Life profile of Chittattinkara N. Krishna Pillai Vaidyan: A genius and compassionate legend of Ayurveda

Abstract Shri Chittattinkara N. Krishna Pillai Vaidyan was an Ayurvedic physician of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, who started his career in 1948, which continued for nearly 63 years. From childhood onwards, he helped his father to prepare and dispense medicines. He started his clinical practice at his home, which was later developed into the “Lakshmi Narayana Ayurveda Research Center” to train students of Ayurveda. He traveled across the state to collect genuine drugs to prepare medicines authentically. He received the “ Vaidyakalanidhi ” degree in Ayurveda with top honors from the esteemed Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. He was also a qualified “Netravisharada” specializing in treating Netra Rogas (ophthalmology). He incorporated Rasa (minerals and metals) preparations in his practice and prepared Rasa drugs in his pharmacy with Puta pits (measurement of heat) and other necessary equipment. He was an expert in Nadipareeksha (pulse diagnosis) and diagnosed diseases using traditional Ayurvedic methods. He had mastery over classical Ayurvedic texts and literature, such as the Susrutha Samhita, Charaka Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya. As an eminent physician, he successfully treated numerous patients with conditions that modern medicine could not cure. He never charged consultation fees to his patients. He was a socially committed person and was one of the eminent personalities who uplifted the worthiness of Ayurveda throughout his lifetime.