Under the
learned guidance of H. H. Yogrishi Swami Ramdevji,
Vaidyaraj Acharya Balkrishna and Swami Muktanand, there is
an established Patanjali Herbal Garden situated
nearby
Patanjali Yogpeeth at Mahrshi Dayanand Gram, Bahadrabad,
Delhi- Haridwar highway. The Garden has beautiful
collections of more than 200 medicinal herbs, shrubs,
trees, climbers and ornamental plants. Since, 1997 it was
a great effort with high spirit to collect the valuable
medicinal plant and to ensure for grow in Garden, a Divya
Vanaushadhi Vatika has been earlier established in the
Ashram at Kankhal. Thereafter, to explore more
possibilities of a large number of wide collections,
exposition and research of medicinal, aromatic and
ornamental plants in a organized way in the Patanjali
Herbal Garden has been established. A team of Scientists
from Botany and Agriculture and a number of swayam sevak
are engaged for research and management.
SIGNIFICANT WORKS/ACTIVITIES
Collaboration in Research with National Bureau of Plant
Genetic Resources (NBPGR) and Research on Astavarg plants:
In 1997
Swami Ramdevji visited NBPGR, Head Quater at New Delhi and
later research collaboration has been made on Plant
Biodiversity to survey, identify and collect Ashtavarga plants used
as ingredients in Chayavanprash.
This project provided a good opportunity to undertake
exploration and collection tours in Hilly areas of
Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh and about 120 medicinal
and aromatic plants were collected and planted in the
Divya Vanaushadhi Vatika.
Over the past two
thousand years, Ayurveda lost its glory and the thrust of
Unani and Allopathic systems on Indian society and as a
result there are much valuable wisdom of medicinal plants
has been lost. The great invention of Ashwani Kumar
brothers on the Astavarga group plants used as
rejuvenators of body of Rishi Chayavan through the
preparation of Chayavanprash.. Over the vast time gap, the
Ayurvedic experts had lost the actual identity of these
eight plant species which formed the ingredients of Chayavanprash. The information contained about them in the
literature had been full of misidentification and wrong.
It was only due to these plant species grow in small
patches in difficult areas in the northwest Himalaya. Most
of the time, it seems, the Ayurvedic experts did not
extensively surveyed the areas of Himalayan elevations
rather relied on wrong information provided by cunning
traders or collectors. Basically Astavarg is the group of
plants described as jeevaniya , brhneeya, vaya sthapanix
in various Nighantus are viz. Jeevak, Rishbhak, Meda,
Mahameda, Kakoli, Kshirkakoli, Ridhi and Vridhi . The
Astavarg is a cooling, tasty, nutritious tonic, aphrodisiac,
nourishes body and increase kapha. It is beneficial in
seminal weakness, increases fat in the body, heals bone
fracture and cures vata, pitta and rakta doshas, abnormal
thirst, burning sensation in the body, fever
and diabetic condition. It is one of the excellent
combinations of herbal drugs which restore health
immediately, strengths immunity system and cures any
disorder in anabolism or body growth process as
antioxidants in the body.
Several
explorations were undertaken over a period of 4 to 5 years
in the altitudes ranging from 2000 m to 4000 m above mean
sea level in the North West Himalaya. Consequently it
could be possible to re-establish the proper identity of
eight plant species of Astavarga used in the Chayavanprash.
The book in Hindi and English containing all related
information has been published.
Botanical Identity of Astavarg
Plants: The medicinal
plants identified as Astavarg are viz. Jeevak- Malaxis
acuminata D. Don; Rishbhak- Malaxis muscifera (Lind.)
Kuntze; Meda- Polygonatum verticillatum Allioni, Mahameda-
Polygonatm cirrifolium Royle; Ridhi- Habenaria intermedia
D. Don; Vridhi- Habenaria acuminata Lindl; Kakoli-
Roscoea
alpina Royle and Kshirkakoli- Lilium polyphyllum D. Don.
The hilly
and remote forest areas have been surveyed for specific
programme are viz. Auli, Joshimath, Tapovan, Badrinarayan,
Valley of Flowers, Hemkund, Ukhimath, Gangotri Valley,
Kedarnath, Renthal, Gangnani, Yamunotri Valley, Rishikesh,
Dhanaulti in Uttarakhand and Karsog, Jalpa, Kamarunag,
Rewalsar, Rewanda, Lahaul-spiti, Hatloo, Thanedhar,
Narkanda, Matiana, Shilaru in Himachal Pradesh.
Collection of Medicinal Plants: There are a large
number of medicinal plant diversity widely used in ayurved
are present in the Garden. The live plants are also
prescribed by the Vaidyas of Patanjali Yogpeeth to
patients for taking fresh extract and decoction according
to their dose of administration. Some common species are
viz. Abroma augusta (Ulta Kambal); Acorus calamus
(Vacha);
Aloe vera (Ghee kwar); Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh); Argyreia speciosa
(Vidhara); Asparagus adscendens, A.
racemosus (Shatavar); Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar); Berberis aristata
(Daruhaldi); Boerhavia diffusa (Punarnava); Bryophyllum pinnata
(Pashanbhed/Patharchur); Clerodendrum
phlomidis (Bharangi bhed); C. serratumn (Bharangi); Cassia occidentalis
(Kasmarda); C. tora (Chakramard); Centella
asiatica (Mandook parni); Cinnamomum camphora
(Kapoor); Clitorea ternatea (Aprajita); Cocculus villosus
(Garudi,
Patalgarudi); Crinum latifolium (Sudarshana); Curculigo
orchioides (Kali musali); Desmodium gangeticum
(Salparni); Erythrina indica (Paribhadra); Ficus racemosa
(Gular); Gendarussa vulgaris (Kala bansa); Gmelina arborea
(Gambhari);
Mimosa pudica (Lajavanti); Ocimum americanum.
(Rama tulsi), Oroxylum indicum (Shyonak); Paederia foetida
(Gandha
prasarani); Phyllanthus fraternus (Bhumi Amla); Piper longum
(Pippali); Plumbago capensis, Plumbago zeylanica
(Chitraka); Rauvolfia sepentina (Sarpagandha); Ricinus communis
(Eranda); Sida cordifolia (Bala); Solanum indicum
(Brhati); S. surratense (Chhoti Kateli, Kantkari); Terminalia arjuna
(Arjun);
T. bellirica (Bahera); T. chebula (Harre); Tinospora
cordifolia (Giloy); Tylophora indica (Dama buti); Uraria
picta (Prisniparni); Viola odorata (Banafsa); Vitex
negundo (Nirgundi); Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)
etc..
Maintenance of Germ Plasm: There are a large number
of Germplasm of many medicinal plants stated above and
vegetables shown significant growth and yield like Daucas
carrota (Gajar), Lagenaria siceraria (Lauki), Lycopersion
esculentum (Tamatar) etc.
Glasshouses, Green Houses, Poly
Houses and Cool Chamber
etc.: The Herbal Garden has infra structures to
multiply various plant species of fruits, ornamental and
medicinal value and to protect the rare and valuable
collections from adverse climatic conditions. These are
being used to obtain faster regeneration.
Botany
and Seed Laboratory: This laboratory is used to
prepare herbarium plant specimens, identification of herbs
and to take up further research on drying, packaging, and
storage of raw herbs. Seed laboratory is used for the
process of seed samples for storage to
initiate research on storage/packing materials as well as seed viability and seed dormancy.
Large
Scale Cultivation of Medicinal Plants: Large scale
growing of various fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs,
shrubs and tree species is being done on about 45 acres of
farm land area of the Divya Yog Mandir (Trust). The
experimental farming is not aimed at meeting the demand of
raw drug material but it is an effort to maintain these
plant species for production of seed or planting
materials. The herbal drug materials are
Acorus calamus (Vacha),
Aloe vera (Ghrit Kumari), Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari),
Anacyclus Pyrethrum (Akarkara), Cymbopogon citratus
(Lemongrass), Rauvolfia serpentina (Sarpagandha), Withania
somnifera (Ashwagandha) etc.
Field
Experiments of Organic Farming Technology by the use of Wormi
Compost and NADEP Manure: In nature there is a system
of maintaining biological balance in soil, air and water.
The human intervention has damaged this balance due to
short-run gains. This is a great threats towards the
sustainability of agricultural production to meet the food
and nutritional requirements of growing population. Over
the past four decades, the use of chemical fertilizers,
pesticides, herbicides, weedicides, excessive soil erosion
etc. have adversely affected the soil fertility,
productivity and quality of produce. Growing awareness of
people about environmental degradation, has led the
scientists, policy planners and executives to take
corrective steps in order to improve the quality farming.
The department has developed Divya wormi compost and Divya
NADEP to the farmers for scientific and safe cultivations.
Preparation of Video Film on Rare and Endangered Plants:
During the exploration and collection trips, the video
film has been prepared showing the actual habitats,
various plant associations and plant characters of rare
and endangered plant species in location like Hemkund,
Valley of Flowers, Auli top, Gangotri, Badarinath, Tapovan
etc. in Uttarakhand and Saptasar, Rewalsar hills,
Kamarunag Rawanda, Hattoo Peak, Thanedhar, Narkanda,
Matian, Chail hills in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Project
Sponsored by National Medicinal Plant Board: A project
entitled, “To standardize agro-techniques for Gloriosa
superba, Withania somnifera, Rauvolfia serpentina and Andrographis paniculata.” for three years has been
sanctioned by the Board.
Research
on Ornamental Plants in Herbal Garden:
Research work has been
undertaken to propagation and plantation of ornamental
plants focuses having medicinal as well as ornamental by
using modern nursery techniques.
Training to Farmers / to Generate
Public Awareness
To Farmers:
The
department is providing regular training to the farmers.
Training of farmers is a tool to improve the economy of
the farmer families, to maintain sustainability of the
environment, and to involve the farmers for their economic
generation. In our demonstration plot of organic
cultivation the farmers participating for the organic
cultivation. The department provides free of cost training
for scientific methods of cultivation.
To General Public And Visitors:
More than hundreds of people of India and
abroad everyday benefited by the department Patanjali
Herbal Garden and Agro Research Department through the
learning, visual identifying of medicinal plants. The
department has action oriented specific programme to train and
educate the people by the demonstration and exposition of
medicinal plants used for the day to day needs and
healthcare. There are also many training programmes
conducted by the department in various places of Himachal
Pradesh, Assam, Uttrarakhand, Uttar Pradesh etc. The adivasi/
tribal healers, rural practitioners are also taking
training to enhance knowledge.
To School Children:
The regular visit of school children in Herbal Garden and
getting attention and learning of medicinal plants used
for home remedies and to know their ayurvedic and
botanical names is most hopeful and our fruitful
achievements for the awareness of future generation.
National and
International Herbal Exposition, Awards and Leadership:
Vaidyraj Acharya Shri Balkrishna has been many times
honored as Chief Guest in Herbal Exposition. Recently he
trained a group of people more than 250 who were
Traditional vaidyas, farmers and practitioners of
medicinal plants in Madhya Pradesh. The center has
participated for Herbal exposition in various programme
and Mahotsav organized in Delhi, Dehra Dun, Lucknow ,
Haridwar etc. The center has received many praise worthy
awards and certificates through the exhibition of
Medicinal plants.
Publications:
Books like Jadi-Booti Rahashya, Vitality strengthening
Astavarg Plants, and more than hundreds of articles have
been published by Vaidyraj Acharya Shri Balkrishna based
on his experiences and research on medicinal plants.
Future Strategy of R &
D.:
-
To
introduce more medicinal herbs, shrubs, trees and
climbers.
-
To
conserve and preserve more medicinal plants.
-
To study
of plant based wisdom of sadhu, sanyasi, yogi living in caves of
the Himalayan region and their innovation through
incantations and tapasya may established as separate
science called here as Monk Botany.
-
To
develop agro- technology of potential medicinal plants.
-
To
prepare standards for acceptance or rejection of raw
drug materials based on pharmacognostical studies (Dravya
parichaya) and solve the problems of sanskrit homonyms
or pratinidhitwa dravya.
-
To avoid
problem of herbal adulterants and artificial synthesized
herbal drug materials.
-
To
analysis of the plants based ethnomedicinal practices of
tribal and rural people and their inclusion in
ayurveda.
-
To
prepare more herbarium specimen sheets and establishment
of Herbarium of dried specimens of all the medicinal and
economic useful plant species as well as museum
specimens of seeds, drug material parts e.g. roots,
leaves, flowers, seeds, bark, fruits etc.
-
To
establish relationship between major plant compounds
viz. alkaloids, glucosides, glycosides, saponins,
tannins, terpenes etc. with rasa, guna, virya and vipaka
terms used in ayurveda for drug quality.
-
To
multiplication of some rare medicinal plants through
tissue culture and biotechnology .
-
To
develop agro technology based on indigenous methods of
seed selection and organic farming etc.
Medicinal, ornamental
and fruit plants are available in the department at low
price-rates:
Some potential medicinal plants species
of ayurveda, ornamental and fruits bearing species are
available in a low cost rate for the general public. The
vernacular names of plants and their price /rate are like
@Rs 10/=/plant: Aswagandha, Sadabahar, Stevia,
Pattharchatta, Ghi-kwar, Apamarga, Nirgundi, Dumbel,
Chitrak, Lemon grass, Neem, Mitha neem, Akarakara, Bhui
anwla, Arjuna, Lajwanti, Vasa, Mehndi, Mandukparni,
Punarnava, Tulsi, Giloya, Gandha prasarini, Maruwa,
Satawar, Shammi, Aparajita, Gudmar, Sahijan, Aak, Ratti,,
Putti Karanj, Shalparni, Pipali, Sahdevi, Prishnaparni,
Kaner etc.; @ Rs. 20/=/plant: Shyonak, Sita Ashok, Bel,
Harshingar, Anwla, Bahera, Amaltash, Kapoor, Ilaaichi,
Maulshri, Khair, Kachnar, Karaunda, Nimbu, bootle brush,
etc.; @Rs 30/= /plant: Amrood, Litchi, Mussaenda,
Morpankhi, Champa etc.; @ Rs.130/plant: Chandan.
Ormnamental species of Euphorbia is available@ Rs300/=
/plant and different species of Palms are also available
from @Rs. 30- 300/= /plant.
Research Faculty
| 1. |
Dr. Kaushal Kumar |
Ph.D., F.E.S., F.N.R.S. |
Senior Scientist &
Head of the
Department |
| 2. |
Dr. Shiv Kumar |
Ph.D. |
Scientist |
| 3. |
Dr. Rajesh Jain |
Ph.D. |
Scientist |
| 4. |
Dr. Satya Prakash |
Ph.D. |
Scientist |
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Disclaimer : The Organizers & Instructors
(‘O&I’) which expression shall include all
related entities employees, agents,affiliates,
volunteers associated with them) expressly
state that in general Yog is safe and
beneficial but like any other health program
it needs to be practiced judiciously,
correctly and cautiously. No citing by O&I at
the Yog Shivir to any
health-related/medical/other information is
intended to be a substitute for professional
judgment of a qualified health-care provider.
The O&I are not subject or liable to change
the structure of the Yog Shivir to suit
individual needs. Not all presentations at the
Yog Shivir may be suitable for everyone. If
pain is experienced anytime during the
practice of Yog, it should be stopped
immediately and a qualified health care
professional should be consulted. The O&I
assume no responsibility and will not be
liable for any harm, injury or damage
resulting from any tort, negligence or from a
breach of an express or implied warranty
however caused or occurring during or after
participation in the Yog Shivir or while
practicing anything presented therein. By
participating in the Yog Shivir the
participant, for himself/herself, his/her
heirs, and assigns, hereby expressly assumes
all risks, full responsibility and liability
for participating and practicing anything
presented therein and forever waives and
releases and agrees to defend, indemnify and
hold the O&I harmless from and against any and
all claims or demands, liabilities and
settlements (including without limitation,
legal and accounting fees) on or against the
O&I for losses or damages, including, without
limitation, direct,indirect, incidental,
consequential or special damages, personal
injury/wrongful death, resulting from or
alleged to result from participating in or
practicing anything that is presented in the
Yog Shivir. The O&I, at their sole own
discretion reserve the right to deny
participation at any time of the Yog Shivir to
any entity without assigning any reason
whatsoever. |
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