Education
Sri. Varier had his Vidyarambham, the formal initiation to education, at the age of four. He started with instructions in basic Sanskrit and subsequently grammar and Tarka Sastra under the seniors of his family and later from the teachers of the Zamorin Royal Palace. He had also the opportunity to learn astrology and poetics under experts. After this, he started the formal study of basic principles of Ayurveda at the age of fifteen and two years later at the age of seventeen, he joined the reputed Gurukula of the Kuttanchery Ashtavaidya family. He underwent five years long advanced theoretical and practical training under the senior Kuttanchery Vasudevan Mooss.
Special Training
Apart from receiving formal Gurukula training in Ayurveda, P.S. Varier received three years long theoretical and practical training in Modern Medicine, under Diwan Bahadur Dr. V. Verghese, who prompted him to initiate pioneering steps to modernise Ayurveda drug preparation and drug marketing modalities.
He was also well-trained in classical music.
Professional Carrier
He started his professional career as an individual practising physician at the age of 21 immediately after completing his Gurukula studies in 1890. The phase continued for 12 years until 1902 when he founded AVS.
As a Manufacturer
P.S. Varier was a pioneer in the domain of industrialisation of Ayurveda drug manufacture. He established AVS to achieve his ardent wish to see that patients can use authentic classical Ayurveda medicines with confidence and trust in their quality and reliability. For this purpose, for the first time in the history of Ayurveda, he introduced scientific methods of preserving Kashayams, by setting up a pharmacy/drug manufacturing unit for ensuring the availability of authentic and standardized medicaments. This is how AVS came into being in 1902 which has come to be recognized as a torch bearer of Ayurveda renaissance in the whole country.
As a Clinician
P.S. Varier was an expert physician with a unique healing touch. He was also an authority in administering Panchakarma and special Kerala Purvakarma therapies. He was a general practitioner with equal skill for dealing with all kinds of ailments afflicting the people of his time.
He established a hospital at Kottakkal to provide OP and IP treatments to patients free of cost. Allopathy care was also made available there as a parallel system.
As a Faculty
P.S. Varier started a formal school for syllabus-based Ayurveda teaching, the Aryavaidya Pathashala. Subject experts were appointed as the Head and members of the faculty. He, himself was the Principal from its inception until his death. He taught Anatomy, Physiology and Naditantra at the Pathashala.
As an Editor & Publisher
P.S. Varier was the Editor and Publisher of the first Malayalam Ayurveda journal “Dhanwantari” which carried authoritative articles on all topics related to Ayurveda and allied knowledge including regulations, education, policy, modern developments etc. He authored many books and wrote several works of Poetry (in Sanskrit and Malayalam) and about 30 traditional musical plays.
Honour
P.S. Varier was awarded the prestigious “Vaidyaratnam” citation in 1933 by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Willington. He was, by then, recognized as one of the leaders of the national Ayurveda renaissance.
Other contributions
P.S. Varier introduced the system of Bonus and payment to his employees at a time when it was not the standard industrial practice in India.
P.S. Varier had set up a dramatic troupe specialized in musicals for theatrical performances which was later converted to the PSV Natyasangham for training and performance of Kathakali, the classical theatre form of Kerala.
The Vishwambhara temple established by him was open to people of all caste and creed and it illustrates his progressive attitude and courage to deviate from tradition and the social practice of those days.
During the ill-reputed Malabar rebellion of 1921 P.S. Varier took a very bold step to thwart any violent incidents in and around Kottakkal which was close to the epicenter of the revolt. He protected and helped both the Hindu and Muslim families from being attacked and he also provided financial and material support to the affected people of both the communities.
P.S. Varier had established AVS as an umbrella organisation and several other sub-institutions as independent units under his care and supervision. (i) the Arya Vaidya Sala in 1902, (ii) the Aryavaidya Samajam in 1903, (iii) Dhanwantari Ayurveda Magazine in 1903, (iv) PSV Dramatic Troupe in 1909, (v) Aryavaidya Pathashala in 1917, (vi) Charitable Hospital in 1924, (vii) Vishwambhara Temple in 1932, (viii) the medicinal plant estate in 1934 and (ix) PSV Natyasangham in 1939.
Apart from managing all these enterprises for 42 years, he executed a Will in 1939 which became the Constitution of AVS since his demise in 1944. The Will made it possible for the Trustees of the seven-member Trust Board comprising of five members of his family and two members associated with the Institution, to earmark the financial earnings for charitable & educational purposes and the growth of AVS without any individual or family beneficiary.
