Climate Change and Ancestral Indian Wisdom: An Assessment of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge

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Abstract

Climate change represents not merely a scientific or technological crisis but a profound civilizational and ethical challenge. As the world confronts the increasing peril of climate change, ancestral wisdom—grounded in Indigenous viewpoints—provides essential insights into the causes of ecological disaster and the routes to resilience. Since time immemorial, Indigenous People have sustained a symbiotic relationship with nature, informed by traditional ecological knowledge that underscores comprehensive stewardship of land, water, and life systems (“Indigenous Science, Climate Change, and Indigenous Community Building: A Framework of Foundational Perspectives for Indigenous Community Resilience and Revitalization,” n.d.).   Rooted in the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), Traditional Indian knowledge conceives nature (Prakriti) as a living, sacred, and interconnected entity rather than an inert resource for exploitation. Concepts such as Ṛta (cosmic order), Dharma (moral duty), Yajña (reciprocal sustenance), and Vasudhaiva Kuṭumbakam (the world as one family) provide a holistic ecological worldview that emphasizes balance, restraint, and responsibility. Drawing upon Vedic literature, the Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, Dharmaśāstras, and classical texts like the Atharvaveda, Manusmṛti, and Bhagavad Gītā, this research paper highlights how the climate catastrophe is interpreted as a consequence of Pragyāparādha (intellectual and ethical transgression) and imbalance between human desires and natural limits. Indigenous practices such as sacred groves, illustrate sustainable pathways. These practices reflect an eco-centric ethics that integrates spirituality, social harmony, and ecological oversight. By re-engaging ancestral wisdom, contemporary society can cultivate alternative paradigms of development grounded in moderation, intergenerational justice, and reverence for nature.