Environmental Themes in Puranas: A Critical Analysis with Special Focus on 17 Sustainable Goals of UNDP

Sarita Sharma

Abstract: One of the foremost challenges in the modern world is to shield the planet earth from environmental degradation and to ensure that our cities and various species are well protected from future extinction. United Nations Development Group has set up 17sustainable development goals, which are- no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; descent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions and partnerships for the goals. This paper attempts to critically examine the themes based around the Environment in the Puranic literature. Environment is the one of the most protruding themes of the Sanskrit Works ranging from Vedic literature to the modern Sanskrit poems. Ironically our contemporary catastrophe pertaining to environment and related areas totally disapproves this presumption. This research proposes to study, analyse and critically examine the various themes centred around the Environmental narratives, Forests, Flora and Fauna, Mountains and Rivers, Primordial Five elements- Fire, Earth, Eather, Water and Air. The paper focusses specially on the idea of sustainable development in the Puranic literature and attempts to explore the connection of global goals of developments and their solutions in the Puranic literature.

Keywords: Environment and Environmental Ethics, Sustainable development Goals, Indic Ecology, Puranas, The Primordial five elements

How to Cite?: Sarita Sharma, "Environmental Themes in Puranas: A Critical Analysis with Special Focus on 17 Sustainable Goals of UNDP", Volume 15 Issue 1, January 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1318-1320, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26121182044, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26121182044