Reimagining Prakriti and Samskriti: A study of Hindu eco-consciousness in Sudha Murthy's The Magic of the Lost Temple

Cultural practices serve as platforms for children to explore the heritage of varying traditions. Exposure to cultural practices and beliefs from an early age through literature and social interactions establish a sense of ethical value among children. Indian cultural tales introduce children to the multiplicity of languages, traditions, and festivals prevalent across the country. They often depict the village lifestyle with vivid descriptions of nature. Using pastoral ecology and cultural ecology as eco-critical theories this paper explores how rituals and customs of Hinduism teach the harmonious coexistence of humans with nature from early childhood. Through eco-critical reading and analysis of Sudha Murthy’s novel The Magic of the Lost Temple, this paper aims to develop ecological consciousness in children from Hindu cultural perspectives.