Science Research Reporter, 4(2):163-166, (Oct.

- 2014)
© RUT Printer and Publisher (http://jsrr.net)
ISSN: 2249-2321 (Print); ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online)
Received: 16-06-2014, Revised: 12-08-2014, Accepted: 26-08-2014e

Full Length Article

Ecological notes on two sacred groves along Krishna River
Basin of Sangli district
Sanjay S. Sathe, Vikas V. Jadhav and R. M. Ganeshwade

Department of Biological Sciences,

P. D. Vasantraodada Patil Mahavidyalaya, Tasgaon. Dist. Sangli 416312 (MS), India.

ABSTRACT
Sacred groves were a feature of the mythological landscape and the cultural practice of mankind.
Sacred groves also feature prominently in many Asian and African mythologies and cultures, most
notably in India, Japan, West Africa and Anatolia. In India, sacred groves are scattered all over the
country and do not have any federal legislation. Each sacred grove is associated with presiding
deity and the groves are referred to by different names in different parts of India. They were
maintained by local communities with hunting and logging strictly prohibited within these
patches. Sacred groves are protected areas of forest because of religious beliefs and constitute an
important aspect of the cultural life of various communities through out the world. The
biodiversity keeps the ecological processes in balanced state, which is necessary for human
survival. Therefore, the biodiversity rich sacred groves are of immense ecological significance.
They also play an important role in the conservation of flora and fauna.During the present
investigation, two different sacred groves from Krishna river basin of Sangli District namely
Brahmnal and Ankalkhop were visited regularly to record ecological features. It includes, floristic
composition, dominance, associations amongst the plant species. The vegetation is scrub with
dry deciduous forest. The soil substratum is also hard with less water holding capacity. The
grasses dominate during rainy season. The vegetation mentioned in above groves is very typical in
nature. These groves conserve plants in situ.

Key word: Ecology, Sacred groves, and Krishna River Basin

INTRODUCTION prohibited within these patches. The sacred groves

Sacred groves were a feature of the are mainly associated with local Hindu gods, but
mythological landscape and the cultural practice of sacred groves of Islamic and Buddhist origins are
old Europe, of the most ancient levels of also known. Sacred groves occur in variety of
Scandinavian mythology, Greek mythology Slavic places like scrub forests in the Thar desert of
mythology, Roman mythology and in Druidic Rajasthan to tropical rain forest of Kerala Western
practice. Sacred groves also feature prominently in Ghats.
many Asian and African mythologies and cultures, Sacred groves are traditionally protected
most notably in India, Japan, West Africa and small patches of vegetation types and managed by
Anatolia. local communities through a wide range of
In India sacred groves are scattered all over management practices are biological heritage. They
the country and do not have any federal legislation. are dedicated to local deities or ancestral spirit is
Each sacred grove is associated with presiding deity protected through social traditions by local people
and the groves are referred to by different names and taboos that incorporate spiritual and ecological
in different parts of India. They were maintained by values. These sacred groves are preserved over
local communities with hunting and logging strictly course of many generations; represent native
http://jsrr.net 163 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online)
 Sathe et al.,
vegetation in a natural or near natural state. These temperature of this area ranges from 13oC to 45oC
groves are rich in biodiversity and harbor many .This district consists of 12 Tahsils with total 723
rare species of the plants and animals. There is a villages. The district is divided into two major
vast diversity among Indian sacred groves. These regions viz., Western area along Krishna river basin
groves vary considerable in size from few acres to with abundant water supply and arid region
hundred acres. In many sacred groves, villagers includes drought prone zone along Eastern part.
perform annual ritual and ceremonies to appease The arid region includes Kadegaon, Khanapur,
the presiding deity and to ensure the well Atpadi, Tasgaon, Jath, and Kavathe-Mahankal
beginning of their community. Tahsils and Eastern part of Miraj Tahsil.
The sacred groves are our biological The present sacred groves under study viz
heritage Gadgil and Vartak, (1975). Many Brahmnal and Ankalkhop are reported from Palus
traditional societies all over the world, value a large tahsil along Krishna river basin of Sangli district of
number of plant species from the wild for a variety Maharashtra State. The soil substratum is hard
of purposes food, fiber, shelter or medicines with calcarious soil:
Ramkrishnan (1998). Due to absence of human Bramhmnal: This is a small grove found along the
inference these sacred forest supports the climax bank of river Krishna at village Brahmanal in Sangli
vegetation, commensurate to their particular district, having an area of 1.5 hectres... The ground
locality. This climax vegetation is rich in the species vegetation comprises many herbs and shrubs.
of trees, climbers, epiphytes, heterotrophs and (Table 1)
decomposers. Ankalkhop: This is a small grove found along the
bank of river Krishna at village Ankalkhop in Sangli
MATERIALS AND METHODS district, having an area of 2.0 hectares. The
During the present investigation, two vegetation comprises large trees and the ground
sacred groves along Krishna river basin of Sangli vegetation comprises many herbs and shrub (Table
District were visited regularly to observe and 1)
collect different plant specimens. . Table 1: Salient features of the two sacred groves
The plants were identified with standard under study.
set of The Flora of Presidency of Bombay Cooke
(1901), Flora of Marathwada Naik and Associates Sr Name of Area
Diety Tahsil
No the Grove (Acres)
(1998), Flora of Maharashtra State-Dicotyledons
1 Brahmanal Raghavendra 1.50 Palus
Singh et al. (2004); Flora of Maharashtra State-
Swamy
Monocotyledons Sharma et al. (1996); Flowers of
Sahyadri Ingalhalikar, (2001) and Further Flowers 2 Ankalkhop Mhasoba 2.00 Palus
of Sahyadri Ingalhalikar (2007); Flora of Kolhapur
District Yadav and Sardesai (2000) and Flora of RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Baramati by Bhagat et al. (2009). The existence of sacred groves in India most likely
The soil temperature was recorded by dates back to an ancient pre agrarian era. Their
using digital mercury thermometer with sensor. presence has been documented since the early
The field record of the plant populations were 1800 century. Due to protective restrictions
made by the transects. Similarly, data on status, preserved over many years, the sacred groves are
deities, trust etc. was collected from local now become important reservoirs of biodiversity.
inhabitants by personal discussion as well as visits. In India, Malhotra et. al., (2001) have
It is based on folk information. reported 1600 sacred groves in Maharashtra.
Initially Gadgil and Vartak (1973) have reported
STUDY AREA 350 sacred grooves in Maharashtra. Deshmukh
Sangli District is located in western part of (1999) has documented conservation and
Maharashtra State having area 8522 Sq. kms. developmental aspects of the sacred groves in
geographical area. This district is situated between Maharashtra. They have divided sacred groves into
16° 4 to 17° 1 North latitude and 73° 43 to 75° 00 nine different zones based on rainfall, soil
East longitude. The average rainfall is about 62cm condition and other ecological parameters.
per year due to South-West Mansoon. The average Deshmukh (1999) has reported 2808 sacred groves
from the state of Maharashtra that covers 5119.42
http://jsrr.net 164 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online)
Science Research Reporter, 4(2):163-166, (Oct. - 2014) ISSN: 2249-2321(Print)
hectares of geographical area because the size of Eragrostis gangetica Steud, Eragrostis tenella R. &
sacred groves varies from few gunthas to 200 S.
hectares. Sacred groves vary in size, form, a few Ankalkhop is a small grove where
trees to dense forest covering vast tracts of land. vegetation comprises mainly trees and ground
These groves are important today as they are vegetation comprises many herbs.The tree species
banks of genetic and plant diversity that have to be like Tamarindus indica, Bombax ceiba, Poneix
preserved and sustained. These areas often contain sylvestris, Pongamia pinnata, Azadirachta indica,
species that have disappeared from the regions Delonix regia, Ficus behangalensis, Ficus
outside the groves. Sacred groves in India refer to glomerata, Syzigium cumini are dominating. There
forest fragments of varying size, which are is not much difference as far as species diversity is
communally protected and which usually have a considered. Our results are on the similar lines to
significant religious connotation for the protecting that of Sathe et. al., (2012). They have given
community. Hunting and logging are usually strictly floristic account with diversity and species
prohibited within these patches Gadgil and Vartak composition of three sacred groves from arid
(1975). region of Sangli district.
Sukhram et. al., (2008) has given an The sacred groves are with immense biological
elaborative account of sacred groves in diversity. They are ecologically important to
Kanyakumari district in Tamilnadu. They state that conserve the flora and fauna and harbor many
80 % of the plant species are endemic to this endemic as well as rare plant species Khan et. al.,
region. They have recorded keystone and flagship (2008).The vegetation of the sacred groves has
species from this region. The keystone species certain distinct ecological characters. Sacred groves
were Ficus benghalensis Linn, Ficus religiosa Linn, (Sarna) of Madhya Pradesh are characterized by
Artocarpus heterophyllus and Artocarpus hirsutus vegetation cluster of Sal (Shorea robusta) tree.
Linn. While the flagship species reported were Boraish et. al., (2003), reported that regeneration
Diospyros ebenun Koen, Mesua ferrea Linn. of woody is comparatively more in sacred groves
Vednarayanan et. al., (2012) has surveyed sacred than reserve forest area. Gadgil and Vartak (1975)
groves of Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu. They have given an authentic data on sacred groves in
have recorded twenty trees, fourteen shrubs, Maharashtra. The sacred groves represent a variety
seven herb and eight climbers. The population of of vegetation types from semievergreen to
species namely Azadiracta indica, Phyllanthus drydeciduous corresponding to climatic region
emblica, Mangifera indica, Syzygium cumini, from annual rainfall of 5000 mm on the
Zizypus meuritiana, is largely concentrated. The Mahableshwar platue to 500 mm in Jalgaon
canopy layer was dense and continuous. District.Upadhaya et. al., (2003) has recorded
During present investigation the following biodiversity of woody species along Ialong and
plants were found at Bramhmnal sacred grove. The Raling sacred groves of Jaintia hills from
vegetation mainly comprises the tree species like Meghalaya. These groves represent the sub-
Tamarindus indica, Bombax ceiba, Poneix sylvestris, trophical broad-leaved. Forest of North-East India
Pongamia pinnata, Azadirachta indica, Delonix they concluded that the canopy and sub-canopy
regia, Ficus behangalensis, Ficus glomerata, strata was composed of tree species.
Syzigium cumini. There are about 98 large Thus it is clear that sacred groves harbor
Tamarindus indica trees. Hence this area is called specific trees. The most common tree plants are
“Chinhban”. The other species includes Ipomoea Tamarindus indica, Poneix sylvestris, Pongamia
fistulosa, Zizyphus jujuba, Cardiospermum pinnata, Azadirachta indica, Delonix regia, Ficus
helicacabum, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Vitex behangalensis, and Ficus glomerata. These groves
negundo, Clerodendron inermae etc. The ground serve as pockets of plant diversity in that particular
vegetation is occupied by number of grasses locality.
namely Cynodon dactylon, Setaria intermedia, CONCLUSION
Setaria pumila, Chrysopogon fulvus Chiov, Sacred groves are maintained for religious
Bracharia ramose Stapf, Chloris varigata Swartz, reasons around the world. They harbour a god or
Tripogon jacquemontii Stapf. Heteropogon the spirit of the ancestors; they serve as sites for
contortus R. & S. Aristida adscensionis Linn, religious rituals. They protect species of cultural
Eragrostis pilosa Beauv, Eragrostis minor Host, importance.
http://jsrr.net 165 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online)
 Sathe et al.,
Despite pressure from changing social and Naik VN, 1998. Flora of Marathwada, Vol. 1 and 2,
political contexts, the religious beliefs that support Amrut Prakashan, Aurangabad.
the existence of sacred groves have survived and Malhotra KC, Gokhale Y, Chaterjee S and
continue to assert the importance of the groves. Srivastava S, 2001. Cultural and Ecological
Those who follow these religions have had to Dimensions of sacred groves in India. INSA, New
protect their sacred groves without the aid of Delhi.
centralized governments for most of their history. Ramkrishnan PS, 1998. Conserving the Sacred for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Biodiversity-A conceptional Frame work in
The authors are thankful to Principal Dr. R. Proceeding of the UNESCOs Regional Workshop on
R. Kumbhar for providing facilities to complete the The role of Sacred Groves in Conservation and
work. Management of Biological Diversity.KFRI.
Sathe Sanjay S, Rajendra A Lawate and Vinod B
LITERATURE CITED Shimpale, 2012. Studies on floristic diversity of
Bhagat RB, Shimpale VB and Deshmukh RB, 2008. three sacred groves from arid region of Sangli
Flora of Baramati. Pawar Public Charitable Trust District (Maharashtra), J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 36(1):
Mumbai. 91-101.
Boraiah KT, Vasudeva R, Shonil AB and Sharma BD, S Karthikeyan and NP Singh, 1996.
Khushalappa CG, 2003. Do informly managed Flora of Maharashtra.Monocotyledons. B. S. I.
sacred groves have higher richness and Publication, Calcutta.
regeneration of medicinal plants that state – Singh NP, Lakshminarasinhan P, Kartikeyan S and
managed reserve forests? Curr. Sci. 84(6): Pp804 Prasanna PV, 2004. Flora of Maharashtra State;
Cooke Theodore, 1901. The Flora of the Presidency Dicotyledones Vol. II, B. S. I., Publication Calcutta.
of Bombay, Vol. 1, 2 and 3,BSI Publication, Sukumaran SS Jeeva, Apparao Deva Shobhanarao
Culcutta, Reprinted in 1958. Raj and Doraipandiam Kannan, 2008. Florestic
Deshmukh Sanjay, 1999. Conservation and Diversity, conservation status and economic value
Development of Sacred Groves in Maharashtra – of Miniature sacred groves in Kanyakumari District,
Final Report of the world Bank Aided Maharashtra Tamilnadu, Southern Peninsular India, Turk J. Bot.
Forestry Project, BNHS, Mumbai pp. 1-289 . 32:185-199
Gadgil Madhav and Vartak VD, 1973. Groves Upadhaya K, HN Pandey, PS Law and RS Tripathi,
dedicated to the gods, Illustrated weekly of India , 2003. Tree Diversity in Sacred Groves of the Jaintia
Sept.2, 1973. Hills in Meghalaya, Northeast India. Biodiversity
Gadgil Madhav and Vartak VD, 1975. Sacred and Conservation 12: 583-597.
Groves of India- A Plea for continued Vedhnarayanan P, P Unnikannan and P
Conservation. Journal of BNHS 72(2) 314-321. Sundramooorthy, 2012. Studies on Floristic and
Ingalhalikar Shrikant, 2001. Flowers of Sahyadri . Medicinal Properties of Plants in different sacred
Corolla Publications, Pune. Pp. 210. groves of Cuddalore District,Tamilnadu, India.Life
Ingalhalikar Shrikant, 2007. Further Flowers of Sciences Leaflets.:35-42.
Sahyadri Corolla Publications, Pune. Yadav SR and Sardesai MM, 2002. Flora of
Khan ML, Ashalata Devi, Khumbonga and Tripathi, Kolhapur District. Shivaji University Publication,
2008. The Sacred groves and their significance in Kolhapur.
conserving Biodiversity: An overview International
Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences,
34(3): 277-291.

How to Cite this Article:

Sanjay S Sathe, Vikas V Jadhav and R M. Ganeshwade, 2014. Ecological notes on two sacred groves along
Krishna River Basin of Sangli district. Science Research Reporter, 4(2):163-166.

http://jsrr.net 166 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online)