Role of Sacred Plants in Religion and Primary Health Care System- A case study of rural people of Ajmer district of Rajasthan State (India)

Rajasthan is the largest state of India occupying an area of 342, 274 square kilometers with deep indigenous and cultural knowledge. The traditional knowledge system in Rajasthan is fast eroding. A large number of rural people living in remote areas of Ajmer district of Rajasthan depend on nature for their basic necessities of life. People of this state are highly religious and various plants and their parts are used in these occasion in various ways round the year by these rural people which play great role and importance in their life. By this survey it is found, the role of sacred plants in the routine life style and health care system of rural people of Ajmer district of Rajasthan state. These people belonging to different culture and customs posses a good deal of information about medicinal utility of local biodiversity. Different parts of plant (roots, stem, leaves, bark, seeds, flowers, fruits) or the whole plant is used at various occasions which have the great property of medicine to cure various ailments. It is observed that 16 plants have high utility and importance in various religion activities as well as health care system. This system in rural people plays a role in conserving these biotic species as they are very useful in their life.