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Myth and Reality: Studies in the Formation of Indian Culture
25 Apr 1984-
About: The article was published on 1984-04-25 and is currently open access. It has received 50 citations till now.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that communities around the world traditionally protect natural sites that are dedicated to ancestral spirits or deities, such sites cover a wide variety of habitats and are often located in biodiversity rich regions.
Abstract: Existing global protected area networks have two shortcomings: (1) they do not cover certain habitats, and (2) local people often resent their formal management. Here, we show that communities around the world traditionally protect natural sites that are dedicated to ancestral spirits or deities. Such sites cover a wide variety of habitats and are often located in biodiversity rich regions. Case studies on sacred groves show that these small forest patches play an important role in biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, natural sacred sites are maintained through traditional methods of community based conservation that do not require governmental involvement. Incorporating these sites into conservation networks could enhance the effectiveness of protected areas by covering a wider variety of habitats and by harnessing the support of local people. In this article, we discuss current threats to sacred groves that need to be addressed through management approaches. More research on the ecology and underlyin...
334 citations
TL;DR: A review focusing on the Western Ghats in southern India and Meghalaya state in north-eastern India, both international biodiversity hotspots, is presented in this paper.
Abstract: Sacred forests represent an important long-held tradition of conserving specific land areas that have cultural, and often religious, significance. India, with its diversity of cultures and traditions, has over 100 000 sacred forests. Many of these groves are forest fragments in agricultural landscapes. In most cases, community members are at least aware of these fragments, if not actively involved in their protection and management. This review focuses on the Western Ghats in southern India and Meghalaya state in north-eastern India, both international biodiversity hotspots. In addition to the cultural significance of sacred forests, a number of studies have suggested that they are important refuges for conservation of biological diversity, including medicinal plants, within highly anthropogenic landscapes. Whilst sacred groves have been successful conservation areas, current threats to these forests are numerous, ranging from pressures for use of timber and other forest products to clearing for agriculture or general changes in cultural traditions. A variety of arrangements exist for ownership and management of sacred forests, making it necessary to identify solutions on a case-by-case basis. Support for the continued practice of the tradition of sacred forest protection is needed in order to provide a culturally sensitive model for community-based natural resource management.
144 citations
Cites background from "Myth and Reality: Studies in the Fo..."
...The communities may have protected groves in honour of pagan gods, animistic deities or ancestral spirits (Kosambi 1962)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors have identified nine distinct subcultural regions of India and used explanations grounded in functional and neo-institutional theories to account for the origin and maintenance of cultural distinctiveness of these regions.
Abstract: As India continues to emerge as a global economic player, scholars and practitioners increasingly need to understand the cultural heterogeneity within this large and populous nation Based on Lenartowicz and Roth’s framework of culture assessment, we have identified nine distinct subcultural regions of India and used explanations grounded in functional and neo-institutional theories to account for the origin and maintenance of cultural distinctiveness of these regions Further, we developed seven cultural value dimensions for the Indian society and used these to hypothesize and empirically test the existence of cultural differences within India Results supported our hypothesized arguments This study advances our knowledge of how global functional and institutional forces have combined with national forces to shape India’s overall culture and how more local forces have shaped its regions Methodologically, it identifies and develops measures that specifically reflect the values of individuals living in India and uses these to assess intra-national cultural differences within this nation Further, it suggests how use of multiple methods can enable us to understand the simultaneous presence of somewhat contradictory values within a society The study also provides applications of the proposed cultural value dimensions and advises implications of regional subcultures for various social and organizational phenomena
88 citations
Cites background from "Myth and Reality: Studies in the Fo..."
...Similarly, the Portuguese colonized parts of south-western India between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries and influenced the traditions of this region (Kosambi, 2005)....
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06 Dec 2007TL;DR: Angelika Malinar as mentioned in this paper argued that the Bhagavadgita's theology delineates not only new philosophical concepts and religious practices but also addresses the problem of righteous kingship and appropriate use of power.
Abstract: The Bhagavadgita is one of the most renowned texts of Hinduism because it contains discussions of important issues such as liberation and the nature of action as well as the revelation of the Krishna as the highest god and creator of the universe. It is included in the ancient Indian Mahabharata epic at one of its most dramatic moments, that is, when the final battle is about to begin. In contrast to many other studies, this book deals with the relationship between the Bhagavadgita and its epic contexts. On the basis of a thorough analysis of the text Angelika Malinar argues that its theology delineates not only new philosophical concepts and religious practices but also addresses the problem of righteous kingship and appropriate use of power. Malinar concludes by considering the Bhagavadgita's historical and cultural contexts and those features of the text that became paradigmatic in later Hindu religious traditions.
45 citations