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:: NEWS ::
Hindu Voice UK, August 2008
For example the Tirupati temple (right), visited by thousands of pilgrims daily uses only solar energy for preparing some 30,000 meals each day, making it the world’s largest solar powered cooking operation. In the past, diesel was used for this purpose. Deepak Gadhia, founder of Gadhia Solar Energy Systems, which provided the solar cooking technology used by Tirumala temple, says more and more religious organizations have approached him in recent years. "With most businesses, the first question is of economics," he says, "But spiritual organizations look at larger issues. They want energy that is spiritually positive." Elsewhere, the Muni Seva Ashram in Gujarat and the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra, are well on their way to exclusive use of solar, wind and biogas energy to fulfill their needs. Already there is a 400 student residential school run exclusively on green energy. All are doing so with the professed aim of practicing what Hindu spirituality teaches. "Our aim is to avoid pollution in every way," says Raghunath Aher, the chief engineer of the Shirdi temple. "A holy place should be pure and completely in harmony with nature." Religious organizations are also at the forefront of wider endeavors to save India’s environment. For example Art of Living, founded 27 years ago by Sri Sri Ravishankar, is working with Indian state governments to clean up the Holy Ganga, and to provide better waste disposal for the city of Rishikesh. Other projects include promoting sustainable farming and water recycling. Hindu organisations are perhaps the last hope in saving India’s biodiversity and renowned natural beauty, as these organisations collectively have a huge number of followers and are capable of mobilising far more support compared with the government or non-religious environmental organisations. |
Many
of the most famous holy shrines in India have emerged as leading centers
in the implementation of green technology, with dozens switching to
the use of sustainable energy sources. The enthusiastic uptake of
green energy by the country’s spiritual institutions offers
a glimmer of hope in rescuing the otherwise fast deteriorating Indian
environment.