Stories of sustainability: Role of hindu myths in cultivating green values among children

Imagine a world where rivers are Goddesses, forests are sacred groves, animals are companions of deities, and every living being is a manifestation of the divine. This is not a utopian vision but a reality embedded in Hindu spirituality, philosophy and lifestyle. In Hindu cultural narratives, myths have long served as reservoirs of wisdom, embedding spiritual and ethical values in humans. These myths often locate humans within nature, as the Hindu philosophy of ‘ Udāracharitānām tu Vasudhaiva Kutuṁbakam ’ believes in the coexistence and interconnectedness of all elements of nature. However, today this sacred relationship between human beings and nature is undergoing a phase of crisis due to the emerging anthropocentric mindset. This situation calls for the implementation of eco-centric teachings of Hinduism to bring about ‘symbiocene’. Hence, by revisiting Hindu mythological narratives, this research aims to cultivate an understanding in children about the importance of fostering connections with nature, thereby contributing towards creating a generation that perceives the environment through the lens of respect and care, essential for mitigating the ‘present ecological crisis’ and saving the planet for tomorrow. Further, by analysing the ecological imagery in the mythological narratives of the Rāmāyaṇa , the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata of Vyasa, 2006) , the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam Purāṇa (Prabhupāda, 1972) , the Sāralā Mahābhārata , and the Devī Bhāgavatam Purāṇa (1922), this research provides a pedagogical approach that interconnects spirituality with environmental ethics to address the contemporary global crisis of Anthropocene by nurturing an innate reverence for the natural world. Furthermore, the present study emphasises that reconnecting with Indian knowledge systems is an urgent necessity to mitigate the current environmental catastrophe.