Oushadodyanam (Herbal Garden)

We have inherited a branch of medicine - the Ayurveda from time immemorial. The knowledge - Irishiproktam- was transferred to us by holy saints over centuries. It is now accepted world over as the most acceptable preventive and curative medicine. Its preservation and propagation to the posterity has thus became our bounden  duty.     A Tapovanam for the elders, Sisuvihar for the children and a Vasathigriham for the other inmates of the ISK are some of the important units of ISK. The basic characteristic here is to have an eco-friendly atmosphere with a life as nearer to nature. Ayurvedic or herbal medicines are universally accepted as mild and less harmful.

The elderly as well as the children prefer to have the herbal medicinal preparations for the routine and minor ailments and it was hence considered necessary to have a herbal garden in the precincts .Already substantial project study has been undertaken by renowned experts to know the viability and other implications of the project and a report obtained by ISK.

We have identified 5 acres of hilly slot on the slopes of the mountains surrounding the tapovanam where the terrain has been identified as most suitable for herbal gardening. The identified 5 acres area will be planted with herbs, shrubs and creepers. The medicinal trees will be planted in and around the entire complex particularly surrounding the tapovanam and gosala. They will also be used as shade trees in the campus. Plants proposed to be  cultivated belong to the following category.

1)      Trees

2)      Shrubs

3)      Herbs

4)      Roots

5)      Creepers

The herbal garden would be looked after by botanical and agricultural experts. They would also take care of the star trees and other plants and trees in the compound. The herbal garden would also preserve the Nava Graha plants as a model to the public.

      Graha                                    Trees

      Surya            Irattimadhuram, Devatharam, Ramacham, Pichakam, Pathimukham,

                           Atuvanchi, Pushkaramulla

      Chandra        Gajamadham, Nilamparanda, Thamara

      Chovva         Chandanam, Koovalam, Kurunthotty, Chembarathy

      Budhan         Pushkaramulla, Rudraksham Malakarakka

      Vyazham      Kurukuthimulla, Iruveli, Irattimadhuram

      Shukran        Pachotti, Kumkumam, Karimbu, Malakarakka

      Shani             Thrikolpakonna, Muthanga, Iruveli, Kumkumam

      Rahu             Pachotti, Muthanga, Iruveli, Kumkumam

      Kethu            Chitamruthu, Muthanga, Gajamadham

The ISK plans to sell the surplus products to authoritative  ayurvedic pharmaceutical centers on payment. The centre also propose to spread the message of importance of growing medicinal plants in domestic households. Saplings will be distributed to households and free advice on their upkeep and maintenance will be given. There will also be a buyback of the products from such households by the ISK subject to terms and conditions.

Oushadodyanam is envisaged to shield us in three ways by providing (i) dietary      supplement (ii) Medicinal supplement and (iii) financial supplement by providing supporting income.