Climate Change and Origin of Agriculture: An Ancient Indian Pauranic Perspective

In the Krita Yuga (the Sata Yuga), the climate was pleasant and the persons having nomadic habit depended on the trees for their needs of food using the tubers, roots and fruits available in plenty, at that time. In due course of time, in the Treta Yuga, due to a severe climate change, these were destroyed. On behest of Lord Bramha, 17 plants (Oshadhis) were cultivated for their grains/seeds (to be used as food) and the agriculture, per se, came into being. The system of Varna Vyavastha, ordaining of the people by Smritis, etc., and the system of punishment also gradually evolved visà-vis agriculture. End of the Dvapara Yuga also witnessed absence of rains, drought, advent of other calamities and by the approach of Kali Yuga, people abandoned their agricultural activates and left their native place to settle along the water bodies and besides roots, fruits of trees also depended on meat (animal flesh) for their sustenance; and non-vegetarian food habit came into being. Mythological insight also indicate that during the reign of King Prithu, varying needs for the sustenance of people as well as other subjects were also mulched out from the Earth. Climatic changes may affect quality of agricultural produce in Kali Yuga and during end of a Yuga (Yuganta) may lead to casual and natural holocaust.