Kerala Ayurveda Samajam: Rejuvenating the body and soul

Established a hundred years before, the Keraleeya Ayurveda Samajam is a singular organisation in preserving and promoting the principles and practices of ayurvedic medicine, internationally. Running on charitable lines with no profit - no loss motto, the Samajam today is engaged in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, teaching and training programmes, research & development activities, cultivation of medicinal plants, manufacture of herbal medicines, ayurveda therapeutics and rejuvenation practices, panchakarma and related therapies, and most importantly in preventive health care concepts. Branched out in 7 centres, which includes Andamans, the Samajam caters to the needs of a large population from different parts of India and abroad.

A hundred years before two princely states in Kerala, the Kochi and the Malabar were always at enmity and the bone of their contention was the loss of the 'Perumpadappu swaroopam' of Kochi to the Zamorins of Malabar. They never met in peace but in war; and, a historic exception was made once when they met, not to discuss any princely or royal matters but to create an organisation to serve the public on health related matters and, thus formed the Keraleeya Ayurveda Samajam.

In 1902, the first ever congress of the Samajam was convened at Chalappuram in Kozhikode. The first annual meeting witnessed the presence of the Manavikrama Ettan Raja, the Zamorin of Calicut and the Ramavarma Appan Thampuran, the 6th prince, the Kunjunnithampuran of the Kochi state. At this first annual meeting, the name "Keraleeya Ayurveda Samajam" was introduced, 55 years before the state of Kerala was formed. Old School, New Grammar is the approach Samajam has taken recently as part of their moral and social duty to reach and teach the public. The idea is to give modern facility along with traditional Ayurvedic Treatment, rejuvenating or therapeutic.

Kerala Ayurveda Samajam is now a universally known health sanatorium spread over 7 acres lush green expanse of land that nestles on the life enhancing banks of calm and serene Bharathapuzha, Shorannur. A haven for those who wish to be far from the madding crowds, it accommodates 50 in-patients at a time. The admission to the nursing home is on advance reservation. Those who wish to undergo treatment here should write to Samajam at least 3 months in advance.