Research Journal of Recent Sc Vol. 6(4), 7-13, April (2017) International Science Community Associa Traditional worshiping p Department of Botany Avai Received 8 th Febr Abstract The present paper highlights the religiou groves such as Kanangad kavu and Kavum plants belonging to 20 genera and 14 fam worshiping god/goddess were also tabula patches is an urgent need, because the cha the major factors contributing towards deg Keywords: Religious importance, Sacred p Introduction Sacred groves are sanctified patches of forest strength of religious beliefs as abode of Gods is believed that the existence of sacred for several thousands of years when human so primitive stage of development 1 . Sacred considered as a social institution or a part evolved historically over several generations for culturally crucial social interactions. The of animism with the central focus on the patches regarded them as the sacred a Gods/deities. However, conservation practice extractive activities in sacred groves v communities and regions 2 . Sacred groves als ecological functions, which can directly or ind maintenance of ecosystem health of all inte units. A sacred grove with their complex ar influences the flora and fauna of the regio microclimate of that locality 3 . Generally s believed to be a treasure house of medicinal, plants, refugia for relic flora of a region and seed dispersal 4-6 . Sacred groves are a very ancient and widesp in the old world cultures. Such groves are examples of traditional in situ conservation dates much prior to the modern concept of These are patches of natural near-climax pris trees and associate groups of organisms, man local cultural tradition 8 . The sacred groves are of climax vegetation and exhibit the diversity trees, climbers, epiphytes and other shade lo plant wealth and conservation potential were i ciences _________________________________________ ation plants from selected sacred groves District, Kerala, India Chaithra M. and Binu Thomas* y, St. Joseph College, Devagiri, Kozhikode - 673008, Kerala, In [email protected]ilable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me ruary 2017, revised 15 th March 2017, accepted 30 th March 2017 us importance of sacred plants, which are documented mkara of Kozhikode district, Kerala. During the study, the milies were documented. The religious potentialities of the ated. The present study also highlights the importance o anges in social belief, modernization and erosion of cultu gradation of the ancient institutional heritage. plants, Kozhikode district, Kerala. ts protected by the s and Goddesses. It rest dates back to ociety was in the groves are also of the taboos that s to provide a site ancestral practices worship of forest abode of various es and control over vary in different so perform several directly help in the eracting landscape rray of interaction on as well as the sacred groves are , rare and endemic d also as centers of pread phenomenon one of the finest n practices, which wildlife reserves 7 . stine vegetation of naged as a part of e the representative y of species such as oving herbs. Their impressive enough to acknowledge them as 'minibiosp worshiped the sacred trees which forests. These trees are either medi and they are protected by the indige cultural and religious importance. T with the sacred groves also protec disturbances 10 . Sacred groves act a emergencies; in cases of famine or and materials may be collected survival 11,12 . Materials and methods Study area: The present study is sacred groves such as Kanangat Kozhikode district, Kerala, Kozhiko a city in the state of Kerala in So cost. The city of Kozhikode is 410 capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is 11.25°N 75.77°E, in which the rain West Monsoon, which sets in the fi up to September. The North East second half of October through No rainfall is 3266 mm and the best we end of the year, in December (Figur Kanangad kavu: Kanangattukavu located in Kozhikode District. increased diversity of shrub and her is located on the South-East reg municipality and covers an area of a sacred portion of land is devoted regarded as a ‘Nagakavu’. Kananga members of Kanangad family gene __________ISSN 2277-2502 Res. J. Recent Sci. 7 s of Kozhikode ndia from two different sacred ere are about 20 species of ese plants and their role in of conserving such sacred ural practices are some of phere reserves' 9 . The people h are associated with sacred icinal or edible plant species enous people because of their Taboos and myths attributed ct them from anthropogenic as a sort of insurance against r other natural disasters food from the grove to ensure confined to two unexplored ttukavu and Kavumkara in ode also known as Calicut, is outhern India on the Malabar kilometers north of the state s located at approximately ny season is during the South irst week of June and extends Monsoon extends from the ovember. The average annual eather is found in towards the re-1 A-B). u is one of the sacred groves It is characterized by the rb species. This sacred grove gion of the Ramanattukara approximately 0.121 ha. This d to snakes; hence, this is attukavu is maintained by the eration after generation. They
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Research Journal of Recent Sciences
Vol. 6(4), 7-13, April (2017)
International Science Community Association
Traditional worshiping plants from selected sacred groves of Kozhikode
Department of Botany, St. Joseph College, Devagiri
Available online at: Received 8th February
Abstract
The present paper highlights the religious importance of sacred plants, which are documented from two different sacred
groves such as Kanangad kavu and Kavumkara of Kozhikode district, Kerala. During the study, there are about 20 species of
plants belonging to 20 genera and 14 families were documented. The religious potentialities of these plants and their role in
worshiping god/goddess were also tabulated. The present study also highlights the importance of conserving such sacred
patches is an urgent need, because the changes in social belief, modernization and erosion of cultural practices are some of
the major factors contributing towards degradation of the ancient institutional heritage.
Keywords: Religious importance, Sacred plants, Kozhikode
Introduction
Sacred groves are sanctified patches of forests protected by the
strength of religious beliefs as abode of Gods and Goddesses.
is believed that the existence of sacred forest dates ba
several thousands of years when human society was in the
primitive stage of development1. Sacred groves are also
considered as a social institution or a part of the taboos that
evolved historically over several generations to provide a site
for culturally crucial social interactions. The ancestral practices
of animism with the central focus on the worship of forest
patches regarded them as the sacred abode of various
Gods/deities. However, conservation practices and control over
extractive activities in sacred groves vary in different
communities and regions2. Sacred groves also perform several
ecological functions, which can directly or indirectly help in the
maintenance of ecosystem health of all interacting landscape
units. A sacred grove with their complex array of interaction
influences the flora and fauna of the region as well as the
microclimate of that locality3. Generally sacred groves are
believed to be a treasure house of medicinal, rare and endemic
plants, refugia for relic flora of a region and also as centers of
seed dispersal4-6
.
Sacred groves are a very ancient and widespread phenomenon
in the old world cultures. Such groves are one of the finest
examples of traditional in situ conservation practices, which
dates much prior to the modern concept of wildlife reserves
These are patches of natural near-climax pristine vegetation of
trees and associate groups of organisms, managed as a part of
local cultural tradition8. The sacred groves are the representative
of climax vegetation and exhibit the diversity of species such as
trees, climbers, epiphytes and other shade loving herbs. Their
plant wealth and conservation potential were impressive enough