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Ancient India during and post Vedic periods was seeing expansion of kingdoms (including the Mahajanapadas), new cities were being built and new settlements were coming up. Elders and statesmen were drawing up the settlement planning requirements. The reference was mostly the Vedic scriptures. As per the Vedic traditions, a settlement (read as a village) will be complete only by having certain kinds of vegetation and the management of the same. In today’s context, this can be equated to managed landscapes. It’s important to revive and preserve these concepts to create holistic green spaces.

Of the many different types of Vanas, there are 3 significant categories of Vanas.

1. Mahavana: Akin to today’s protected nature parks/forest areas which will be next to the village and is an area where all the species of Flora and Fauna coexist. These were untouched by humans and were of the “preserve” kind.
2. Sirivana: The settlements did have requirements of forest produce such as timber, honey, herbs etc. and these usually came up closer to the forests that were cleared for settlements. These provided the needs for both humans and livestock. These are of “Produce” kind. Sirivana played a very important role in preserving the soil quality and quality of water. Sirivanas generated prosperity for the human settlement. These were either plantations or Agro forests.
3. Tapovana: The need to study, meditate and for doing penance, the settlement needed a calm unattended/undisturbed area. Usually inhabited by sages and was used to perform religious rituals and religious practices.

The management of these Vanas fell on the elders of a settlement or a group of settlements and this was done through participatory landscape management. The completeness and health of the settlement was supplemented by the presence of these landscapes.In addition to these, each village was supposed to contain the five trees signifying the five elements and was represented by Vata Vriksha (Ficus benghalensis), Arali Vriksha (Ficus religiosa), Ashoka Vriksha (Saraca indica), Bilwa Vriksha (Aegle marmelos) and Amla Vriksha (Phyllanthus emblica). They have medicinal values and nutritional supplements for the settlement dwellers. There was no need to look beyond this ecosystem to lead a healthy life.

Each settlement also looked at the sacredness of trees and plants and created sacred grooves. These sacred groves have a specific planting pattern. Off these the prominent sacred groves are:-

1. Saptarishi Vana – Plants/trees which are dear to the 7 rishis.
2. Rashi Vana – Plants/trees which signifies the 12 zodiac signs/raashis.
3. Nakshatra Vana –Plants/trees which signifies the 27 stars/nakshatras.
4. Naga Vana – Plants/trees to protect snakes.

The ideation and the incubation of forests and their conservation were well thought out by ancient Indians. The produce would suffice meeting food needs and also enable a self-sustained healthy lifestyle. The benefits of these Vanas are multi-fold and each tree plays a significant role in physical as well as mental well-being. We should endeavor to adopt these invaluable practices which we have lost track over the many centuries. The man kind needs to research these further to determine the specific benefits.

Vanatvam in collaboration with Indus Herbs will endeavor to develop these Vanas while planting in our projects and strive to develop the ecosystem to become sustainable over the years.