Preface v Acknowledgement ix Chapter I Prelude 1 1. India : Mysterious land of the East 2. Indian pre- and proto-history A.Introduction B. Time scale - Ages (a) Stone Age (b) Copper/Bronze Age (i) Early Chalcolithic (Pre-Harappan) period (ii) Harappan period (iii) Chalcolithic period (c) Iron Age (Megalithic Age of South India) (d) Early History Age 3. Indian geography A.Physical features (a) Topography (b) Climate B.Biotic elements a. Pre-historic indigenous societies and early immigrants (i) Pre-historic indigenous societies (ii) Kolarians (iii) Dravidians (iv) Aryas b.Vegetation through Indian antiquity (i) Introduction (ii) Aryan mythology on origin of vegetation (iii) Vegetation in Aryan religious texts (iv) Vegetation in Indian historical texts (v) Scientific evidences* Palynology** Archaeology Chapter II Aryas - Factors affecting their physical condition and mental faculty 31 ].Indian geography A.Climate maian civilizations B.Topography 2.Pre-Aryan societies A.Influenre of indigenous people B.Kolarian influence C. Dravidian influence Chapter III Aiyas - Cultural, social and commercial life 39 1. Cultural life 2.Social life 3.Commercial life A.Professions (plant-based) (a) Weaving (b) Woodwork or carpentry (c) Brewing or wine making (d) Physicians or herb-healers B.Trade and commerce C.Revenue (weights and coinage) Chapter IV Aryas - Religious life 51 1. Scriptures 2.Vedic gods A.General considerations B.Agni and Soma a.Agni (god of light) i. The heavenly form - Surya (sun) ii. The atmospheric form - Vajra (thunder) iii.The terrestrial form - Agni (fire) b.Soma (god of bliss) 3. Yagna (Sacrifice) A.General considerations B.Celestial yagna-s (executed by gods) C.Terrestrial yagna-s (executed by humans) (a) General considerations (b) Soma yagna (c) Special yagna-s Chapter V Indian thoughts 69 I. Philosophy 1. Introduction 2. Cosmogonic concepts 3. Forest in Aryan philosophy 4. Tree in Aryan philosophy II.Science 1. Botany 80 Introduction - Ancient phase of Indian Botany 1.Pre-Vedic Botany 2. Vedic Botany (A) Morphology (B) Histology (C) Physiology (D) Taxonomy-classification 3. Post-Vedic Botany (A) Applied aspect (B) Basic aspect a. Seed and germination b. Morphology (i) Miila (root) (ii) Tula (shoot) (iii) Parna (leaf) (iv) Puspa (flower) (v) Phala (fruit) c. Histology d. Physiology e. Plant pathology f. Sexuality, reproduction and heredity g. Ecology (i) Jangala zone (ii) Anupa zone (iii) Sddhdran zone h. Taxonomy (i) Classification (ii) Nomenclature 2. Medicine (Ayurveda) 104 1.Mythological connections 2.Initiation of Ayurveda (A) Ayurvedic literature (B) Ayurvedic system 3.Archaeological evidences 3. Agriculture (Krisi) 110 1.Introduction 2 Social order related to agriculture 3.Agriculture in the Indian subcontinent A. Mythological and religious angle B. Literary and historical angle a. Early farming in North India b.Early farming in South India C.Scientific angle a. Pollen analysis of lake sediments b. Archaeological evidences i. Latin equivalents of common crop plants ii.Agewise details D. Concluding remarks 4. Horticulture 134 1.Introduction 2.Horticultural techniques in ancient India A.Plant propagation B.Other practices 3.Gardens and garden plants of ancient Sanskrit literature A. The epic Ramayana (a) Lanka (b) Ayodhya (c) Kiskindha B. Classical Sanskrit, poetry 4. Archaeological evidences A.Fruits (including dry fruits) B.Vegetables C. Miscellaneous plant products 5. Forests, Forestry and Conservation 154 1. Introduction 2. Man and forests A.Psychological relationship (a) Philosophical considerations (b) Religious considerations (c) Social considerations B. Material relationship as evidenced by archaeobotanical material (a) Food (b) Fodder (c) Fuel (d) Fibre (e) Perfumery (f) Incense - Resin (g) Stationery (h) Timber 3. Forestry and Conservation A. History of forestry in India B.Current attitude of man towards nature vis-e-vis Aryan way of forest management and conservation a. Awakening by religious means i. Tree worship ii. Associating plants with gods, customs and other human aspects, iii.Other religious considerations b. Laying down social norms c. Legal sanctions 4. Closing remarks 6. Chemistry (Rasdyana) 184 1. General part 2. Phytological connections A.Indus Valley Civilization B.Vedic Civilization 7. Architecture (Vastu Shastra) 189 Appendix I 197 Appendix II 293 Appendix III 315 Index 323