The Eco-poetics of Sankaradeva

Sankaradeva was a great nature poet. Nature, in all respects, whether tranquil or turbulent, is enshrined in his poetry.

In the Haramohana of his Kirttana, we are shown a glimpse of a 'Moghul Garden', filled with all Assamese flowers, of course:

Suvarna kamala bheta utpala
Phuli phuli āchai ranji
Sobhe cakrabaka rājahamsa jāka
Mrināla bhunjoi ubhanji
Kondā kanka baka bibidha cataka
Bhramanta nirbhaya bhāve
Amrita samāna jala kari pāna
Tyajoi sulalita rāwe
Cāriyo pārata divya puspa yata
Gandhe dasodisa bhāse
Aneka bhramare beriā gunjare
Madhupāna abhilāse
Yata divya paksi phalaphula bhaksi
Tyajaya susvara rāwa
Kuhukuhu dhvani kokilara suni
Bahaya malayā bāwa
[Sankaradeva, Kirttana]

The golden-lotuses and the water-lilies are in bloom, adorning (the lake), the Cakravaka shines, with the flight of geese that pull out the lotus-stalks and eat them up. The kondā, kanka, baka and various other birds roam without fear and emit sweet cries, drinking the nectar-like water. On the four sides are divine flowers their scent sweetening the ten sids, innumerable bees hum, desirous of drinking the honey. So many birds eat the fruits and emit harmonious voice. The 'kuhu' of the Cuckoo is heard and the cool breeze flows.

Nature in her fearful aspects is seen in Sankaradeva's description of the rainy season, a familiar phenomenon in Assam and in terrible tempest overwhelms the people of Gokula in Govardhana-dhārana (Ādi Dasama):

[...]
Gokula dhāki barasila nirantara
Pare jaladhāra stambha sama thulantara
Khāla bāma sabe bhaila dekhi ekākāra
Milila pralaya yena prajā ksayankara
Silā sampā brsti bara bāyura āndola
Parama bihbala bhāva bhaila batsa dhenu
Pidileka site taratari kampe tanu
[Sankaradeva, Ādi Dasama]

The terrible storm dislodges roof and wall and the lightening flashes out. The skies are filled with the noise of clouds and the tempest, the thunder shakes the earth and deafens the ears, water pours down in torrents with ear-piercing sound. The downpour of hail is so terrific that people lose their senses.Continual rains overflood Gokula. Sheets of water as massive as columns crash down; the high and the low become indistinguishable. It appears as if the deluge has come and the people suffer great destruction. The rain showers with hail, and the wind whizzes on. There is no distinction of the quarters and voices are drowned. The cows and calves stagger and the cold being oppressive, their limbs shake terribly.