The Martuvam Healing Forest began in 2002 with a piece of barren wasteland, a man with a dream and some help from his friends. The land is part of the international Township of Auroville, located on its outer perimeter next to the Tamil village of Annainagar. The man is Sivaraj, who with the help of his wife, his daughter and as they grow up his two sons, has developed the land into a "Herbal Garden".

 

First he planted trees and bushes which are known for their healing qualities in the traditional Indian medicine system of "Siddha" medicine. The ground-breaking work was supported by Lisa Borstlap of Holland, Auromics and Palmyra of Auroville. Ivar Jenten and Johnny Allen of Auroville gave the back-breaking input. Friends from the Pitchandikulam Bio Resource Centre in Auroville, where Sivaraj once worked, gave enormously of information, seedlings and encouragement.

Now the land is covered with thousands of medicinal plants, bushes and trees of more than 100 varieties, flourishing, blossoming, giving their shade, their leaves, roots and their essences into this project.

The Martuvam Healing Project has been largely supported by the Netherlands-based Isai Ma(i)yam Trust, founded by Ivar Jenten, which gives a musical education to orphans in Puducherry.

On weekends about 45 children come to Martuvam for fun and frolic among the trees and plants, an outing into the country. They are accommodated in a large house, recently completed with the support of the Trust, where not only Sivarajs family but also visitors live.

 

 

Besides the Herbal Garden there were many things done in the last years.

Now Martuvam Healing Forest contains different projects:
 1. Herbal Garden
 2. Siddha Clinic
 3. Orphanage of Isai Ma(i)yam
 4. Art School         
 5. Business: Mother India