Poonthottam Ayurvedasram was founded by Vaidya. P.M.S. Raveendranath. Raveendranath was born in July 1965 in a Namboothiri family of central Kerala. He was initiated into Ayurveda by his father who is a renowned Sanskrit teacher belonging to a family of ardent believers of Ayurveda. He had Sanskrit education from his early childhood.
In the year 1980, he started his Ayurvedic studies at the Ayurveda College, Pathanjalipuri in Coimbatore, Tamil nadu, which adopted a "Gurukula" (A method in which the disciple stays with the teacher and learns from him) method of imparting education. This was a formal graduate course in Ayurveda with duration of about 8 years. Apart from Ayurveda, the students were taught other related areas like Yoga, Kalari and Indian philosophy (Darsanas). Special emphasis was also given on learning Sanskrit. With his brilliance and diligence, Raveendranath gained a strong foothold in Ayurveda and other related disciplines.
Guru and kulam
During the later part of his education, for acquiring skills for clinical practice, Raveendranath moved to his guru Sri. Vaidyamatham Valiya Narayanan Namboothiri, who was a highly reputed physician of Kerala belonging to the Ashta Vaidya tradition. People belonging to Vaidyamatham family are popularly known as Shalavaidyas (physicians who are entitled to enter the sacrifice/ritual premises) in Kerala. Vaidyamatham family does upasana (worship) of Dakshinamoorthy. Sri. Vaidyamatham Valiya Narayanan Namboothiri was born in 1910 and had a long career of Ayurvedic practice till 1988. He was known as "Vaidyashastra Mahodadhi" a title given to him by the chief of Kanchi Kamakoti math of Sankaracharya, Sri Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswati Swamigal. Raveendranath stayed with his guru for three years and learned practical skills of Ashta vaidya and particularly Vaidyamatham tradition.
After his guru's demise, Raveendranath started the centre "Poonthottam Ayurvedasram" named after his family in the year 1989. His aim was to develop a centre for Ayurvedic treatment procedures as he strongly believed that treatment methods like Sodhana (elimination) and Rasayana (rejuvenation) did not get enough attention and could not be done in the out patient clinics or at home.
Raveendranath's intention was to create a complete centre, which is self-reliant for practice, research and training in Ayurveda. His steady and sustained efforts in this direction finally bore fruit. Through establishment of this centre, he proved that dedication and hard work could benefit any sincere aspiration.Poonthottam
Poonthottam literally means “Flower Garden”. The Asram is set in the luscious green, healing landscape of Kerala’s verdant Kulakkad hill region. It is located in the beautiful part of central Kerala, in South India –. The Asram follows proven Ayurvedic philosophy of holistic treatment for rejuvenation, otherwise called “Panchakarma”, in which includes a spiritual environment. The asram is owned and managed by Ayurvedacharya (Ayurevedic Physician) Dr. P.M.S. Raveendranath (fondly called Dr. Ravi) and his wife Latha Raveendranath. They are committed to share their knowledge and experience of true traditional “art of living” with you. The asram is surrounded by paddy fields, rubber, coconut and banana plantations.
The greenery surrounding the asram depicting the different shades of green, is pleasing and calming, and provides the ambience for rejuvenation. Most of the herbs used for medicines are cultivated and collects from the area. There is also a rice paddy field which produces special rice used for medicinal purposes. These herbs are processed in our own factories which are within the compound. This assures purity and the highest quality of the treatment in the Ayurvedasram.
Ayurvedasram
The asram features fourteen (14) rooms including 6 independent cottages, a herbal manufacturing wing, a large yoga hall, and library, a canteen and dining place, telephone and internet facilities. All patients are free to move around within the campus. If anyone is inclined to take longer walks outside the campus, please notify the office before proceeding for the walk. Vehicles are not permitted within the compound and traveling outside the campus is discouraged during the treatments. We can accommodate around 20 in-patients at a time. Around 5 qualified Ayurveda Vaidyas are working here now. Clinical training of Ayurveda graduates is one of the thrust area of our service to Ayurveda saastra.
Around 100 formulations are being prepared here with the help of around 20 full time staff members working here. Idea of starting a production unit was to make good medicines. Many combinations that are not available in the market are being prepared here as and when required. More than 20 medicinal plants are collected from nearby areas in bulk providing a substantial income to the plant collectors of this area. Other materials required for preparation of medicines are obtained from the local market. On the whole, we use around 150 drug materials in our pharmacopoeia. A medicinal plant demonstration garden with around 200 different types of plants is an educational place for patients and those interested.
Swasty Ayurveda Trust
This is a charitable Trust dedicated to supporting poor people in the surrounding villages for establishing a livelihood with the help of Ayurveda. The trust provides deserving candidates free medicines and treatments at the Ayurvedasram. Should your good soul be desirable and willing to support this cause by joining us in the mission, you can make monetary contributions to the trust. The collective contributions will be directly shared with the needy.The contributions can be directly handed over to the chief physician or it can be sent to the Bank account of Swasty Ayurvedic Trust.
POONTHOTTAM KALAKSHETRA
Poonthottam Kalakshetra is an academy to promote arts and culture. The Kalakshetra provides opportunity for students to learn arts like the traditional and famous kathakali dance. The Kathakali form of dance has its origin in this part of India. For those who are interested in learning more about the activities and opportunities should contact the management officePROGRAMS
Classical music and art forms like kathakali, dance,concerts can be arranged in the Yogamandapam, on any day preferably on saturday evenings. These have to be sponsored by the guests individually or in groups. Further details can be obtained from the office
Communication
English is not the first language of most of the staff at the campus. Malayalam is the language of Kerala state and is widely spoken here.The words commonly used for treatments,herbs and medicines are influenced by ,and have their root in Sanskrit language.While many folks on the campus speak or understand English, there are a few who do not, there will be always some one who can understand english and communicate.
