Here in the Indian state of Rajasthan, high up in the Mount Abu hill station, I meet a man called Ramprakash in a temple known as Somnath Mahadev.

Ramprakash’s appearance is striking. He is a tall, slender and elegant elderly gentleman wearing light-colored clothing. He says he has been coming to this temple to meditate since the 1970s, and that his guru, or spiritual leader, lives in Somnath Mahadev. Ramprakash was once a civil servant for the government, but ever since he retired, he spends several months each summer here in these mountains that are considered sacred by Hindus. He feels a special connection to this temple and supports it financially as well.

As we sit in a quiet spot amid the temple’s blooming garden, Ramprakash carefully chooses his words as he tells me the origin of his beliefs. He says much of his faith is tied to nature and to protecting its treasures.

Worshipping nature

According to Hindus, their religion was born from the law of nature, understood by old souls that lived in the forest and reflected on the nature of the universe. At that point in time, all humans were good and committed no wrongdoing, and animals thanked them for their benevolence by serving as tame pets – including tigers and snakes. Even today, some devout Hindus sometimes return to the forest to live as hermits. And many of them choose Mount Abu, a natural reserve, as their home.

Worshipping nature is an essential part of Hinduism. Trees and plants are considered holy, and protecting them is considered a duty of every Hindu. In fact, planting trees is a way to serve God, while felling trees is considered a sacrilegious act. Flowers, too, are never picked at night when they are in deep sleep and require their rest.

Conservation challenges in the modern world

While we are talking, cars and buses roll by, and families and school children from near and far climb out. I cautiously broach the subject of pollution: waste disposal is one of India’s greatest environmental problems. Trash litters the streets and children play with plastic bags as people carelessly discard packaging. Many of the country’s forests have been cleared, too.

Ramprakesh says it is man’s greed that is to blame – most people think of money first. A true Hindu, he says, would try his or her best to preserve nature and, for example, use as little wood as possible for furniture. „Look at this temple. Do you see benches here like in your churches? No, we sit on the floor – we don’t need furniture,“ he says.

Even the temple workers who live on the grounds use hardly any furniture, and when they do, they avoid using wood for building. Ramprakesh says man would be happier if he had fewer wants and needs, because happiness lies not in material things. Buying, owning and discarding items is a burden and brings no joy, he says.

He then leads me to a lake where a small Ganesha statue floats in the middle. The water is clogged with sewage, but Ramprakesh doesn’t seem to notice. „Look at the goldfish everywhere,“ he points out.

And he’s right – the lively little fish are busy jumping in and out of the water. I, too, decide to focus on the chirping birds and the beautiful mountains in the background rather than the rubbish in the water.

A group of Hindus empty out of a bus behind me as I watch the Ganesha statue floating in the lake. The deity’s benign expression catches my eye: it’s looking inwards, yet at the same time out in the distance towards the forest.