Vaidyar
Encyclopedia
Vaidyar or Vaidyan in Malayalam (the language of Kerala in India) means physician, who used ayurvedic medicines. They are mostly ayurvedic physicians by profession which was also hereditary. The title is used by Ayurvedic physicians and their descendants.This title is not a caste name, but, more prevalent among the traditional ayurvedic physicians of Kaniyar
or Ganaka community in the Travancore region of kerala .The surname is used by different communities including ezhava
,in Hindus or families among Christians in Kerala
.
The name Vaidyar is different from Vaadhyar of Karnataka state, which is a different community of people.
several centuries ago on account of treating the Maharaja
's prince. The Maharaja presented the patriarch with earrings, a decree of the honour on copper plates, and land without tax along with the title, "Vaidyar". However, the practice of naming every son in the family with the suffix, Vaidyar or Vaidyan, is no longer common.
Some of the common names among these families were, Philipose Vaidyar, Kochukunju Vaidyan, Thomas Vaidyan, Varghese Vaidyan, Koshy Vaidyan etc. The syrian Vaidyar families from Kallada also migrated to Nilambur in the early sixties and they are found around the world. There was a famous Thevalakkara Eye Hospital in Kottayam which is extinct now.
The Chamavila Vaidyar families in Chokkad, Nilambur, Malappuram, Kerala are from the Kallada Vaidyar family who had been living in Kaithacode, near Kallada
. The family migrated to Nilambur
in 1969. There were similar such migrations to other parts though information on these is scarce. The Chamavila Gvernment school in Kaithacode was originally owned and managed by the Chamavila Vidyar family.
The Kottackal Arya Vaidyasala and the Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Pharmacy comes from a different branch of families in Malappuram and Palghat Districts. They belong to the Varier community. Both these medical companies have a big network of hospitals and franchises mainly in Kerala
and Tamil Nadu
and also across India and in some other parts of the world.
Kaniyar
Kaniyar are a caste of India with origins in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. There are regional variations in the name used to define them. The Kerala Public Service Commission considers Kaniyar Panicker to be one group in their list of designated Other Backward Classes, and Kalari...
or Ganaka community in the Travancore region of kerala .The surname is used by different communities including ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
,in Hindus or families among Christians in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
The name Vaidyar is different from Vaadhyar of Karnataka state, which is a different community of people.
History and communities
The Syrian Christian Vaidyar (suriyani) families has their family roots in Kallada and Thevalakkara, (Kollam) two places on both the banks of the Kallada river. Many of them carried the title even without practice of the profession, because it was a bestowed title. given as an honour by the King of TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
several centuries ago on account of treating the Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
's prince. The Maharaja presented the patriarch with earrings, a decree of the honour on copper plates, and land without tax along with the title, "Vaidyar". However, the practice of naming every son in the family with the suffix, Vaidyar or Vaidyan, is no longer common.
Some of the common names among these families were, Philipose Vaidyar, Kochukunju Vaidyan, Thomas Vaidyan, Varghese Vaidyan, Koshy Vaidyan etc. The syrian Vaidyar families from Kallada also migrated to Nilambur in the early sixties and they are found around the world. There was a famous Thevalakkara Eye Hospital in Kottayam which is extinct now.
The Chamavila Vaidyar families in Chokkad, Nilambur, Malappuram, Kerala are from the Kallada Vaidyar family who had been living in Kaithacode, near Kallada
Kallada
Kallada is a village in Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala. Maharajah Marthanda Varma of the Kingdom of Travancore was born here.*The famous Chittumala Sree Durga Devi temple is situated here....
. The family migrated to Nilambur
Nilambur
Nilambur is a municipality and a taluk in the Malappuram district of Kerala, South India. It is famous for its forests, especially its wildlife habitats, rivers, waterfalls and teak plantations. It is situated close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River...
in 1969. There were similar such migrations to other parts though information on these is scarce. The Chamavila Gvernment school in Kaithacode was originally owned and managed by the Chamavila Vidyar family.
The Kottackal Arya Vaidyasala and the Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Pharmacy comes from a different branch of families in Malappuram and Palghat Districts. They belong to the Varier community. Both these medical companies have a big network of hospitals and franchises mainly in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and also across India and in some other parts of the world.