Restored Sacred Groves
C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre is a Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, established jointly by the Ministry and the C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation,Chennai.
CPREEC Centre has been set up to increase consciousness and knowledge about the environment and the major environmental problems facing the country today. It has been conducting a variety of programmes to spread awareness and interest among the public, including, teachers, students, voluntary workers, educators, farmers, women and youth, on all aspects of the environment and ecology, with the purpose of promoting conservation of nature and natural resources.
In 1993, CPREEC decided to take education to action, and took up the restoration of sacred groves as a pilot project. Through the years, CPREEC has restored 53 sacred groves in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
SACRED GROVES RESTORED BY CPREEC (SPATIAL MAP)
Introduction
India has a long tradition of conserving nature by giving it a spiritual dimension. There is a strong symbiotic relationship between the biophysical ecosystem and socio-economic institutions, with strong cultural relations binding them. Culture and environment have been regarded as complementary, yet dynamic. The various cultural connections are expressed through myths and religious practices that celebrate plants and animals, forests, rivers, mountains and precincts that are so essential for existence.
The sacred groves are an undisturbed patch of vegetation left on the outskirts of the villages in the plain or a part of a forested area. They are dedicated to local folk deities or ancestral spirits that are protected by the local people through social traditions and taboos incorporating spiritual and ecological values and are called sacred groves. These groves are found all over the country with local names and associated deities.
RESTORATION OF SACRED GROVES (1993-94 to 2017-18)
|
S. No.
|
State & District
|
Place
|
Name of the deity
|
|
TAMILNADU
|
|
1
|
Thiruvallur
|
Velliyur
|
Vinayagar
|
|
2
|
|
Veeranathur
|
Veeranatheswarar
|
|
3
|
|
Iyaneri
|
Ponniyamman
|
|
4
|
|
Poondi
|
Sri Oondreeswarar
|
|
5
|
Kanchipuram
|
Damal
|
Draupadhiamman
|
|
6
|
|
Nenmeli
|
Rathina Muthumariamman
|
|
7
|
|
Thaiyur
|
Parasathamman
|
|
8
|
|
Kunnam
|
Poovathamman
|
|
9
|
Thiruvannamalai
|
Pavithram
|
Ayyanar
|
|
10
|
|
Pavupattu
|
Kannamadai Ayyanar
|
|
11
|
|
Hasanamapettai
|
Ponniamman
|
|
12
|
|
Maynallur
|
Ellaiamman
|
|
13
|
Pudukkottai
|
Peraambur
|
Kottaimettan
|
|
14
|
|
Sithannavasal
|
Vettikaruppar
|
|
15
|
|
Annavasal
|
Ooralikaruppar
|
|
16
|
|
Vadavalam
|
Punugukaruppar- Porpanai muneeswarar
|
|
17
|
|
Ilayavayal
|
Ayyanar
|
|
18
|
|
Karambakkudi
|
Muthukarupaiyya Swami
|
|
19
|
Madurai
|
Pappapatti
|
Ochandamman
|
|
20
|
|
Thimmanatham
|
Karuppasamy
|
|
21
|
|
Koodal Senkulam
|
Meenakshi Sundareswarar
|
|
22
|
Sivagangai
|
Kollangudi
|
Vettudaya kalliamman
|
|
23
|
Thirunelveli
|
Perunkottur
|
Thirukotti Ayyanar
|
|
24
|
Vellore
|
Sirunamalli
|
Alavattamman
|
|
25
|
|
Pudheri
|
Perumal
|
|
26
|
|
Nambirajapuram
|
Subramanyar
|
|
27
|
|
Arunkundram
|
Singaravelar
|
|
28
|
|
Nelvoi
|
Draupathi Amman
|
|
29
|
Trichy
|
Poigaipatti
|
Nayanmar and Kannimar
|
|
30
|
|
Kannudayanpatti
|
Nallandavar
|
|
31
|
Nagapattinam
|
Thiruppugalur
|
Agneeswarar
|
|
32
|
Thanjavur
|
Punnainallur
|
Mariamman
|
|
33
|
|
Vennantrangarai
|
Thanjaipureeswar
|
|
34
|
|
Papanasam
|
Srinivasa Perumal
|
|
35
|
Thiruvarur
|
Mannargudi
|
Meenakshi Chokkanathar
|
|
36
|
Erode
|
Bannari
|
Mariamman
|
|
37
|
The Nilgiris
|
Masinagudi
|
Masiniamman
|
|
38
|
Villupuram
|
Thiruvamathur
|
Abhirameswarar
|
|
39
|
|
Siruvangur
|
Kariya varadaraja Perumal
|
|
40
|
Virudhunagar
|
Meenakshipuram
|
Sri Valinji Ayyanar
|
|
41
|
Rameshwaram
|
Thangachimadam
|
|
|
ANDHRA PRADESH
|
|
42
|
Nellore
|
Prabugiripattinam
|
Anjaneyar
|
|
42
|
|
Mallam
|
Subramanyeswarar
|
|
44
|
Chittoor
|
Yerpedu
|
Uthalakeswarar
|
|
45
|
|
Ramagiri
|
Valeeswarar
|
|
46
|
|
Gurramkonda
|
Sidheswarar
|
|
47
|
|
Eguapalyam
|
Amirtha kandeswarar
|
|
48
|
Cuddappah
|
Odhiveedu
|
Sri Anjaneyar
|
|
KARNATAKA
|
|
49
|
Mandya
|
Chikkade
|
Deveeramma
|
|
50
|
|
Haravu
|
Sri Rama
|
|
51
|
Mysore
|
Doddahejjur
|
Hanumantharayar
|
|
52
|
Tumkur
|
Karahalli
|
Sri Ranganathaswamy
|
|
53
|
|
Kallukote
|
Guddada Lakshmi Ranganatha Swami
|