Vaidyaratnam P.Sankunni Varier (P.S Varier)

Date of Birth:- March 16, 1869
Place of Birth:- Mezhathur, Palakkad District, Kerala, India. 
Details of family:- His father, Mangulangara Rama Varier, held the esteemed position of Manager at the Zamorin Royal Palace in Kottakkal, while his mother, Parvathy Varasiar, was not only an accomplished housewife but also a proficient music teacher. P.S. Varier’s maternal grand uncles, Sankara Varier and Madhava Varier, received their Ayurvedic education in the traditional Gurukula system under renowned Ashtavaidya Gurus. They later served as Palace Physicians at the Zamorin Palace Kingdom, with Sankara Varier based in Kottakkal and Madhava Varier in the Calicut Palace. Tragically, P.S. Varier experienced early widowhood and did not have any children

P.S. Varier had neither siblings nor children of his own. Aryavaidyan P.M. Varier (1909 – 1953), son of his maternal cousin Parvathy Varasiar emerged as P.S. Varier’s closest disciple and assumed the role of the first Managing Trustee and Chief Physician, carrying forward the legacy of AVS (AryaVaidya Sala). Later Aryavaidyan P.K. Warrier, took on the role of the second Managing Trustee of AVS. He held this position for an impressive 68 years until his passing in 2021. At present, Dr. P.M. Varier, the youngest nephew of P K Varier, serves as the Managing Trustee and Chief Physician of AVS. Over time, descendants of Lakshmi Varasiar also joined the AVS management. Kavikulaguru P.V. Krishna Varier, the third cousin of P.S. Varier gained recognition as an accomplished poet, editor, literary critic, and notably a scholar in Ayurveda.

Educational Qualifications:-

P.S. Varier commenced his formal education at the tender age of four. His early education in Sanskrit was facilitated both by family elders and professional teachers like Killimangalam Krishna Varier and Kaikulangara Rama Varier. Additionally, he received preliminary lessons in Ayurveda at a tender age from Konatha Achutha Varier, the resident vaidyan at the Palace in Kottakkal and a disciple of Kuttanchery Mooss. Later he decided to go to Kuttanchery Vasudevan Mooss to enroll as a disciple and started learning as a resident in Guru’s house. Neither his parents nor he considered any other profession for his future.

P.S. Varier as a youngster enjoyed the privilege of being a student under the tutelage of the distinguished Scholar, Kaikulangara Rama Varier, renowned for his studies in Sanskrit literature, grammar, and Ayurveda. At the age of fifteen, he was initiated to formal study of the fundamentals of Ayurveda under the guidance of Achutha Varier, the physician to the Zamorin King . Two years later, he began an intensive five-year study at Kuttancheri Gurukula, which included advanced theoretical and practical training under the supervision of Kuttanchery Vasudevan Mooss and his brother Aryan Mooss. Notably, one of his fellow students hailed from the illustrious Ashtavaidya family of Thrissur Thaikkatt Narayanan MoossAs a Gurukula student. From the age of 23 onwards, P.S. Varier embarked on a three-year journey of personal training in both theoretical and practical aspects of Modern Medicine under the guidance of Diwan Bahadur Dr. V. Verghese. This experience provided him with valuable hands-on exposure to Allopathic Pharmacopoeia, modern diagnostic procedures, and clinical practices.

Contribution towards Healthcare Services

P.S. Varier’s contributions to healthcare encompassed five key components like initiation of medical consultation within the local community, Medicine preparation, Accessibility of standardized classical medicine to the patients, Administration of Panchakarma and Kerala special therapies and documentation of records related to these activities.

 Contributions towards Ayurveda Education

From his early days of learning in Gurukula, P.S. Varier had a deep-seated aspiration to establish a formal Ayurveda teaching school. In 1917, fifteen years after founding AVS, he finally realized this dream and initiated the Aryavaidya Pathashala on his premises in Calicut. This institution offered a four-year Diploma Course with a standardized syllabus, overseen by subject experts and P.S.Varier himself as the Principal. A committee named Aryavaidya Samajam, consisting of learned physicians and scholars supervised the curriculum and academic practices. Graduates of this program were awarded the prestigious “Aryavaidyan” Diploma. In 1924, P.S. Varier established an in-patient hospital in Kottakkal and relocated the Pathashala there, which later evolved into the renowned VPSV Ayurveda College affiliated with the Kerala University of Health Sciences, offering graduate, post-graduate, and doctoral courses.

P.S. Varier authored two text books on Ayurvedic Perspective of anatomy and physiology, namely Brihacchariram and Ashtangashariram, adapted from Gray’s Anatomy but written in Sanskrit. His commitment to education extended to teaching these subjects, along with Tantranadi Vijnana, to his students. He also provided internship training in clinical and pharmaceutical aspects. In a bid to encourage young individuals to pursue Ayurvedic studies, he offered monthly stipends.. He was also actively involved in the Central Board of Indian Medicine since its inception in 1932 and served as an examiner for the Madras School of Indian Medicine.

Other major initiatives:-

1. Arya Vaidya Sala (1902): Founded as a pioneering institution, Arya Vaidya Sala played a crucial role in promoting Ayurveda and traditional healthcare practices.
2. AryavaidyaSamajam (1903): Established in 1903, AryavaidyaSamajam has been dedicated to advancing the practice and knowledge of Ayurveda and related disciplines.Aryavaidyasamajam succeeded in bringing vaidyans from all over kerala together to a common venue. These meetings evoked the concept of Aikya Kerala, a united Kerala much before the first Kerala Congress organized by Indian National Congress in 1920.
3. Dhanwantari Magazine (1903): P.S. Varier took the initiative to launch Dhanwantari Magazine in 1903, serving as a platform for disseminating knowledge about Ayurveda and allied subjects through articles, editorials, and academic discussions.
4. PSV Dramatic Troup (1909): The PSV Dramatic Troup was founded in 1909, showcasing P.S. Varier’s commitment to cultural and artistic endeavors.
5. AryavaidyaPathashala (1917): This institution, founded in 1917, has been instrumental in imparting education and training in Ayurveda to aspiring students.
6. Chikilsashala (Charitable Hospital) (1924): P.S. Varier established the Chikilsashala in 1924, providing healthcare services to those in need on a charitable basis.
7. Vishwambhara Temple (1932): The Vishwambhara Temple, founded in 1932, has been a place of spiritual significance and devotion.
8. Medicinal Plants Estate (1934): P.S. Varier’s establishment of the Medicinal Plants Estate in 1934 underscored his commitment to preserving and propagating valuable medicinal plants.
9. PSV Natyasangham (1939): This institution, founded in 1939, promoted the cultural and artistic heritage of the region, particularly through traditional Indian theater. The creation of new stories and their stage performance was a great step in reforming and revitalizing the art of Kathakali.

AVS Charitable Trust (1944): The AVS Charitable Trust, founded in 1944, has been dedicated to philanthropic activities and the betterment of society.

Awards and Achievements:-

In 1933, P.S. Varier received the esteemed “Vaidyaratnam” citation from Lord Willington, the Viceroy of India at the time. In 2002, on the centenary celebration of AVS, the Government of India issued a commemorative “Postal Stamp” to honor P.S. Varier’s memory. History has firmly etched P.S. Varier as a Renaissance figure who made significant contributions to the advancement of Ayurveda in the 20th century

Books written about his Achievements:-

1. Shashthivarshikacharitram” by E.P. Krishna Varier in 1929.
2. “Life Story of P.S. Varier” by Kizhedath Vasudevan Nair in 1953.
3. Vaidyaratnam PS. Varier” by C.A. Varier, published by the Government of Kerala in 1991.
4. “Life of Healing” by Gita Krishnankutty, published by Penguin in 2002.
5. “Vaidyaratnattinte Diariyilude” by C.A. Varier in 2006.
6. P.S. Varier 150th Birth Anniversary Souvenir” in two parts, containing articles by various authors in 20