Vaidyamadham 
 

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 Saala Vaidya by none other than the famous Mezhathole Agnihothri who conducted 99 soma yagas to re-establish the Vedic Karma and Yagnya Culture of our country. Saala 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.

 
Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Valiya Narayanan Namboodiri –1

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. 

Late. 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 (1910-1988), 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 Valiya Narayanan Namboodiri –2
 
Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Subrahmannian Namboodiri

Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Subrahmannian Namboodiri (1916-1978), 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, 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 was able to diagnose most of the ailments at first sight of the patient. He was sharp in timing the treatment and his decisions were not generally disputed. Though he used to treat all types of diseases with a great deal of success, treatment of Arthritis was 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.

 
Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri  

During his life time, he utilized his 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. He composes slokas and poems in Sanskrit and Malayalam. Translation in a summarized form of Bhagavath Geetha, Devimahatmyam and Soundaryalahari are some of the literary works done by him. Major books written by him are

Ayurveda

(1) Deerghayussum Ayurvedavum - Articles on Ayurvdic subjects. (2) Ayurvedathinte Prathama Pathangal - A brief summary fot he Ist 14 Chapters of Ashtanga Hredaya in Malayalam. (3) Chikitsanubhavangal - Experiences on treatments. (4) Palakapyam Hasthyayurvedam (Ayurvedic text on elephants) - translation. (5) Dinacharya Daily routine to active a comfortable life. (6) Ayurvedathinde Keraleeya Anushtana Paramparyam - Articles on Ayurveda. (7) Jananam Muthal Maranam Vare - General Health awareness from birth to death. (8) Arogyachinthakal - Articles on Ayurvdic subjects.

Literary

(1) Devi Mahathmyam - Sangraham. (2) Mala Manthrangal - Prayers. (3) Gargabhagavatham - Translation. (4) Adyathmaramayanam - Translation. (5) Kavyatheerthatanamgal - Poems in Malayalam. (6) Devayanagalilude - Pilgrimage. (7) Albathileormakal - Autobiography. (8) Aseethipranamam - Poems in Malayalam. (9) Keralamahathmyam - Translation. (10) Sathamjeevasaradovardhamana - 80th birthday Souvenir.

Dr. Vaidyamadham
V.M. Brahmadathan Namboodiri
Late 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 Late. Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri. They have established their name in Ayurveda through their reputation.
Dr. Vaidyamadham
V.M. Rishikumaran Namboodiri 
 
         
   
Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham
Neelakandhan Namboodiri
  Dr.Vaidyamadham
Vasudevan Namboodiri
  Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham
Krishnan Namboodiri
 

Today, all treatments at Vaidyamadham are carried out by three well-experienced and efficient ayurvedic physicians, Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Neelakandhan Namboodiri, Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Krishnan Namboodiri and Dr.Vaidyamadham Vasudevan Namboodiri. Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Neelakandhan Namboodiri and  Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Krishnan Namboodiri are son and brother respectively of Late. Cheriya narayanan namboodiri who took initiative in teaching them in the gurukula style and bringing them up.  
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.

 
   
Dr. V.N.Prasanna   Dr. Vaidyamadham
V.B. Rajeev
  Dr. Vaidyamadham
V.R.Subin