Vaikkath Pachu Moothathu

Vaikkath Pachu Moothathu Biography

Vaikkath Pachu Moothathu was a scholar, poet, astrologer and writer belonging to Kerala. His real name is Vaikathu Paramesvara Sivadvija and he is credited to writing the first autobiography and children’s book of Malayalam language. He was a famous Ayurveda Physician who established the first institution for learning the traditional Indian Ayurveda in the 19^th century. This small institution later branched to Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram. He lived in the princely state of Travancore during 19^th century. He aimed to make Ayurveda reach common man and he wrote two simple books on Indian Ayurveda - Hradyapriya and Sukhasadhakam.

He was born in Vaikkom of present day Kottayam district, a part of princely state Travancore then. He was born in the year 1814. He was adapted to the family of Moothathu as the family lacked a male heir to perform temple rituals. He lived in the temples practising Pathakam and was known as a good cook too. He got interested in Ayurveda and started learning the traditional Indian medical science. He learned Astangahrdaya in 1843. He was a scholar too, who wrote a few biography works of Hindu mythological figures like Rama and also wrote the history of Travancore kingdom till the rule of Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal, titled Thiruvitamcore Charitram. He wrote the great poem - Sri Rama Charitram Mahakavyam and two books on Indian Ayurveda, Hradyapriya and Sukhasadhakam.

He was a scholar of 6 shastras. He has been honoured with Veera Sringala by Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore for his contributions to the field of Ayurveda and Malayalam literature. ‘Aathmakatha Samkshepanam’ (1875) is his autobiography work and Balabhooshanam (1867) was his first published Children book. He was also a good painter and he made his self-portrait looking into his mirror image, which is believed to be Kerala’s first self-portrait. Kerala is celebrating his 200^th birth anniversary in 2014.

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Updated: August 28, 2014