Sociocultural and religious beliefs of some plants: who cares?

Abstract

India is a country with the strongest traditions of conservation of nature and land of diverse natural resources. Since time immemorial, conservation of natural resources has been an integral aspect of many indigenous communities all over the globe. The early civilizations valued nature and nature worship was common in those times. After coming in contact with plants people began to realize their significance and how they could benefit to them. There are also some evidences relating to nature worship in the Indian subcontinent around 3000 BC as well as admiration for nature as a source of medicine. Our ancestors had left a variety of sociocultural and religious beliefs for us towards nature developed into local knowledge system. The accumulated wisdom, knowledge, belief and practices related to some plants in material form were handed down to generation by an unbroken tradition and culture. Some of these plants are having its sociocultural and religious value due to tradition in the society. For promoting conservation of plants, our forefathers developed a unique idea of tree worship and started planting some useful medicinal and environmental useful plants in every habitation of human beings. The list of some important plants has been provided with its historical and modern perspective. In view of the fact that knowledge is power, the use of sociocultural and religious knowledge can be useful for local empowerment, equal partnership in community and society.