Vaidyabhooshanam K Raghavan Thirumulpadu

Date of Birth:-  20th May 1920 (6th Idavam 1095 according to the Malayalam calendar)

Place of Birth:-  Chingoli, Alappuzha District, Kerala

Family  Background:- Born to Shri D Narayana Iyer and Smt. K. Lakshmikkutti Nambishtathiri. He was not having any ancestral Ayurvedic legacy. He was married to Smt. Vishalakshi Thampuratti and their son Dr K Murali was a retd. Kayachikitsa professor, at Govt. Ayurveda College, Tripunithura. The familial legacy initiated by him continues, spanning three generations

Educational Qualification:- After completing Class X^th with first class honors from Chalakkudy Boys High School, Thrissur in 1937, he was trained in contemporary subjects like Sanskrit, Astrology and Tarka, but could not finbish due to some constraints. Later, Pallippuratu Vasudevan Nambisan trained him in Ayurveda and he passed Vaidyabhooshanam degree examination of Cochi Government in 1949 and Naturopathy from Indian Institute of Natural Therapeutics, Mumbai with first class.

Professional Trajectory:-

Prominent Figure in Ayurvedic Healthcare:- Active proponent of Samana Chikitsa and highlighted the necessity for adherence to Pathya (dietary articles, lifestyle and behavioral regimen). VKRT was the president of Ayurveda Mandalam, Chalakkudy and established AMPIC (Ayurvedic Medical Practitioners Industrial Co-operative Pharmacy) Pharma at Chalakkudy, which is effectively functioning to tackle the scarcity of genuine medicines.

Academic Reforms:-  VKRT was instrumental in institutionalizing Ayurvedic learning. Being the member of Board of Studies of M.G University, Kottayam; Calicut University, Kerala University and Kannur University; Syndicate and Academic counselor of the Sree Sankara University of Sanskrit, Kalady; Faculty of Ayurveda of Kerala and Kannur Universities, Member of Ayurvedic trust, Coimbatore and Ayurveda Advisory Committee Member to Govt. of Kerala, for different tenures, VKRT had significantly contributed in the formulation of Ayurvedic curriculum. Vaidyabhooshanam K Raghavan Thirumulpadu Foundation (VKRTF), which has been set up for the informal and comprehensive training of Ayurveda, sustains the delivery of comprehensive and evidence-based education for hundreds of Ayurvedic learners. Padmavhushan Dr M S Valiathan credited VKRT’s mentorship, in his study of Caraka Samhita, as a part of Homi-Bhabha Fellowship.

Accomplished Writer and Philosopher:- VKRT has written more than 35 books exclusively on Ayurveda. First Malayalam textbook in Naturopathy was his contribution. Apart from Ayurvedic texts, poetries and verses in Sanskrit and Malayalam, translations of Tamil and Sanskrit books, magazine and newspaper articles on health, arts, culture, religion, politics, philosophy and literature were credited to his bibliographic record.

Renowned Social Reformer and Environmentalist:- VKRT was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and Sree Narayana Guru. Gandhian ideals of trusteeship and Sarvodaya movement shaped his worldview. He was profound orator at cultural, religious and scientific conferences and addressed the issues pertaining to liqour consumption, river protection etc. He was the patron of Chalakkudy River Protection Committee.

Literary Contributions :-

i.        Bhagavad Gita – Translation (First edition – 1954) ii.       Prakriti Chikitsa (First edition – 1957) iii.     Buddha Dharma  – Malayalam Translation of Dharmapada (First edition –  1958) iv.     Devi Mahatmya – Malayalam Translation of Sanskrit Stotra (First edition – 1960) v.    Isam and Mahatma – About Gandhian philosophy (First edition – 1961) vi.      Thirukkural – Malayalam Translation (First edition – 2003) vii.     Kriyakramam – Keraleeya Ayurvedic Treatment Procedures viii.    Raghaveeya – Sanskrit Kavya about Srirama (First edition – 1972) ix.     Hridroga – First edition – 1973 x.     Ayurveda Parichaya (First edition – 1976) – Second edition ‘Arogya Darsana’ xi.  Tantrayuktaviveka – Commentary of Tantrayukti Vichara (First edition – 1976) xii.  Rasavaisheshika Vyakhya – Commentary of Rasavaisheshika Sutra (First edition – 1977) xiii.   Mukhakkannadi – Autobiography (First edition – 1982) xiv. Vivrutivyakhya – Commentary of Basic principles of Ashtanga Hridaya  (First edition – 1982) xv.    Ayurveda Darshana – (First edition – 1983) xvi.   Kushtarog aur Ilaaj – (First edition – 1988) xvii.  Sampurna Arogya Samrakshana (First edition – 1989) xviii. Ayurvedam – Arogyashastram (First edition – 1992) xix.   Ashtanga Darshanam – (First edition – 1998) xx.    Bhaishajya Darshanam (First edition – 2002) xxi.   Parsvaveekshanangal (First edition – 2003) xxii.  Nammude Arogyam (First edition – 2003) xxiii.Ente Guru Darshanam – About Sree Narayana Guru (First edition – 2003) xxiv. Ayurvedathilude – (First edition – 2007) xxv.   Ayurvedam Oru Avalokanam (First edition – 2007) xxvi. Prakashika Vyakhya for Ashtanga Sangraha – 12 Volumes (During 1981 – 87) a) Mulasidhanta b) Svasthavritta c) Dravyavijnana d) Shareera e) Shalyatantra f)  Karmaparichaya g) Nidanasthana h) Graha and balagraha Chikitsa i)  Chikitsitam 1 j)  Chikitsitam 2 k) Visham, Rasayanam, Vajeekaranam l)  Urdhvanga Chikitsita xxvii.  Rasavaisheshika (First edition – 2010) xxviii. Chikitsaprakasha (First edition – 2010) xxix.   Glimpses of Ayurveda (First edition – 2010) xxx.    Deergha Jeevita (First edition – 2010) xxxi.   Vicharadhara – Part 1 (First edition – 2005) xxxii.  Vicharadhara – Part II (First edition – 2007) xxxiii.  Apasmaravum Chikitsayum (First edition – 1975) xxxiv.  Panchakarma (First edition – 1967) xxxv.    Hridrogavum Chikitsayum (First edition – 2013) xxxvi.   Rasayana Vajikarana Chikitsakal (First edition – 1975) xxxvii.  Kushtarogavum Chikitsayum (First edition – 1969) xxxviii. Arogyasamrakshanam Ayurvedathil (First edition – 2019) He was the editor of many books like Vaidya Vijnana Kosham. Besides these, he had written books like Gurugita, Ayurveda Koutuka etc. Many of his works are yet to publish like Commentary of first chapter of Ashtangahridaya and Charaka Samhita. He was a columnist of popular health magazines like Mathrubhumi Arogyamasika, Deshabandhu, Naattuvaidyam, Arogyam etc. Full paper link https://journals.lww.com/jras/fulltext/2024/08002/life_profile_of_vaidyabhooshanam_k__raghavan.24.aspx