Sacred conservation practices at species level through tree worship

摘要

The cult of tree worship, depicting tree as representative of gods on earth has its roots deep in the history of mankind. Trees were considered as hypaethral - roofless temples. Scrutiny of Indological references provides a number of material and literary evidences for explaining reasons and justifications for the tradition of tree worship. The present paper brings on record some important evidences of tree worship specially depicting trees as gods in different religions and customs. This strategy was the main conservation practice at species level in ancient India.