latter is treated as inauspicious owing to its association with the demonic king Ravana. In the village Narkatari of Kurukshetra district of Haryana, there is a pond which is named as Bhishma Kund. It is said that during the epic battle of Mahabharata when Arjuna had defeated Bhishma, he asked for water from the great warrior. Arjuna then with his sharp arrows drew water from the earth. Since, it was Bhishma who required water; the pond therefore, is named after him.There is a small temple near the pond where pilgrims from all over the country come every year to pay their homage to the legendary Pitamah Bhishma.

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