ACTIVITIES

Energy Bedcovers: Drawing on his experience in the Auroville units of Grazia, and the Janaka Art Studio,Sivaraj and his wife Malar, and Helge of the Isaimayam Trust, are designing and supervising the production of quilted and patch-worked bedcovers, replete with traditional kolams as the quilting pattern.  Almost 12 local people work upstairs on the house balcony, cutting and stitching.  Most of the production is sold to visitors, and profits go toward the orphanage and support of the project.  

Internship Programme:For undergraduates studying in Auroville.  The 4-6 day programme includes introduction to the growing plants and to Ayurveda and Siddha medicine, yoga lessons, introduction to Mahabharata, and two days of making music with the orphan children in Puducherry, as well as entertaining the handicapped children on weekends in Martuvam.  Residential internships for a month or more are also possible.  

Siddha Clinic:  In the nearby town of Kootroad, a building is getting ready which will accommodate a Siddha treatment centre, where Sivaraj’s Siddha-guru Dr. Salvarasu (one of South India’s renowned Siddha practitioners) will attend while supervising Sivaraj’s completion of his now four years of study under him.  The medicinal plants which have been grown and prepared at Martuvam will be dispensed as part of the treatments there.    Professional healers, such as the Healing Touch practitioners, who come to volunteer at Martuvam or Isaimayam will be able to offer their healing skills in this semi-urban clinic.  Both treatments and training can be conducted there.  

Art School Project:  A five-acre plot of Auroville land has been assigned to Martuvam for development of a healing forest plantation, and all the bunding and plantation has been completed with the support of Isaimayam.  On an adjacent half-acre bought by the Isaimayam Trust, a building like the Martuvam house will be constructed as an “Art School”.  The Energy Bedcovers production will move there, along with the preparation of herbal medicines. Music study and claywork for the orphans and handicapped children will also find their home there.