Bodha | EP 63 | Vrikshayurveda | Ravi Singh Choudhary | Tanya

What can an ancient Indian science of plant health teach us about the future of agriculture? Vṛkṣāyurveda offers a deeply interconnected approach to cultivation - one in which the health of soil, plants, animals, and human beings cannot be separated. Long before the contemporary idea of “One Health,” Indian knowledge traditions recognised this ecological interdependence through disciplines such as Āyurveda, Vṛkṣāyurveda, and Paśu-āyurveda. In this exploration, Ravi Singh Choudhary examines how Vṛkṣāyurveda can inform regenerative and sustainable farming today - from restoring soil microbiota and strengthening plant immunity to cultivating medicinal herbs without compromising their therapeutic integrity. The discussion explores: • Kunapajala and Pañcagavya as traditional bio-fertilising practices • Gauśālā-based closed-loop farming and the One Health model • The possibilities of Vṛkṣāyurvaidika agriculture in desert and extreme climates • Soil regeneration, biodiversity, water retention, and agroforestry • Why the ecology in which an Āyurvaidika herb grows matters to its medicinal potency • The limitations of chemical-intensive and reductionist approaches to agriculture and medicine • Why the revival of Vṛkṣāyurveda is essential to preserving the integrity of Āyurveda itself At its heart, Vṛkṣāyurveda asks us to see agriculture not simply as a system of inputs and outputs, but as the nurturing of a living ecological whole. As we confront soil degradation, declining biodiversity, chemical dependence, and the challenges of farming in increasingly extreme climates, can this civilizational knowledge help us rethink what sustainable agriculture truly means? Guest bio: Ravi Singh Choudhary is an author, researcher, and consultant working at the intersection of Indian Knowledge Systems and sustainable agriculture. He is the Director of Dhanvantri Natural Foundation and has worked extensively on Vṛkṣāyurveda, natural farming, agroforestry, and indigenous cattle-rearing. He is the author of Vṛkṣāyurveda Saṃhitā, Kṛṣi Saṃhitā, Gau Saṃhitā, and many other books. Host: https://x.com/TanyaBrahmvadni Chapters: 00:00 Preview 02:25 Introduction 05:20 What is the science of Vrikshayurveda? 09:11 Manure is a living science 14:05 Kunapajala and Pañcagavya as traditional bio-fertilising practices 24:51 Vṛkṣāyurvaidika agriculture in desert and extreme climates 44:10 Concluding remarks Subscribe to Bṛhat for exclusive content: https://www.brhat.in/subscribe Each month Bṛhat will release new content exclusively for our subscribed members. As we launch this program, this includes a visual cultural story at Scrolls of Āryavarta, a new special addition to Bṛhat Open Library, and a featured essay monthly. In addition, the membership gives access to the session videos of some of our most popular online courses. In time, we look to add more content, early access videos, and other subscription benefits. Our Social Media Handles: Youtube:    / @brhat   Facebook:   / brhat.in   Instagram:   / brhat_in   X: https://x.com/brhat_in Linkedin:   / brhat   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Brhat_in About Bṛhat: Bṛhat is a culture engine to power creatives, research and design rooted in the Indian civilizational consciousness.We convert individual, institutional and collective intent into manifestation, through three core actions: 1. Create visual and literary stories design thinking and methods research output on education and ecology culture-rooted thought models 2. Curate heritage experience journeys, culture-fit in mass media, NEP-relevant IKS curriculum and culture rooting in product and design 3. Consult for NEP-IKS implementation, policy thinking on education and ecology organizational structure and leadership frameworks