December 1990
We were looking high and low for a house to purchase in Petaling Jaya. We had been married 10 years and had not yet bought a house. I had been a home-maker for 8 years to raise my two children; we therefore had not had the resources to purchase a house in Petaling Jaya on the one government salary of my husband. My husband worked in Petaling Jaya.

My husband had heard there was a little single storey bungalow up for sale in Section 12, Petaling Jaya. He had taken a drive there to have a look at it. He fell in love with the house. He saw the potential of that house, small as it was, on a little piece of land that was bare and devoid of any trees or shrubs or grounded plants whatsoever!
We bought the house.

And our journey to create our own little garden began soon after on that little piece of bare land in Petaling Jaya.
— Thayanithi Kulenthran
A view of the DayAnidhi Earth Garden Sanctuary

A view of the DayAnidhi Earth Garden Sanctuary

The DayAnidhi Earth Garden Sanctuary is a story of a labour of love, disagreements, understanding and partnership between two people; how the garden began to be created, what happened along the way in these last 32 years, what plants there are, how some of them came to be in the garden, the biodiversity of the garden including its wildlife, how the garden is maintained, what ecosystem services the garden provides, etc.

To-date many adults and children, and people from abroad including a few from the diplomatic circle have visited this garden; the key attraction of the garden being the vibrational energy within, the sacred lotus plants in huge urns and a lotus pond. The mature trees, and interesting corners within, the created mini landforms giving the impression of natural contours and the wildness of its landscaping enhance the garden. Garden layout design, choice and purchase of young plants, landscaping and actual planting are the personal joint efforts of Thayanithi and her husband.   

As of July 2019, the DayAnidhi Earth Garden underwent a transformation. From being a lush garden in virtually most sections of the garden, but for the Lotus pond area, the garden is now a more functional garden. At the central fore front of the garden, there used to be a mound of earth with yellow palm trees and tall dark large leafed plants and undercover plants. These have been replaced with a smaller and lower mound of earth and shorter lighter green coloured leaf plants. There is now so much more light. More space to walk, stand and to sit around. And for children, a corner of raised ground under the shade of a mature tree, to which children can walk up via low concrete slab steps. They can choose to play marbles, five stones, chit chat, have a little picnic or hear a story told.

This little raised spot under the canopy of the mature tree, is also an interesting vantage point from which to view the quiet tree lined street below. Perhaps also a unique spot to stand and have a cocktail or two with 3-5 close friends.

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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2020: TIME FOR NATURE

“The Garden, a Microcosm of Nature”

Gardens are our first connection with Nature. They can also be our most intimate. IF we have a home garden to step out into through our front door.

Gardens are a microcosm of Nature. What we plant in gardens will determine what micro-ecosystems form within. That provide vital regulating, provisioning, cultural and supporting services. Trees regulate ambient air temperatures by providing shade. They clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Trees, hedges and beds of flowering and leafy plants prevent soil erosion by breaking the intensity of rainfall. They help prevent floods. They are important for climate regulation. Fruit trees and vegetables provide food and fibre that can have a strong cultural element. The moringa, coconut, mango, and neem tree are examples. Herbs such as holy basil and a lotus pond in your garden add a spiritual and cultural element into the garden. While leaf and flower litter in your garden ensures nutrient cycling - a supporting ecosystem service.

What we plant in our gardens will determine what we invite into our gardens. If we plant trees including fruit trees, flowering plants comprising lotuses, herbs and vegetables - wildlife will be drawn into our gardens. Not only are these plants a food source, but they are important in the web of pollination. Birds will come a calling, flitting butterflies, honey bees, beetles, dragonflies, frogs and toads, garden shrews etc.

Gardens can be our own little sanctuary where we recharge ourselves as we create these little havens for wildlife. Why not create a garden haven around your home? It can be your time for and with Nature.

Thayanithi Kulenthran, “ Steering Compassion for the Earth Being”

1. The Garden Sanctuary of the Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) Project

The central theme and highlight of the DayAnidhi Earth Garden Sanctuary are the Lotus plants growing in huge clay pots and the Lotus pond created within the garden. The garden began to take on a spirit and a life of its own with the gradual creation and development of the lotus garden within it. The lotus garden was created with no deadline in terms of completion. It just evolved by Thayanithi feeling her way through, with much loving input from her husband as she went along. And as the years rolled along, it became apparent there was a vibrational healing energy descending upon this garden. That permeated into the DayAnidhi Earth home. This healing energy is attributed to the relationship between Thayanithi, the Earth and her Lotus plants...

In awareness of this healing energy, Thayanithi set about to do the following:-

  • Conduct vibrational healing sit ins within the DayAnidhi Earth home. Only for extended family members and friends known long enough.

  • Invited three friends suffering from terminal Cancer and two who had suffered significant emotional trauma and with whom Thayanithi shared a long history, to experience the vibrational healing of the DayAnidhi Earth Garden Sanctuary.

  • Invited the immediate support family members and primary care giver (3 people) and the terminal stage 4 Cancer patient with whom Thayanithi shared a long history, for a meal cooked personally by Thayanithi at and to the DayAnidhi Earth Garden Sanctuary.

    It is important to note that the vibrational healing sit ins merely exposed those invited, to experience what a meditative setting does to one’s spirit. It quieten’s and stills the inner spirit, albeit perhaps only for the duration of time the individual is exposed to the vibrational energy and for some time thereafter, if the sit in is long enough. But a compassionate friend or counsellor can of course help make a lot of difference to the individual’s state of well being, even if it is only for a limited time.

    All said and done, a vibrational healing place gives immense comfort to individuals in need. (Thaya Kulenthran, Oct; 2020)

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To know more about The Garden Sanctuary of the Lotus project do check out the DayAnidhi Earth program “The Compassion for the Earth Being Project “ (THE Lotus Project) - A Project of Hope for Humanity within this website.

2. The Emergence of the neem

Amazing things have happened in the DayAnidhi Earth Garden. Young Neem plants gradually emerged out of the ground in various parts of the garden, since about 2004-2005. And this is not confined to the DayAnidhi Earth Garden! Even the neighbourhood, in which DayAnidhi Earth is situated, has and is experiencing this phenomenon.

The first Neem seedling was found at the spot where Thayanithi stood looking around her garden, thinking “Hmm, I don’t have a Neem tree in my garden. I should have one. Like my mother did, and my maternal grandmother did. All Jaffna Tamil homes traditionally had a Neem tree. But how can I have one in this little garden? ” Lo and behold, two weeks after that moment of pondering, Thaya stumbled upon a Neem seedling. Sprouting out from the ground at the very spot that she had stood on, pondering!

Of course, birds dropped Neem seeds into the DayAnidhi Earth Garden and people in the neighbourhood are planting them; but perhaps, just perhaps there is more to this than we are aware of.

The Emergence of the Neem tells this story to raise and increase awareness of the Neem plant, so that more people and children will begin planting and growing this Sacred Tree; a highly revered plant among the Indian and perhaps other communities.   

The neem is commonly known also as the Margosa tree in Arabic and the Vepu, Vempam, and Vempu tree among some Indian communities. 

3. THE HERBAL CORNER

The most recent addition to the DayAnidhi Earth Garden is a herbal corner. The garden had already been planted with a herbal lime shrub - the Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix), a Calamansi Lime (Citrus × microcarpa)shrub, a curry leaf shrub, a pandan, mint and a holy basil plant many years ago.

The herbal corner that was created in November 2018 comprising Vietnamese coriander, rosemary and mint has been closed temporarily. Continuous weeks of rain in late 2020 had damaged the plants especially the mint. The Vietnamese coriander and rosemary plants have had their day and need to be replanted.

4. THE VEGETABLE CORNER

Since March 2020, a vegetable corner has been added into the DayAnidhi Earth Garden. The vegetable corner has been through a few cycles of varying vegetables. Two varieties of spinach, a blue pea/butterfly pea flower plant (Clitoria ternatea) amongst others are now growing.