Bishnoi
The Bishnoi, also spelled as Vishnoi, is a Hindu Vaishnava community or panth found in the Western Thar Desert and northern states of India. The Bishnoi community has turned into a Hindu caste with time. It has a set of 29 Niyamas (principles/commandments) given by Guru Jambheshwar (also known as Guru Jambhoji, Guru Jambha) (1451–1536). As of 2010, there are an estimated 600,000 followers of Bishnoi Panth residing in northern and central India. Shree Guru Jambheshwar founded the sect at Samrathal Dhora in 1485 and his teachings, comprising 120 shabads, are known as Shabadwani. He preached for the next 51 years, travelling across India. The preaching of Guru Jambhoji inspires his followers as well as environmental protectors. The term Bishnoi is believed to be derived from bis (twenty) and Nau (nine) and hence, it denotes the twenty-nine principles of their sect. However, they also include some members from Bania, Rajput, Khati and Gaena. There are 360 gotras of Bishnois which are considered to be of equal social status and they regulate marriage alliances. These gotras include Pawar, Godara, Khichore, Dhaka, Biria etc. Of his 29 Niyamas, ten are directed towards personal hygiene and maintaining good basic health, seven for healthy social behaviour, and four tenets to the worship of God. Eight Niyamas have been prescribed to preserve bio-diversity and encourage good animal husbandry. These include a ban on killing animals and cutting green trees, and providing protection to all life forms. The community is also directed to see that the firewood they use is devoid of small insects. Wearing blue clothes is prohibited because the dye for colouring them is obtained by cutting a large quantity of shrubs. They are called the first eco-warriors due to their pro-active approach in conserving ecological balance and protecting the environment. [YMJI WE DID NOT KNOW IT I THANK THE AUTHOR TO HAVE INCREASED MY KNOWLEDGE] 29 rules or principles The 29 principles (20 Niyamas + 9 Yamas) of Bishnois are as follows: Observe a 30-day state of impurity after childbirth, and keep the mother and child away from household activities. Observe five-day segregation from household activities such as cooking food, serving water, etc. while a woman is in her menses. Bathe daily in the morning before sunrise. Obey the ideal rules of life: modesty, Kshama (patience), or Santosha (satisfactions), Shaucha (cleanliness). Puja (Pray) twice every day (morning and evening). Eulogize God, Vishnu, in the evening (Aarti) Performance of Yajna (Havan) is said by Guru jambhoji to symbolize Homa as the process to distance lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego from oneself to attain ultimate freedom, bliss, peace and truth. This is also said for being a better human being. Use filtered water, milk, and cleaned firewood or use cooking fuel after removing living organisms around it. Speak Satya (Pure words) in all Arjava (Sincerity.) Practice Kshama (Forgiveness) and Karuṇā (kindness) from the heart. Be merciful with sincerity. Achourya (Do not steal) nor harbour any intention to do it. Do not condemn or criticize. Do not lie. Do not indulge in disputes or conflicts. Vrata (fast) on Amavasya. Worship and recite the name of Lord Vishnu in adoration. Be merciful to all living beings and love them. And, love is when you do not demand, possess and expect. Do not cut green trees, save the environment.[20] Keep away from Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), and Mohā (attachment). Use one's strength for the right cause and fight for righteousness till the last breath. This will take one to eternity. Cook one's own food and be self-sufficient. Provide shelters for abandoned animals to avoid them from being slaughtered in abattoirs. Do not sterilize bulls, do not abandon male calves from dairy farms. Pay for their welfare to shelter them. Do not use or trade opium. Do not smoke or use tobacco or its products. Do not take bhang or hemp or any addiction which can weak human mind or body. Do not drink alcohol/liquor because alcohol degrades health very rapidly. Do not eat meat, always remain vegan or ethical lacto-vegetarian. Do not wear blue attire of blue colour as this colour is extracted from the indigo plant. Khejarli massacre The Bishnoi narrate the story of Amrita Devi, a member of the sect who inspired as many as 363 other Bishnois to go to their deaths in protest of the cutting down of Khejri trees on 12 September 1730. The Maharaja of Jodhpur, Abhay Singh, requiring wood for the construction of a new palace, sent soldiers to cut trees in the village of Khejarli, which was called Jehnad at that time. Noticing their actions, Amrita Devi hugged a tree in an attempt to stop them. Her family then adopted the same strategy, as did other local people when the news spread. She told the soldiers that she considered their actions to be an insult to her faith and that she was prepared to die to save the trees. The soldiers did indeed kill her and others until Abhay Singh was informed of what was going on and intervened to stop the massacre. Some of the 363 Bishnois who were killed protecting the trees were buried in Khejarli, where a simple grave with four pillars was erected. Every year, in September, i.e., Shukla Dashmi of Bhadrapad (Hindi month) the Bishnois assemble there to commemorate the sacrifice made by their people to preserve the trees. Bollywood actor Salman Khan allegedly hunted blackbucks in 1998. The members of the Bishnoi community are said to have caught him red-handed; protests from the community forced the authorities to arrest and try him. K RAJARAM IRS 15925 ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Chittanandam V R <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 14 Sept 2025 at 19:50 Subject: Fwd: Snippets from Sitendra Kumar - Bishnois, Rajasthan To: *Received from Shri Sitendra Kumar* * An ode to forest warriors & martyrs* *Shalini Sharma* *A two-hour drive from Bikaner, Rajasthan, took us to Mukam village, nestled in the arid landscape of the Thar desert. Mukti Dham Mukam is the spiritual centre of the Bishnoi community. Having opened their village to eco-tourism, the Bishnois are sharing their environmental conservation initiatives with the world.* *Away from the distractions of urban life, this place reminded me that we should not try to transform Nature for our parochial interests. My tour guide, a Bishnoi man, believed that plants and animals were on this planet much before us and they are “more privileged” than humans.* *Bishnoism traces its roots of ecological vigilance to a set of 29 Niyamas (principles or commandments) — ‘Bish’ stands for 20 and ‘Noi’ for nine. I learnt that eight of the Niyamas are dedicated to the protection of biodiversity, including a ban on killing animals and felling trees.* *A Bishnoi woman explained to me Shabad 9, which says: “Jeeva uppar jorkarije, antkaal hoysibharu” (if you wield brute power over animals, your end will be painful). This is the key reason why there are usually more wild animals in Bishnoi villages compared to others.* *Local residents told me about the Khejarli massacre of September 1730, when 363 members of the Bishnoi community sacrificed their lives to protect Khejri trees. They narrated this tragedy proudly, not mournfully. So, the Bishnois of Thar spearheaded India’s first environmental movement, wherein the practice of embracing trees originated. The National Forest Martyrs’ Day is observed on September 11 to honour their legacy. The Chipko Movement, led by activists like Gaura Devi and Sunderlal Bahuguna, was inspired by the Khejarli incident.* *Their saga left me in awe. Here was a community that was far more dedicated to the environment than the advocates of green living I encounter in the city, flaunting tree plantation efforts on social media. Even as people satisfy their needs in an anthropocentric world, Bishnois are living the eco-centric way.* *I noticed that despite stringent conservation policies, Bishnois are a prosperous agrarian community. They draw resources from nature as and when required. I was amazed to find that though Bishnois are followers of Hinduism, they bury their dead to save firewood. Hence, Bishnois go beyond the boundaries of religion.* *They also shun blue colour because its dye is created by using an excessive quantity of shrubs. Interestingly, widows from this community wear colourful clothes just like other women. I am full of admiration for such progressive values. Their way of life is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most advanced ideas come from the simplest of lives. This community’s refreshing approach towards the environment is worthy of emulation.* *-- Shalini Sharma* ********************************** *Chittanandam* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooa2d44-%3DL6DbY4SJ2c%3DA86KoL6si5MEw8oeaVu4rXRyA%40mail.gmail.com.
