Arya Vaidya Sala,Kottakkal, (AVS) is an 121 years old Charitable Institution engaged in the practice and propagation of Ayurveda, the ancient health care science of India. AVS offers classical Ayurvedic medicines and authentic Ayurvedic treatments and therapies to patients from all over India and abroad.
AVS was established at Kottakkal in Kerala State of India in 1902 by the visionary physician and philanthropist, the late Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier. Started essentially as a village clinic, it has now grown into a multi-unit, multi-disciplinary, multi-functional and multi-crore organisation. It has operations in different areas of Ayurvedic practice. AVS runs Ayurvedic Hospitals at Kottakkal, Delhi, and Kochi. All classical Ayurvedic medicines, therapies and expert medical advice are available there. AVS has three modern medicine manufacturing units attached with well equipped quality control labs. These factories produce more than 550 classical and new generation formulations which are made available to patients through 26 Branch clinics and 1650 authorised Dealers spread across the country. AVS is also engaged in research activities, publishes Ayurvedic periodicals and books, cultivates medicinal plants and conducts educational programmes. AVS also runs a Kathakali Academy where the classical theatre of Kathakali is taught and performed.
AVS was founded in 1902 by the late Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier at Kottakkal in Malappuram district of Kerala State. The nearest Railway station is TIRUR (Malappuram Dist), on the Chennai-Mangalore railway line, at a distance of 16 km. Kozhikode is the nearest airport at a distance of 28 km. Kottakkal is situated at a distance of about 165 km from Kochi, 160 km from Coimbatore and 48 km from Calicut (Kozhikode) by road.
AVS is a Charitable Trust of public nature having three drug manufacturing units, at Kottakkal, at Kanjikode, and at Nanjangud where more than 550 genuine ayurvedic medicines are manufactured.
The Ayurvedic Hospital & Research Centre at Kottakkal has 204 rooms with necessary amenities. Other similar Hospitals are located at Kochi, Delhi and Aluva. Classic Panchakarma and other Kerala special treatments are made available in these hospitals administered under the supervision of expert Ayurvedic Physicians. These treatments are found effective for various kinds of debilitating ailments.
A charitable hospital located at Kottakkal, where deserving poor patients are provided with both ayurvedic and allopathic treatments, medicines, accommodation and food free of cost. Clinical research activities are also undertaken in Charitable Hospital with a focus on cancer and also to validate new drug development.
There are 26 Branch clinics in major cities and towns of the country where medical consultation and authentic Kottakkal medicines are made available. These medicines are also made available to the patients through 1650 authorised Dealers.
An Ayurveda Pathasala was established by P S Varier in 1917 as a formal education institution. This Padhasala later became the Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier Ayurveda College affiliated to The Kerala University of Health Sciences. The college has Graduate and Post Graduate courses in Ayurveda. AVS extends financial and administrative support to the college as per the provisions of the Will of the founder.
AVS undertakes the task of planned cultivation of medicinal plants in herbal gardens as part of a project of conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants.
Hospitals at other locations across the country other than Kottakkal to provide ayurvedic treatment, to patients from northern parts of India as well as abroad.
The Research & Development Department of the institution is actively engaged in research work for modernisation of production and quality control of Ayurvedic drugs. The Centre for Medicinal Plants Research (CMPR) was established at Kottakkal in 2003 to undertake modern research in the various aspects of medicinal plants. CMPR is now recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Department of AYUSH of Government of India.
The Publications Department brings out various books on Ayurveda and allied topics. A quarterly medical journal "Aryavaidyan" is also published.
Vaidyaratnam, a connoisseur of arts, founded a dramatic troupe which was later converted to the famous Kathakali troupe, P.S.V. Natyasangham. This troupe has eminent artistes who stage Kathakali performances in India and abroad.
AVS is also engaged in academic activities. Conducting of annual Ayurveda Seminars and holding competitions for Ayurveda professionals and students are part of those efforts aimed at strengthening Ayurveda knowledge base.
The Founder of Arya Vaidya Sala, Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier (1869 – 1944), scion of an illustrious family of Kottakkal in the Malabar region of Kerala, was an extraordinary man. He was a multi-faceted personality: a renowned Ayurvedic scholar and academician, an able practitioner, a successful entrepreneur, and a genuine philanthropist, all at the same time! Moreover, he was a man of vision with a strong will and clear plans and he had the ability to achieve his noble objectives in an organised manner.
Shri Varier studied Ayurveda under the classical Gurukula system. He also acquired proficiency in the practice of Allopathy.
In 1902, Shri Varier founded the Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, for the preparation of authentic Ayurvedic medicines. The rest is history. Today, Arya Vaidya Sala is a name synonymous with Ayurveda; an abode of hope for the suffering humanity. P. S Varier is recognised as a representative of Indian renaissance and his yeomen efforts contributed to the historical revival of Ayurveda.
In 1933, in recognition of his remarkable achievements, Shri P. S. Varier was conferred the distinguished title of 'Vaidya Ratna' by His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. Shri Varier wrote text books for students of Ayurveda. One of them, Ashtangasariram, won a certificate of merit in 1932 from the National Association of Physicians.
Vaidyaratnam was also a man of letters and art. He set up a dramatic troupe specialised in musicals. He himself wrote several scripts for theatrical performances. The troupe was later converted by him into a Kathakali Academy, the PSV Natyasangham which is one of the leading Kathakali troupes of today.
Shri Varier had executed a Will prior to his demise in 1944, which converted his proprietary concern into a Charitable Trust of public nature, to be run by a Trust Board consisting of seven members who would be related to his family and to the Institution.
As per the provisions of its founder's Will, Arya Vaidya Sala functions as a Charitable Trust.
The major share of the earnings from its activities is exclusively spent on charitable causes, in the form of medical aid, on both OP and IP basis, to deserving patients. This includes both Ayurveda and Allopathy. Financial support is also provided for managing an Ayurveda college; for conducting research; for holding seminars and training programmes, for publishing books and periodicals; for the cultivation of herbal gardens; and for running a classical theatre academy. The remaining funds are pooled back for the development of the institution. No financial gain accrues to any individual or family.
Dr. Panniyampally Madhavankutty Varier, aged 74 years (DOB 6.12.1947) succeeds Padmabhushan Dr. P.K. Warrier, his uncle, to become the Managing Trustee of Arya Vaidya Sala on 11.07.2021. He was made a Trustee of the Arya Vaidya Sala on 29.11.2007 at the age of 60 years.
After graduating (BAM) from Govt. Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, he got his MD (Ayurveda-Kayachikitsa) from the same Institute. He joined Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal as Assistant Physician in 1969. From 1969 to 2021 he served in different positions like Assistant Factory Manager, Factory Manager, Physician & Manager (AVS Branch, Chennai), Additional Chief Physician, Additional Chief Physician & Chief Superintendent (Ayurvedic Hospital & Research Centres) and Chief Physician.
Dr. Varier is a Physician of repute and an able administrator with a will and vision and is actively associated with various Govt. Agencies and Social organisations. He participated in several National and International Seminars, presented papers and Chaired sessions. He is a member and office bearer of several professional organizations and regulatory bodies.
Dr. P.M. Varier is a Guru under GurushishyaParampara of Rashtreeya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth since 2007 and a recipient of various Professional Awards like Fellow of RAV (2009), Dhanwantari Award of State Government (2014), BhishakShreshta Award of Lions Club International (2015).
He has widely travelled within the Country and Abroad. He visited countries like Germany, Russia, USA, Oman, UAE, Sri Lanka, UK, Australia, Austria, Portugal, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand for Professional accomplishment.
Dr. P.M. Varier is married to Smt. Shylaja Madhavankutty, Sr. Manager (Materials Dept.), Arya Vaidya Sala.
Aryavaidyan P.K. Warrier took over as the second Managing Trustee on the demise of his brother P.M. Varier. He lead Arya Vaidya Sala as its Managing Trustee for sixty-seven years. Dr P.K. Warrier also served Arya Vaidya Sala as the Medical Director.
Under his leadership, Arya Vaidya Sala has grown into a multi-crore, multi-unit, multi-functional Organisation and has been recognised as the premier centre of Ayurveda in the country. Arya Vaidya Sala has become the destination of ailing patients, rich and poor alike, students and scholars from India and abroad. He has made Kottakkal a synonym of authentic Ayurveda.
P. K Warrier was known for his forward looking approach to all aspects of Ayurveda, which enabled him to spearhead many innovative moves to modernise drug presentation, drug processing and knowledge enhancement. He was bestowed with the Padmashri and Padmabhushan awards of the Government of India. He has been honoured with Doctoral degrees by several universities and has received many other awards and recognition.
P.K. Warrier was recognised as an able administrator, educationist and academician and above all a physician of international repute. Dr. Warrier has travelled extensively in both hemispheres spreading the message of Ayurveda. He has also authored several books.
The Founder, in his will, had nominated the members of the first Trust Board to administer Arya Vaidya Sala after his demise. Accordingly his nephew Aryavaidyan P. Madhava Varier became the first Managing Trustee in 1944. He was in office till his tragic death in an air crash in 1953. He initiated the process of modernising Arya Vaidya Sala and laid the foundation for many later developments including the Ayurvedic Hospitals. Mechanisation of drug manufacture was initiated by him, which enabled AVS to expand its reach to larger areas.
Dr. P. Madhavankutty Varier
Shri P. Raghava Varier
Dr. K. Muraleedharan
Adv. C.E. Unnikrishnan
Dr. Sujith. S. Varier
Shri. Ajay. K. R
Dr.P. Ramkumar
Centenary Celebrations of the Kozhikode Branch
Opens a branch at Vijayawada.
Kottakkal Ayurvedic Hospital and Research Centre receives NABH accreditation.
Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier's
Arya Vaidya Sala, Head office
Kottakkal (P.O.),
Malappuram (Dist.),
Kerala – 676 503,
INDIA.
Tel: +91 0483 280 8000
Fax : 91 483 2742572
E-mail : mail@aryavaidyasala.com
AVS offers classical Ayurvedic medicines and authentic Ayurvedic treatments and therapies to patients from all over India and abroad.
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