Sri Guru Jambheshwar Ji (vegetarian): Founder of the Bishnoi & India’s First Environmentalist, Part 2 of 2

God is the central foundation of the Bishnoi faith and is referred to as Vishnu. Guru Jambheshwar Ji further outlined moral and ethical rules in His commandments to help His followers stay on the righteous path of the Providence. He encouraged the Bishnoi community to abstain from sins such as ego, lust, and greed, which would create a greater distance between them and God. Toxic substances, including drugs and alcohol, were also forbidden.

Guru Jambheshwar Ji held great love for Mother Earth’s inhabitants. He foresaw that people’s actions and economic development would one day destroy nature. In order to protect humans, animal-people, and the environment, Guru Jambheshwar Ji created several precepts that extend compassion towards all living beings and preserve biodiversity. Granaries can be found near some temples because the Bishnois are expected to set aside a tenth of their grain harvests to feed local citizens of the animal kingdom.

Sri Guru Jambheshwar Ji taught that humans are a great creation of the Divine and should not degrade themselves by eating the flesh of other innocent creatures. He advocated for non-violence and taught that all sentient beings have the right to live. Guru Jambheshwar Ji required His followers adhere to a strict vegetarian diet. Killing animal-people is banned, and even the tiniest of beings, including insects, are protected by the Guru’s 29 commandments.

The Khejri tree, a species of flowering trees belonging to the pea family, is especially sacred to the Bishnois and is considered a god-tree. The Khejri tree is responsible for saving thousands of lives during the Great Rajputana Famine of 1868.

Sri Guru Jambheshwar Ji departed the earthly realm in 1536, when He was 85 years old, in Lalasar Village in Rajasthan. To commemorate the legacy of this kind and compassionate Guru, two melas (or gatherings) are held at Mukam annually. The 52-minute documentary “The Bishnois: India’s Eco-Warriors,” directed by vegetarian French photographer Franck Vogel and French cinematographer Benoît Ségur, gives us a glimpse into the lives and devotion of members of the Bishnoi community.