Another Legend of Kerala Ayurveda

Kerala Ayurveda is famous across the globe for its effective treatments without any side effects. Almost all diseases have effective treatments in Kerala Ayurveda and people, even from far away nations visit this tiny southernmost state of India to take treatment for various diseases.

History of Ayurveda in Kerala is many centuries old and there are many well-reputed Ayurvedic treatment centers in Kerala which are centuries old. The mantle has been carried from generation to generation and even now it is glowing brightly.

Edathotty is one such traditional ayurvedic family in Kerala which is located at Idayar, near piravom in Ernakulam District. There is a legend behind this ancient Christian family becoming a name to reckon with it in Ayurveda.

Edathotty family was basically a Brahmin family, who are believed to be converted to Christianity during the visit of Saint Thomas in Kerala. Once, a strange Brahmin from a faraway place was passing through Idayar. As it was too late in the evening he decided to take shelter in some houses. On those days, most of the people used to travel by walk and it was regular practice for them to take shelter at different homes during the night. Being a Brahmin, he enquired about Brahmin houses in the locality with some people and they directed him to Edathotty.

However, the head of Edathotty did not want to deceive the Brahmin by hiding the fact that they have converted to Christianity. However, the Brahmin was not much interested in religion as he was too tired and hungry. He stayed at Edathotty house that night. When the family head went to wake him up the next morning, he found the Brahmin to be dead. Frustrated with happening, he informed the local people about it.  They all gathered there but could not recognize the Brahmin. Hence they decide to do his funeral at the local Church where the Edathotty family visits regularly and according to the Christian rituals.

After the funeral, when the family head came back to his home, he saw the rucksack left over by the Brahmin. He opened and saw many books. To his astonishment, he saw a note which is supposed to be written by the Brahmin in the previous night. In that, he mentioned that his time was almost over and the books in the rucksack should be taken care of by Edathotty family. He further said in the note that the family members should learn Ayurveda from those books and should start practicing as Ayurvedic Doctors.

Since then, members of the Edathotty family started learning Ayurveda and became very famous Ayurvedic Doctors. They passed the knowledge generation by generation and there were many famous doctors in that family.

Edathotty Kunjithomman Vaidyan

Although there were many famous Ayurvedic Physicians in that family, Kunjithomman Vaidyan was the most famous one. He shot into fame even before he officially starts practicing. He was learning Ayurveda during those days and as he was passing by one of his relative’s house, he saw a crowd there.  Upon enquiring about the reason he understood that the lady in the house was suffering from labor pain and delivery is not happening even after a long time. Many doctors have come there and did many treatments but everything went in vain.

At that time, some of the family members saw him and requested to do something to save the mother and child. He went inside and examined the lady thoroughly. Then he came out, took two midribs of the blade of coconut leaf, and tied it together. Then he entered the room and asked everybody except a nurse to clear off from the room. When all left he closed the door and went near the lady. He once again examined the stomach of the lady closely and beat at one specific point of the stomach with the midrib of coconut leaf. It was so powerful that the child came out of the stomach.  All were happy and from that day onwards, Kunjithomman Vaidyan also being regarded as a doctor. 

Kodungalloor Kochunni Thampuran, a Great Scholar and Ayurvedic Physician

Kerala had given birth to many scholars in the past. These scholars have worked hard to reach the fame of Kerala till the horizons. Kodungalloor Kochunni Thampuran was one of them. Although he is more known as a renowned author in Malayalam and Sanskrit, he was an expert Ayurvedic Physician too.

Ayurveda, the traditional stream of medical science in Kerala is very popular nowadays around the world. There are many excellent doctors and institutions across the world who are practicing Kerala Ayurveda. Now it has been accepted as a medical science that can compete with modern medical science in any manner. Here is a story to prove the excellence of Thampuran in Ayurveda.

Although he was a native of Kodungalloor, he used to stay for more days at the Hill Palace in Triounithura, the capital city of the erstwhile princely state of Kochi. He was regarded as an advisor by the Kochi King and hence it was necessary for him to be there for more effective communication.

On those days, there was a toddy tapper, who was staying near to the palace and was suffering from leprosy. As he could not afford costly treatments, he did not go for it and hence the disease became serious. When it reached almost at the peak stage, he came to know about the presence of Kodungalloor Kochunni Thampuran at Hill Palace. Those were the days when untouchability was prevailing and he was barred from going near Thampuran as he belonged to a lower cast. Hence he sent the request for help through one of Thampuran’s assistants. Hearing it, Thampuran asked him to come inside the palace. As he was an untouchable as per the standards prevailing then, he hesitated to do so. Still, Thampuran forced him to come up and he went. Then Thampuran told him to take fifty seeds of marking nuts everyday in milk. 

Thampuran’s disciples shocked to hear this. The seeds of marking nut are highly poisonous and are being used by the washermen to put marks on the clothes. They use these seeds with high precautions while marking. When a single seed will create a lot of troubles when taken in, thampuran is asking to have fifty such seeds daily.

The toddy tapper expressed his inability to buy milk due to financial problems. Then Thampuran asked him whether he consumes toddy and he told yes. Then Tampuran asked him to have the seeds along with toddy.

Almost forty-one days are over and on the forty-second day, the toddy tapper came in front of the palace. He was completely recovered by that time and was healthier. He presented a bunch of bananas along with cash to Thampuran as a mark of respect. Thampuran accepted the bananas and returned the cash.