Topocentric Views of Nature

Abstract

Drawing from different secular traditions of India, such as the Ayurvedic health traditions and Sangam literature, geographical description and land ethic practices from South India, this chapter describes place-centric views of landscape which look at nature as a habitat for human beings. While one tradition relies on typology of the human body and its relationship to geography and climate, another poetic tradition from South India utilises topocentric categories called tiṇai. Earlier work by scholars in these areas is summarised with appropriate annotation and analysis that links these ideas to the topocentric view of nature.