Vaidyagrama (The Spritually-Engaged Sustainable "Ayurvedic" Ashram):
A Preliminary Note
Vaidyagrama, a healing village, practices authentic Ayurveda, the traditional healing science of India. It is located in a remote village area between Coimbatore (in Tamil Nadu) and Palakkad (in Kerala), South India. The plan and design of Vaidyagrama are modelled like an ashram carefully combining modern architectural and ancient Vasthu Shastra norms. It is also presently based on a social enterprise model and works within the "framework" of the triple bottomline, with concerns for the role of spirituality in healing.
Vaidyagrama is a built environment, 'grown' with the principles of an ideal Ayurveda center, as prescribed in the classical Ayurveda texts. The commitment is to create a truly natural Ayurveda healing centre, with a global reach, that is primarily guided by the wisdom and orientation of ancient Ayurveda texts. This commitment has naturally led to the comprehensive incorporation of the concerns for and principles of sustainability. The spaces allotted for each specific place for healing, the materials used for construction, the landscaping and even the vegetation are for an Ayurveda reason – wisdom for the comprehensive healing process to be complete.
It is the effort of the dedicated team at Vaidyagrama, led by Dr. Ram Kumar, to create and maintain the 'Being' of Vaidyagrama with eco-wisdom, focused on sound conservation and management of all sorts of ‘energies’ (physical to spiritual). Vaidyagrama, the spiritually-engaged sustainable healing centre, has been over the years developing many special, natural and eco-friendly endeavours and serving to accomplish its ecological footprint:
Use of Solar Energy
Solar energy is energy from the Sun in the form of radiated heat and light. It drives the climate and weather and supports all-life on Earth. Solar energy technologies make controlled use of this energy resource. At Vaidyagrama, there will be use of solar energy for heating, lighting as well as cooking. It will be used in the kitchen, for ‘street’ lights, as well as for water heaters, in addition to other critical everyday uses. Even Solar torches and solar re-chargers, for electrical appliances and even vehicles, are thought of for use in Vaidyagrama in time to come.
Use of Wind Energy
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. A suitable wind turbine will be installed to cater to the needs of Vaidyagrama; and it will be used for generating electricity, thus putting Nature’s resources to use. Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Use of Biomass
Biomass refers to biological material that can be used as fuel. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as bio-fuel. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. Burning biomass, or the fuel products produced from it, may be used for heat or electricity production. It will be one of the natural modes for fuel used in Vaidyagrama kitchens.
Water Management
Water management is the practice of planning, developing, distributing and optimally utilizing water resources i.e. the treatment of drinking water, industrial water, sewage or wastewater management, water recycling. A water consultant is prescribing the best course of action towards this endeavour, during construction as well as during maintenance in Vaidyagrama.
Water Conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing use of fresh water, through technological or social methods. The goals of water conservation efforts include sustainability (To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate), energy conservation (Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy), habitat conservation (Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure). Vaidyagrama has built in these principles in its operations.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Natural means like planting of trees to avoid soil erosion, as well as other modes like preparing trenches and wells for rainwater processing are already in use in Vaidyagrama. In years where the monsoons have been good, Vaidyagrama has been self-sufficient in its water needs.
Vehicle-Free Environment
As part of being environment-friendly, Vaidyagrama will have a pollution-free ambience. There will be no vehicle from outside that will be allowed in the premises. The pollution–free, no petrol, re-chargeable vehicles will be used for conveyance in the campus in time to come.
Natural Farming
Vaidyagrama has its natural farming cultivation of trees and plants, including vegetables as well as herbal medicines. Plants are already being grown in the land in the most natural way, using natural manures and bio-pesticides. Also, the idea is to 'grow' forests of useful plants across the healing centre.
Eco-wise Built Environment
In keeping with the specifications given in classical Ayurveda texts, a specially prepared herbal Kashayam will be mixed with the natural building materials in construction, which is most ideal in terms of a treatment place as well as in terms of being most natural. The use of modern carcinogenic will be avoided or reduced to a bare minimum. With the usage of natural mud & binders available, the effort is to reduce the usage of cement upto 3%. An herbal termite treatment is given, thus making even the construction, most eco-friendly as possible. The construction is such that there is maximum usage of daylight as well as natural breeze in the buildings. It thus helps in preservation of electrical energy. To further the reduction of consumption of Electrical energy, LED and CFL lighting is utilized (until better lighting technologies are available). The built environment will finally be less than 30% of the total area of over 16 acres, thus maintaining the connect with Mother Earth.
Body-Mind Healing
Persons from all over the world - facing anything from the stress of modern living in which we have distanced ourselves from Nature and our-Selves to other specific ailments of the body - seeking healing at Vaidyagramma go through authentic Ayurvedic healing therapies of the body. But the mind is equally of importance in healing and therefore the spiritual aspect is strongly emphasized. There is no religious sectarianism, with each person free to seek his/her own way(s) to direct his/her body and mind to the healing process. The idea eventually is to move towards internal and external balance. Whatever prayers and chanting at the Centre are directed at Universal Well-Being (of all), and to re-establish our deep connection with Nature, community and each other.
Note:
The Vaidyagramma is still in the process of growing and many of the above-mentioned efforts are also growing. In addition, the effort - through the Punarnava Trust - is promoting the involvement of the neighbouring villages and villagers. A global community promoting a spiritually-engaged sustainable initiative is in the making, through ayurveda.
Vaidyagrama is a built environment, 'grown' with the principles of an ideal Ayurveda center, as prescribed in the classical Ayurveda texts. The commitment is to create a truly natural Ayurveda healing centre, with a global reach, that is primarily guided by the wisdom and orientation of ancient Ayurveda texts. This commitment has naturally led to the comprehensive incorporation of the concerns for and principles of sustainability. The spaces allotted for each specific place for healing, the materials used for construction, the landscaping and even the vegetation are for an Ayurveda reason – wisdom for the comprehensive healing process to be complete.
It is the effort of the dedicated team at Vaidyagrama, led by Dr. Ram Kumar, to create and maintain the 'Being' of Vaidyagrama with eco-wisdom, focused on sound conservation and management of all sorts of ‘energies’ (physical to spiritual). Vaidyagrama, the spiritually-engaged sustainable healing centre, has been over the years developing many special, natural and eco-friendly endeavours and serving to accomplish its ecological footprint:
Use of Solar Energy
Solar energy is energy from the Sun in the form of radiated heat and light. It drives the climate and weather and supports all-life on Earth. Solar energy technologies make controlled use of this energy resource. At Vaidyagrama, there will be use of solar energy for heating, lighting as well as cooking. It will be used in the kitchen, for ‘street’ lights, as well as for water heaters, in addition to other critical everyday uses. Even Solar torches and solar re-chargers, for electrical appliances and even vehicles, are thought of for use in Vaidyagrama in time to come.
Use of Wind Energy
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. A suitable wind turbine will be installed to cater to the needs of Vaidyagrama; and it will be used for generating electricity, thus putting Nature’s resources to use. Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Use of Biomass
Biomass refers to biological material that can be used as fuel. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as bio-fuel. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. Burning biomass, or the fuel products produced from it, may be used for heat or electricity production. It will be one of the natural modes for fuel used in Vaidyagrama kitchens.
Water Management
Water management is the practice of planning, developing, distributing and optimally utilizing water resources i.e. the treatment of drinking water, industrial water, sewage or wastewater management, water recycling. A water consultant is prescribing the best course of action towards this endeavour, during construction as well as during maintenance in Vaidyagrama.
Water Conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing use of fresh water, through technological or social methods. The goals of water conservation efforts include sustainability (To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate), energy conservation (Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy), habitat conservation (Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructure). Vaidyagrama has built in these principles in its operations.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Natural means like planting of trees to avoid soil erosion, as well as other modes like preparing trenches and wells for rainwater processing are already in use in Vaidyagrama. In years where the monsoons have been good, Vaidyagrama has been self-sufficient in its water needs.
Vehicle-Free Environment
As part of being environment-friendly, Vaidyagrama will have a pollution-free ambience. There will be no vehicle from outside that will be allowed in the premises. The pollution–free, no petrol, re-chargeable vehicles will be used for conveyance in the campus in time to come.
Natural Farming
Vaidyagrama has its natural farming cultivation of trees and plants, including vegetables as well as herbal medicines. Plants are already being grown in the land in the most natural way, using natural manures and bio-pesticides. Also, the idea is to 'grow' forests of useful plants across the healing centre.
Eco-wise Built Environment
In keeping with the specifications given in classical Ayurveda texts, a specially prepared herbal Kashayam will be mixed with the natural building materials in construction, which is most ideal in terms of a treatment place as well as in terms of being most natural. The use of modern carcinogenic will be avoided or reduced to a bare minimum. With the usage of natural mud & binders available, the effort is to reduce the usage of cement upto 3%. An herbal termite treatment is given, thus making even the construction, most eco-friendly as possible. The construction is such that there is maximum usage of daylight as well as natural breeze in the buildings. It thus helps in preservation of electrical energy. To further the reduction of consumption of Electrical energy, LED and CFL lighting is utilized (until better lighting technologies are available). The built environment will finally be less than 30% of the total area of over 16 acres, thus maintaining the connect with Mother Earth.
Body-Mind Healing
Persons from all over the world - facing anything from the stress of modern living in which we have distanced ourselves from Nature and our-Selves to other specific ailments of the body - seeking healing at Vaidyagramma go through authentic Ayurvedic healing therapies of the body. But the mind is equally of importance in healing and therefore the spiritual aspect is strongly emphasized. There is no religious sectarianism, with each person free to seek his/her own way(s) to direct his/her body and mind to the healing process. The idea eventually is to move towards internal and external balance. Whatever prayers and chanting at the Centre are directed at Universal Well-Being (of all), and to re-establish our deep connection with Nature, community and each other.
Note:
The Vaidyagramma is still in the process of growing and many of the above-mentioned efforts are also growing. In addition, the effort - through the Punarnava Trust - is promoting the involvement of the neighbouring villages and villagers. A global community promoting a spiritually-engaged sustainable initiative is in the making, through ayurveda.
