The Hindu Business Line : An ayurvedic hospital with vastu principles

The Mannam Memorial Cooperative Ayurvedic Medical College and hospital, probably the first ever to be constructed strictly observing the Vastu (traditional Indian architecture) principles has almost been completed and started functioning at Pandalam in Kerala.

It may also be the first ever institution in such a large campus on an area of 138 acres fully assimilating with the nature.

It has a vast expanse of paddy fields, herbal garden and medicinal trees etc. making it a healthy and serene environment ideally suitable for the Indian System of Medicine hospital, Mr Sivankutty, Chairman of the Cooperative institution, told Business Line.

‘Chatursala’ shape

What is unique is the Swastika shape of the hospital building which is a “Chatursala” (traditional nalukettu) with a large courtyard in the centre of the building and inside and outside walkways (verandahs).

Inside veranada facing the central courtyard is private exclusively for the inpatients, medical staff and bystanders.

Thus, inpatients will remain undisturbed as all the activities of other departments such as operation theatre, pharmacy, clinics for outpatients etc. will be in the four arms of the hospital building.

It is a two-storey building with 50 beds, architects and other officials of the Kerala State owned Vastu Vidya Gurukulam, at nearby Aranmula told Business Line.

The Gurukulam has designed both the hospital and the college buildings and got them constructed within the scheduled time frame of 18 months at a cost of Rs 6 crore.

The hospital has 70,000 square feet area while the medical college, a four-storey building has 11,000 sq.ft on each floor.

According to Mr Manoj S. Nair, a Vastu expert and architect, the buildings are located at the most suitable and auspicious place after examining terrain as per the Vastu science.

The entire campus will cover an area of 30 acres and the beautification work is currently underway, he said.

Currently, the medical college has 137 students and the fees structure and admissions etc. are done strictly according to the State Government rules, Mr G. Sukumaran Nair, Assistant Secretary, Nair Service Society (NSS), whose members have a major stake in the cooperative society.

Mr Nair said that the ultimate aim was to make it a deemed Ayurveda University and Research Centre of international standard, besides using it to promote health tourism in the State.

A helipad is also under construction so as to make the accessibility to the hospital easier, he said.

Even though the college and the hospital have started functioning, the formal inauguration of it will take place soon when both the Union Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, and the Union Health Minister, Dr Ambumani Ramdas, are available, he added.