Vaidyamadham is one of the famous Ashtavaidya group of families in Kerala.. As said before, they are the only one family belonging to the Bharadwajeeya group. It is believed that this family was brought here as Sala Vaidya by none other than the famous Mezhathole Agnihothri who conducted 99 soma yagnyas to re-establish the Vedic Karma and Yagnya Culture of our country. Sala vaidya is a special status conferred on them who is responsible for health of the participants of yagnya. 
Though authentic proof is not available, incidents illustrating the legendary skills of the physicians of the family have come through generations. One such incident was the birth of Pareekshith Thampuran, a noted scholar and one of the famous rulers of Kerala. The delivery was so complicated that the chances of saving both the mother and the child became most unlikely. The then physician of this family, who fortunately arrived at the scene, decided to try his hands on the case. After obtaining consent from the king, it is said that he selected some herbs from the palace courtyard, ground it to make two types of medicines in paste form and applied one of them on one side of a wooden board and the second on the other side. The attending midwife was specifically instructed to expose one side of the board to the vagina of the queen till the delivery was over and then reverse the board immediately as otherwise the whole internal parts would come out resulting in the death of the queen. The child was named Pareekshith owing to these extraordinary incidents related to his birth. (Here ,Pareeksha means a risky experiment.). It must be noted that no medicines were applied externally nor taken internally. This incident illustrates the extra ordinary powers of Ayurveda and the brilliant diagnostic skills of its practitioners. Many
of the members of this family were the official physicians for some
of the reigning families of Kerala. In the current times also, members
of the state and central governments, political leaders, famous personalities
from every walk of life are in touch with this family either for consultation
or treatment.
Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Valiya Narayanan Namboodiri –1 (1882 - 1959), was a well known physician of the family, who is remembered by many, for his astonishing diagnostic skills and simple and effective treatments. He was also an expert in detecting Maranalakshana (the signs of death). He was a confident and daring physician of his time, for he brought many complicated treatments back into practice. One such treatment was Kutipraveshikam - a treatment to arrest the ageing process. It is interesting to note that while extensive researches are still going on in various medical disciplines all over the world to arrest the ageing process, here India there already existed a system of medicine which had a successful approach to it and physicians who practiced it. Nowadays people do not show much interest in this treatment because of its duration. Siravedha (cutting of vein to let out impure blood) was another rare process of treatment he brought into practice. The present chief physician Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri is his grandson and studied Ayurveda in the gurukula style under the tutelage of his grandfather. It was his grandfather who started the Vaidyamadham Vaidyasala & nursing home in 1912. Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Valiya Narayanan Namboodiri –2 (1912-1988), the father of the chief physician was a legendary figure in his life time . He was sometimes referred to as the most efficient Ayurvedic physician so far born. Unlike his father he travelled extensively through the length and breadth of the country to treat patients of chronic and complicated diseases, to deliver lectures on Ayurveda and to partake in discussions and seminars pertaining to the propagation of various treatment modalities cited in the Ayurveda texts. Due to his extensive knowledge on various subjects like Sanskrit, Vedas, Mythology, ancient Indian Culture and Classical arts etc., he was considered as a living encyclopedia. Being a versatile genius he commanded high respect from every walk of life. The last Kutipraveshikam in the history of Ayurveda was performed by him some fifty years ago. Supervised by his father and assisted by his son, he performed Kutipraveshikam for his friend and close companion, the late Poomully Vasudevan Namboodiripad. He took up many a complicated case which other physicians dared not and he displayed an intense passion while dealing with various cases. The honorary title of VAIDYASHASTRA MAHODADHI was conferred on him by Sree Sree Kanchikamakoti Matathipathi Sree Jayendra Saraswathi Swamikal, for his outstanding contributions to Ayurveda. Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Subrahmannian Namboodiri , the younger brother of the former too was a great physician but preferred to confine himself to look after the family affairs Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri, the present chief physician of this institution is the most popular Ashtavaidyan now. He expanded Vaidyasala & Nursing Home to its present form and style. He is committed in furthering the objectives the family stands for. The task of adapting Ayurveda to the modern times and promoting its merits all over the world is no simple task. Due to the lengthy exposure to the medical profession, starting from the early days of childhood, Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri can diagnose most of the ailments at first sight of the patient. He is sharp in timing the treatment and his decisions are not generally disputed. Though he treats all types of diseases with a great deal of success, treatment of Arthritis is considered as his speciality. He initiated research on cancer. He has devised two kinds of tablets to treat cancer. In a small scale, he has cultivated a botanical garden of rare herbs and plants He utilizes the free hours to write articles on subjects related to Ayurveda. “Ayurvedavum Deerghayussum”, a collection of essays on various subjects in Ayurveda, has been published in connection with his 70th birthday. “Ayurvedathinte Prathama Padhangal” is another book written by him. He composes slokas and poems in Sanskrit and Malayalam. He has translated “Gargabhagavatha” and “Adhyathmaramayana” into Malayalam. He has also translated Palakapyam, the Ayurvedic text on elephants. Translation in a summarized form of Bhagavath Geetha, Devimahatmyam and Soundaryalahari are the other major literary works done by him. Dr. V.M. Brahmadathan Namboodiri ( Retd. Director of Ayurveda, Govt. Of Kerala ) and Dr. V.M. Rishikumaran Namboodiri (Retd DIMO, Govt of Kerala) are the younger brothers of Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri. They have established their name in Ayurveda through their reputation Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Neelakandhan Namboodiri and Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Krishnan Namboodiri are son and brother respectively of Cheriya narayanan namboodiri who took initiative in teaching them in the gurukula style and bringing them up. As junior physicians, they have developed enough confidence to treat patients independently and give able support to Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri in discharging his duties. Dr. V.N.Vasudeavan , the youngest son of Chariya Narayan Namboodiri too has entered into this challenging field. Dr. V.N.Prasanna , daughter of Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri and post graduate in Ayurveda works as Lecturer in Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College, Ollur. Dr. V.B. Rajeev and Dr. V.R.Subin are the junior most physicians of this family. Altogether , the family has a very strong next generation to carry on with a supremely noble and abidingly rich ancient tradition. |