Conceived and initiated by Dr. A.N Yellappa Reddy, theBalavana (a term coined to describe the spiritualsignificance of flowers in the garden) was introducedto the hills of the Kuppam campus in 2009. Theobjective of the Balavana is to create a pure andrefreshing natural environment so as to serve as aphysical manifestation of the divine nature of thesouls of Dhruva, Prahlada and Nachiketa (three greatchildren in Indian mythology).The natural processes of birth, life and death, asembodied by the accomplishments of these threeprodigies, are reflected in the plant life nurtured inthe Balavana, hence the moniker “Forest of theProdigies”. Thus, through the diverse plant lifemanifested in the garden, Agastya aims to providevisitors with a glimpse of Earth in her mostresplendent form.

BALAVANA:“FORESTOFTHEPRODIGIES”

EcologyProgramsatKuppamCampus

INTRODUCTION TO AGASTYA CAMPUS Campus is spread across 172 acres in Gudivanka village, near Kuppamtown, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh nestled in the eastern Deccanplateau region. The campus when acquired in 1999, was largely barren withpatches of scrub jungle and grasses. Dr. Yellappa Reddy an eminentenvironmentalist guided the campus eco-regenerative effort throughexclusively nature-based processes based on ecological principles. This hasresulted in very encouraging outcomes in less than fifteen years ofimplementation; strongly attested to by the ever-increasing species of floraand fauna in the campus.

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MISSION

Teach children holistic life-science and

earth science while regenerating

landscape and connecting to traditional

wisdom.

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OBJECTIVES

Ø Understand and document richness of biodiversity of Eastern Ghat region

Ø Ensure protection of habitats

Ø Catalogue behaviour of various species - spiders, ants etc.

Ø Network with researchers/scientists globally.

ØTeach children holistic life/earth science knowledge

ü Create a replicable model for restoration of semi-arid zones

based on a holistic and integrated approach to water and

ecosystem management.

AGASTYA’S CAMPUS ECOLOGY MISSION

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ü Teach children holistic life-science and earth science while

regenerating landscape and connecting to traditional wisdom.

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Biodiversity Study at Campus

FINDINGSl Termite Hill Gecko,

Kollegal Gecko, Golden Gecko

l Several species of crickets, mantis, grasshoppers, bush hoppers, tree hoppers, Turtle beetle

l Spiders (55 species)l Butterflies (105 species)

l Birds (155 species )l Migratory birds from

Eurasia, America, Siberia

l Reptiles l Mammals l Plants 700+ species

In the Year 2000 In the Year 2017

1. SIDDA VANA2. GAYATHRI VANA3. BALAVANA (DHRUVA, PRAHALADHA, NACHIKETHA VAVAS)4 .NAKSHTRA VANA (RASI VAVA, VASUDEVAKUTUMBAKAM)5. SARASWATHI KUND6. PAVITHRA VANA7. BUTTERFIY PARK8. CHAKRAMUNI GARDEN9. MOOLIKA VANA10. PANCHAVALKALA11. PANCHAVATI12. GANESHA VANA13. SADMA VANA14. VATAVRUKSHA ARBORIAL SYMMMETRY15. AVENUES- AROMOTIC AND ANTIVIRAL 16.SHABARI VANA17.SAPTHARISHI VANA18.HANUMAN VANA19.ENDANGERD GARDENGARDEN

Conceptualgardensincampus

BALAVANATheBalavana wasinspiredbythelivesofthreechildprodigiesinIndianitihaas.ThefirstwasDhruva,whoattheageoffivebeganlivingintheforesttherebyformingadeepconnectiontotheentirenaturalecosystem.HeexploredtheconceptofbirthsayingthatallanimatethingsarebornfromthewombofMotherEarth.Legendhasitthatheremainsacelestialstar,givingtheworldthemantraofOmNamam BagawathiVasudevaya Namaha.ThesecondprodigywasPrahalada,whocouldcreatenuclearenergyusingspiritualpowerfromanimateandinanimateobjects.HedemonstratednuclearenergyfromamerepillarwhileNachiketa exploreddeath,decayandreunification.Allthreeprodigiesleftanindeliblemarkofaccomplishmentduringtheirlifetimes.Balavana helpsustodiscoverandrefreshoursoulsandourunderstandingoftheself(Atma).Thethreeprodigies,Dhruva,Prahalada andNachiketa,haveshownhumansthatthewaytobecomecreativeandproductivesoulsisthroughself-disciplineanddedication.Visitorstothevana haveauniqueopportunitytoconnectwiththebestandperfectteacher,MotherEarth.Theideaistoinspirestudentsandothervisitorsaliketodiscovertheircreativitybyexperiencingthisuniqueeco-retreat.ThegardensofDhruva,Prahalada andNachiketha haveclosetofortydifferentplantspecies.Thegardenisspreadoversevenandahalfacresandisanimportantpartofincreasingthebio-diversityofthecampus.EachplantinthegardenhasaspiritualsignificanceasdefinedbyShriAurobindo andtheMother.

Imagine a gigantic man-made family of human figures restingon the slopes of a hillock. From a distance, these figures looklike mere white bricks encircling plain grass plots. Up-close,however, one will be amazed to discover that these giants areactually a potpourri of medicinal Ayurveda plants and herbs,with each plant planted on the figure corresponding to theactual part of the human body that the plant heals.

MOOLIKAVANA

Situated near the entrance of the Agastya Kuppam campus is the statue of Sage Agastya andan expansive garden covering up to 50-metre from the centre of the statue. The garden,segmented into 18 different sections (which are named after the 18 Siddhars, includingAgastya), contains a variety of Siddha medicinal plants, each with specific healing properties.This is the Siddhavana and as its name suggests, is solely dedicated to the traditional medicalsystem of Siddha.Siddha medicine is said to revitalize and rejuvenate dysfunctional organs that cause diseasesand it does so by balancing the ratio of vata, pitta, and kapha in the body. Should this balancebe disturbed, Siddha medicine, in the form of flowers, leaves, fruits, and roots, is used to cureand restore this equilibrium.

SIDDHAVANA

The Garden of Gayathri, dedicated to the Sun God, islandscaped on a sloped area. Distinct and filled tothe brim are Plumerias, more commonly known asTemple Trees. Planted in seven distinctive rows, eachrow consists of one colour in the rainbow spectrum,except for the “green row” that has been replacedby the green-floweredMadanmast(haripriya/yalangyalang) chosen becauseof its fragrant greenish flowers that fade to yellowwith age.An early morning visit to the Garden of Gayathri is asoothing and relaxing activity that any individualvisiting the Agastya campus should not miss.Watching the first rays of sunlight touch thePlumerias leaves one with a sense of tranquillity thatsoothes the soul and is even said to cure certaindiseases.The planting of Temple Trees in the VIBGYOR patternalso serves as an interesting Physics lesson providedby Mother Nature herself. When the sun shinesdown on the trees, they reflect the seven rainbowcolours due to the difference in velocity andwavelengths of different light rays. Visitors leave thegarden not only refreshed and rejuvenated but alsolearning a theory or two from the plants

GARDENOFGAYATHRI

PANCHAVATIThis garden has Bilva, Amla,Peepal,Fig and Ashwatha plant and each of these plants has its own healing properties,this concept is been mentioned in “The Ramayana". When Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana took on to the 14 years of 'Vanavasa', took a night halt at Muni Bharadwaja Ashram. Then he advised Rama to find a place where all these five trees exist together to make a place to live. So as per his suggestion they later made a 'Parnashala' amidst these trees. The following are the benefits staying under the trees of Panchvati1.Breeze from these trees gives out more oxygen, keep cool and inhaling the air of these plants has medicinal values which brings good health .2. Powerful vibrations of the plants wards of evil forces and gives us right way of thinking and thoughts.3. Fruits of these plants attract lot of birds and insects.

PANCHA VALKALA (Bark of 5 ficus species)

4 acre of barren land is restored by planting 5 species of ficus plant (Ficus bengalensis, Ficus glomerata, Ficus infectoria, Ficus religiosa and ficus mysorensis)

Two standard texts of Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita and Bhavaprakash Nighantu describe a formulation called Panchavalkal ( equal amounts of powder of the barks of trees are used for the antibacterial activity usage) and inhaling the air of these trees triggers the brain cell and helps in development of brain of adults and child in the womb of the mother. adults and child in the womb of the mother.

BUTTERFLY PARKTwo acre Butterfly Park housesplants that are known sources offood and nectar for larvae,butterfly and moths. This park isthe only butterfly breedinghabitat in the whole of India, andhas recorded an astonishing 102rare and endemic butterflies

Established in April 2013 with the help of butterfly expert Mr.HarishBhatt and team from the Indian Institute of Science

Some rare butterflies found in campus

Commander

Sword tail

Banded peacock

Red Flash

Sustainablepractices;Zerobudgetfarming

Rainwaterrechargepits

CAMPUSWATERMANAGEMENT

Rainwaterharvestingponds

SOMEENDANGERDPLANTCONSERVATION

Pterocarpus marsupiumPterocarpus santalum

Garciniacambogia Canarium strictum

GANGA

GODAVARIKAVERI

NARMADA

BRAHMAPUTRA

NATIVECOWCONSERVATION(Malanddwarf)