In the ancient Hindu literatures Ramayana, Mahabharata and several Puranas two spiritually significant forests were mentioned namely Naimisharanya in the northern India and Dandakaranya in the south central India.
The word Dandakaranya is formed by joining the two separate words Dandaka and Aranya according to a rule of Sanskrit grammar. Aranya means a forest and Dandaka means punishment and Dandakaranya means Forest of Punishment.
It was described in Hindu mythology that Dandakaranya region was extended from Vindhya hill range, Narmada river and Mahanadi river in the north to Godavari river (in some mythology Krishna river) in the south, from Mahendragiri mountains of Eastern Ghat hills in the east to Wardha river in the west. Near about the beginning of Treta yuga Dandaka was a country ruled by a king named Danda who was the youngest son of the legendary king Ikshvaku, son of Manu Vaivasvata and founder of the Solar Dynasty of kings. Ikshvaku, finding Danda a great fool and the most useless, banished him to this region because he was highly anxious of his actions. Ikshvaku got a capital city built for him from where Danda ruled. But Danda continued to lead a voluptuous life.
Danda’s kulaguru (royal guru) was Shukracharya who lived in an ashram located in the jungle surrounding Dandaka kingdom. Once, when Shukracharya was away, Danda visited the ashram and molested Shukracharya’s daughter Araja, then left the ashram leaving Araja in trauma. When Shukracharya returned, Araja told the entire incident to him. This made Shukracharya very angry and he cursed Danda: "In 7 days, you and your kingdom, all your people and army, shall die. For a hundred yojanas around your city, all life will be consumed by a rain of dust and death shall rule this sinner’s kingdom." Things happened as per the curse. All life was extinguished. Danda perished. Dandaka kingdom was laid waste; in consequence the kingdom became Dandakaranya - the forest of punishment, a region of dense wild forest through which even sunlight did not pass.
Later, Dandakaranya became part of colonial state of Lanka under the reign of Ravana. Khara, a man-eating rakshasa (demon) and younger brother of Ravana was governor of the Dandakaranya province. Dandakaranya became a stronghold of the Rakshasa (demon) and then Dandakaranya was called the forest of demons. In the epic Ramayana, many of the events described in Aranya Kanda were happed in Dandakaranya.
Table of Contents
- Chapter I: An overview on Dandakaranya and objectives of the study
- 1.1 An overview on Dandakaranya
- 1.1.1 Dandakaranya: Etymology and mythology
- 1.1.2 Dandakaranya: Present extents
- 1.1.3 Dandakaranya: Geology
- 1.1.4 Dandakaranya: Minerals and mines
- 1.1.5 Dandakaranya: Forest and wildlife
- 1.1.6 Dandakaranya: The tribals
- 1.1.7 Dandakaranya: The DNK project
- 1.1.8 Dandakaranya: BRGF program
- 1.2 Objectives of the study
- 1.1 An overview on Dandakaranya
- Chapter II: Land use land cover changes of southern Dandakaranya
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Materials and methods
- 2.2.1 Study area
- 2.2.2 Methodology for land use land cover change detection
- 2.3 Results
- 2.3.1 Land use land cover changes
- 2.3.2 Land use land cover change rate
- 2.4 Discussion
- Chapter III: Forest fragmentation in and around Bailadila hill range
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Materials and methods
- 3.2.1 Study area
- 3.2.2 Methodology
- 3.2.2.1 Image processing
- 3.2.2.2 Analysis of forest cover change rate
- 3.2.2.3 Analysis of forest fragmentation
- 3.3 Results
- 3.3.1 Forest cover change
- 3.3.2 Forest fragmentation
- 3.4 Discussion
- Chapter IV: General discussion and conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This study aims to analyze land use and land cover changes, and forest fragmentation in the Dandakaranya region of India. The research utilizes remote sensing data and spatial analysis techniques to assess environmental changes over time.
- Land use and land cover change in Dandakaranya
- Forest fragmentation patterns in the Bailadila hill range
- The historical and geographical context of Dandakaranya
- Methodology for analyzing remote sensing data
- Environmental implications of land use changes
Chapter Summaries
Chapter I: An overview on Dandakaranya and objectives of the study: This chapter provides a detailed historical and geographical overview of Dandakaranya, exploring its etymology and mythology, present-day extent, geology, mineral resources, forest cover, tribal populations, and the impact of developmental projects like the DNK project and the BRGF program. The chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis by establishing the complex socio-ecological context of the study area and clearly defines the research objectives.
Chapter II: Land use land cover changes of southern Dandakaranya: This chapter focuses on analyzing land use and land cover changes in southern Dandakaranya using remote sensing data. It details the methodology employed, including the selection of study areas and the techniques used for detecting changes across different time periods. The results section presents the quantitative data on land use/land cover changes and their rates, providing a comprehensive assessment of the transformations that have occurred in the region. The discussion section likely interprets these findings in the context of the broader socio-economic factors driving these changes.
Chapter III: Forest fragmentation in and around Bailadila hill range: This chapter delves into the specifics of forest fragmentation in the Bailadila hill range, a critical area within southern Dandakaranya. The methodology section meticulously outlines the image processing and analytical techniques used to quantify the extent and patterns of forest fragmentation. The results section likely presents both quantitative data on forest cover changes and qualitative analysis of fragmentation parameters. The discussion section integrates this analysis with findings from Chapter II to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay between land use change and forest fragmentation.
Keywords
Dandakaranya, land use change, land cover change, forest fragmentation, remote sensing, Bailadila hill range, GIS, spatial analysis, environmental change, tribal populations, sustainable development.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Dandakaranya
What is the overall focus of this study?
This study comprehensively analyzes land use and land cover changes, and forest fragmentation in the Dandakaranya region of India. It uses remote sensing data and spatial analysis to assess environmental changes over time, examining the historical and geographical context of Dandakaranya, and exploring the methodological approaches used in analyzing remote sensing data, along with the environmental implications of land use changes.
What are the main chapters and their contents?
The study is divided into four chapters. Chapter I provides a detailed overview of Dandakaranya, including its etymology, geography, geology, mineral resources, forest cover, tribal populations, and the impact of development projects. It also outlines the study's objectives. Chapter II analyzes land use and land cover changes in southern Dandakaranya using remote sensing data, detailing methodology, results, and discussion. Chapter III focuses on forest fragmentation in the Bailadila hill range, using similar methodological approaches and providing results and discussion. Chapter IV offers a general discussion and conclusion.
What specific methodologies are used in this study?
The research employs remote sensing data and spatial analysis techniques. Specific methodologies include image processing, analysis of forest cover change rates, and analysis of forest fragmentation. The study also details the selection of study areas and techniques used for detecting changes across different time periods.
What geographical area does this study cover?
The primary focus is the Dandakaranya region of India, with a specific emphasis on southern Dandakaranya and the Bailadila hill range.
What are the key themes explored in this research?
Key themes include land use and land cover change in Dandakaranya, forest fragmentation patterns in the Bailadila hill range, the historical and geographical context of Dandakaranya, the methodology for analyzing remote sensing data, and the environmental implications of land use changes.
What are the key findings of this study (as summarized)?
The study provides quantitative data on land use/land cover changes and their rates in southern Dandakaranya. It also presents quantitative data on forest cover changes and qualitative analysis of fragmentation parameters in the Bailadila hill range. The findings likely highlight the interplay between land use change and forest fragmentation.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include Dandakaranya, land use change, land cover change, forest fragmentation, remote sensing, Bailadila hill range, GIS, spatial analysis, environmental change, tribal populations, and sustainable development.
What is the purpose of the "Table of Contents" provided?
The table of contents provides a structured overview of the study's organization, allowing readers to easily navigate the different chapters and sub-sections.
What is the purpose of providing chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries offer concise overviews of the main points and findings of each chapter, providing a quick understanding of the study's content before detailed reading.
Who is the intended audience for this study?
The study is intended for academic use, focusing on analyzing themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Quote paper
- Kritish De (Author), 2016, Studies on Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Southern Dandakaryanaya with Special Reference to Forest Fragmentation in and around Bailadila Region, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/437233
