Hyderabad, Monday, 11 November 2019:  At Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad, the Heartfulness Institute continues to incorporate new initiatives at its spacious international campus.

Today the Jalshakti Minister, Mr Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and the Heartfulness Guide, Daaji, laid the foundation stone for a holistic AYUSH Wellness Centre to be built at the Heartfulness campus at Chegur, near Hyderabad. The world-class Wellness Centre will provide services based on ancient as well as contemporary methods to all those who wish to use it. It will also enable an additional influx of wellness tourists to the state of Telangana. The Wellness Centre is likely to be ready in 12 months.

The Heartfulness campus, has attracted close to 200,000 visitors each year from across the globe in the last couple of years, and this number is expected to increase manifoldly as the campus is completed over the next 12 months.    

Commenting on the development, Daaji recently said, “Kanha Shanti Vanam has been transforming into a wellness destination, as the result of a vision a few years back to create a beautiful ecosystem that nurtures the body, mind and soul. This transformation includes the development of abundant opportunities for visitors to learn Heartfulness Meditation practices, and many other tailored practices in the fields of education, NGOs, corporates and government departments, and the community at large. It also includes the greening of the environment, and the creation of natural habitats that support rare and endangered species, as well as the infrastructure for meditation and communal living, facilities for training and an environment that promotes a balanced lifestyle.

“The AYUSH Wellness Centre is another example of how we are drawing upon the wisdom of our ancient traditional systems, making them accessible to people from all walks of life, in order to promote wellness.”   

The AYUSH Wellness Centre will provide access to all AYUSH systems, including Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and the Tibetan system of medicine, Sowa-Rigpa. The facility will be equipped with 540 beds, infrastructure for research and the storage of medicines, housing for specialists, teachers, doctors and nurses, and training facilities to impart AYUSH courses. Heartfulness Institute has recently developed a partnership with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) to conduct certificate courses in Yoga and is also working closely with the AYUSH Ministry to promote these traditional systems, which have numerous documented benefits.

Mr Gajender Singh Shekhawat said, “The priceless advantages and benefits of our age-old traditional and ancient systems of medicine have almost been lost. The government’s mission is to revive these practises and promote and make them accessible to people so that they can benefit from them. India has priceless treasures in this domain, and we wish to proudly showcase them to the citizens of the world, so that they know they are all welcome to benefit from the same for their well-being. I am confident that the Heartfulness AYUSH Wellness Centre will attract people from around the world for holistic healing.” 

The Minister also reviewed the green initiatives at Kanha and spent a significant amount of time understanding the water harvesting initiatives and canal systems. Eight water harvesting ponds in the 1,400-acre campus serve as giant reservoirs, feeding rainwater into multiple storage tanks and reservoirs, to ensure freshwater availability throughout the campus. The current #janshakti4jalshakti campaign aims to replenish the precious water of India. At Kanha, the groundwater capability is being recharged by creating artificial ponds as part of ongoing sustenance activities, and it is one of the largest water-harvesting initiatives in the country.

The Minister further added, “The wisdom of our ancestors extended to all areas of life, including sustaining the earth. Water is essential for the survival of the planet, yet it is one of the most abused natural resources. The importance of water harvesting has been lost, but it is the need of the hour. The government is aggressively promoting this cause across the country. The water-harvesting system implemented by the Heartfulness Institute is a truly scientific one and, like everything at Heartfulness, is aimed at creating balance – both for humans and for the rest of the natural world.”       

The Heartfulness campus is fast emerging as an ecosystem that promotes holistic living, with its pristine green surroundings providing the perfect background for rejuvenating the body, mind and soul. Kanha Shanti Vanam is a self-sustainable ecosystem created around a zero-waste philosophy. The hitherto barren landscape, converted into a green oasis of peace, is attracting flora, fauna and rainfall to the region. The solar plant providing clean energy for the campus’ power needs, the use of steam for powering the community kitchen, the recycling of waste, and the extensive water-harvesting systems are the cornerstone of the sustainable initiatives at Kanha.