Returning to his native village Derisanamcope, Kanyakumari district, Dr. Y. Mahadeva Iyer established a clinic in 1920, laying the foundation for what would later become Sarada Ayurveda Hospital. Through his dedication and deep expertise, he quickly gained recognition as a foremost Ayurvedic practitioner in the region. His unwavering belief in Ayurveda and adherence to traditional healing ethics earned him the trust of countless patients.
Dr. Y. Mahadeva Iyer was a firm believer in holistic healing and curing people through natural processes. He meticulously developed facilities for medicine preparation, mechanized herb processing, and inpatient treatment, ensuring the highest standards of care. His reputation spread through word of mouth and the miraculous recoveries of chronic patients. Over time, Sarada Ayurveda Hospital became a specialty center for neurological disorders, paralysis, and musculoskeletal ailments.
In 1965, the senior pontiff of Sringeri Sri Sarada Peetam visited Mahadeva Iyer’s residence and blessed him, recognizing his profound knowledge in Ayurveda, Vedic scriptures, and philosophy. The same pontiff returned in 1980, offering his blessings once again during Mahadeva Iyer’s final days.
By then, Dr. Mahadeva Iyer’s reputation had spread across South India, attracting not only patients from various regions of India but also students from around the world eager to learn from his wisdom.
Dr. Y. Mahadeva Iyer work was carried forward by his sons, Lakshmana Sarma, Venkatasubramani, and Hari, along with his nephew, Dr. S. Ramakrishnan, and grandson, Dr. K. Chidambaram. His grandson, Dr. L. Mahadevan , joined the institution in 1996, after graduating from Madras University with top honors and completing his post-graduation at the Government Ayurvedic College, Trivandrum.
Following Dr. Mahadeva Iyer’s passing in 1980, Sarada Ayurveda Hospital continued to grow, upholding his vision of providing affordable, authentic Ayurvedic treatment while disseminating ancient Sastra-based knowledge. The hospital expanded its services in 1999 with the addition of a Panchakarma In-patient Unit, inaugurated by His Holiness Sri Dayananda Saraswati, the founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, near Coimbatore.
Dr. Y. Mahadeva Iyer was born in 1901 into a Vedic and religious family, deeply rooted in traditional knowledge. His father, Sri Yagnanarayana Sastrigal, was a renowned Vedic scholar and teacher, under whom many students studied the Vedas in the classical Gurukula system. Among his three sons and three daughters, Mahadeva Iyer displayed remarkable intelligence from a young age. However, financial constraints prevented him and his brothers from pursuing higher education in college. Instead, they immersed themselves in Vedic studies under their father, assisting him in his religious and educational duties. The eldest son joined government services.
Despite his academic brilliance, family circumstances required Mahadeva Iyer to seek employment. He initially joined the postal department as a mail runner, transporting mail bags between the post office and the nearest bus stop. However, his independent spirit and quest for deeper knowledge led him to leave this job and travel to Kerala, where he studied Vedic philosophy under his relative, Sri Harihara Sastrigal, the principal of the Royal Sanskrit School.
His journey of learning took him further to northern Kerala, where he studied Ayurveda under eminent vaidyas (traditional physicians). Seeking divine inspiration, he then traveled to Nelluvaya in Thrissur district, home to the famous Lord Dhanvantari Temple, dedicated to the God of Medicine. There, he undertook penance and received a vision to practice Ayurveda in its purest, traditional form. He further refined his knowledge under the guidance of Sri Lakshmana Iyer, the palace physician of Travancore.
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