Quick Facts
Biography
Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier (1869–1944) was an Ayurvedic physician from Kerala, India. He is well-regarded as the founder of Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala, a major Ayurvedic treatment centre in Kerala.
Life and career
Vaidyaratnam Panniyinpally Sankunni Warrier was born in 1869 in Kottakkal in Malappuram district in Kerala.
Young Sankunni started his lessons in Ayurveda system of medicine under the classical Gurukula system from Kuttanchery Vasudevan Mooss, a Namboodiri who belonged to one of the eight great families of Ayurvedic physicians in Kerala, the ashtavaidyans, in the year 1886 as a seventeen-year-old. He also acquired proficiency in the practice of Allopathy.
In 1902, Warrier founded Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala for the manufacture and sale of ayurvedic medicines which later became synonymous with ayurvedic treatment in India. The Patasala established in 1917 has now become an Ayurveda College affiliated to Calicut University.
The Group now comprises:
- 5 hospitals with 20 branches
- 1200 authorized medicine dealerships
- 3 Medicine factories
- Ayurveda Medical College
- 200 acres of Herbal Garden
- Research & Development Centre and
- Publication Department
Warrier is credited with pioneering the practice of manufacturing ayurvedic medicines. He also wrote text books for students of Ayurveda. One of them, Ashtangasariram, won a certificate in 1932 from the National Organisation of Physicians. He was an art connoisseur and founded a drama troupe which was developed to be the famous Kathakali troupe, P.S.V. Natyasangham.
He died in 1944 at the age of 75. He was succeeded by his nephew P.M. Warrier (P. Madhava Warrier), who continued until his death in an aeroplane crash in 1953. Now, the Arya Vaidya Sala is managed by his youngest nephew P.K. Warrier (P. Krishnankutty Warrier).
Major awards and Recognitions
In 1933, in recognition of his services to humanity, P. S. Warrier was conferred the title of 'Vaidyaratna' by His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor General of India. The Government of India has issued a postage stamp in his honour bearing his image.