Dharma and the Earth: Sustainability, Ethics, and Environmental Justice in Indian Literary and Philosophical Traditions

Abstract

We are now living in an age of intensifying environmental degradation, along with drastic changes in climate and ecological injustice. There arises an urgent need to reexamine our traditional worldviews, which taught us the harmonious living and ethical interconnectedness between humans and nature. Indian philosophical traditions and literary traditions offer a deep well of wisdom and values that connect ecological sustainability with spirituality, moral values, and ethics. This paper explores the convergence of themes like sustainability, ethics, and environmental justice through the lens of Indian Knowledge Systems, classical Indian literature, and traditional Indian cultural practices. Referring to ancient Bharatiya texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, and other regional Bhakti literature, the study shows key ideas like Dharma which is righteousness or one's duty, Ṛta which is the cosmic order, Ahimsa that is non-violence, Bhuta Yajna, the sacrifice for all beings, and Loka Samgraha that is universal welfare, as the foundations of a sustainable ecological philosophy. These principles are present throughout both literature and daily practices, considering all life forms as sacred or divine, and promoting equitable resource distribution and preservation of biodiversity. This paper also investigates how Indian traditional festivals, customs, water ethics, and temple-based environmental management show a community-centric ecological vision rooted in cultural and spiritual consciousness. Through traditional literary works, from classical Sanskrit poetry to vernacular Bhakti works, nature is not merely a background but a divine presence, which calls for ethical responsibility and justice for all beings. This study states that Indian literary thought, when interpreted through contemporary ecocritical and ethical frameworks, can contribute valuable models for environmental justice and sustainability. By reintroducing and practicing these indigenous perspectives, we can nurture a holistic, culturally grounded approach to ecological crises—an approach that integrates spirituality, ethics, and environmental stewardship.