Introduction 

Sacred groves generally refer to forest areas preserved on religious grounds as the abode of forest deities, benevolent and malevolent spirits present in nature. Veneration of nature as a spiritual element has been an essential component of Indian culture since ancient times. Reference to nature worship can be found as early as the Indus Valley civilization. Mention of forest worship and preservation in the form of sacred groves can be found in the Ṛg Veda, and in the Buddhist and Jaina texts. Gautama Buddha found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree[1]. Thus, religion has an intimate connection with nature preservation that prescribes social and cultural norms of human habitation in harmony with nature. Since religion provides the fundamental codes of human behaviour towards others, ethical and judicious use and preservation of nature form an essential element in the religious scriptures and texts too[2].  India has a rich tradition of sacred groves, which is also an important part of tribal cultures in Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal, Mizoram and Meghalaya, along...