ASHTAVAIDYAS

Ashtavaidyas are the traditional physicians of Kerala. There are many stories about the origin of these families. One belief is that Lord Parasuraman who brought Brahmins (Namboothiris) to Kerala, assigned 8 of the families as physicians, and these families came to be known as Ashtavaidyans, meaning 8 physicians. There is another story which narrates the eight prominent disciples of Vaagbhata and their families who followed the Ashtaangahridayam method of treatment. Some believe that Vaagbhata came to Kerala and composed Ashtaangahridayam sitting on a rock near Thiruvizha temple, though historians contest this. It is a truth that while the rest of the country follows Charaka and Sushrutha, Kerala follows Vaagbhata's Ashtaangahridayam. The eight Families who followed and practiced the eight parts of Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya, the Ashtavaidyas are :

1. Aalathiyoor Nambi 
2. Elayidath Thaikkatt Mooss 
3. Pazhanellippurath Thaikkatt Mooss 
4. Kuttancherry Mooss
5. Vayaskara Mooss 
6. Chirattamon Mooss 
7. Velluttu Mooss 
8. Pulamanthol Mooss

Samajam have had the privilege of the services of all the Ashtavaidyas right from its formation. Ashtavaidyas of these families have served in Samajam atleast for 4 generations.