L. A. Ravi Varma
Dr. L. A. Ravi Varma (Lakshmipuram Avitomthirunal Ravi Varma), (26 October 1884 – 16 February 1958) was a historian, ophthalmologist and philosopher of the 20th century in Kerala, India. He was a critical figure who enriched the Ayurvedic literature contributing to its renaissance. In January 1940, he was appointed as Director of the joint Oriental Manuscripts Libraries of the Government of Kerala and the Kerala University.[1] He was conferred the Honorary Title of Vaidyashastra Nipunan (authority in the Medical Sciences) by Chithira Thirunal Maharaja, the King of Travancore, Kerala, India, and Gaveshana Thillakan (crown Jewel among Researchers) by the Maharaja of Cochin, Kerala, India.
Varma was also the one of founding ophthalmologists and later the second superintendent of the first Government Ophthalmic Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala that is known today as the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology.[2][3][4] He was one of the early reformers of medicine in modern Kerala and one of the first scholars to create a semantic bridge between Western and Indian medical systems.[5][6]
Personal life
L. A. Ravi Varma was born on 26 October 1884 at the Lakshmipuram Palace, Changanassery, Kerala to Aryaamba Thampuratti (Kunji) and Neelakanda Sharma (Namboothiri), of Thamaraserry Illam in Changanaserry. He was the great grand-nephew of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal of Travancore and the nephew of A. R. Raja Raja Varma.
Education
Varma graduated from Madras Medical College, India, in 1911 with an MBCM (Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery) degree. He specialized in Ophthalmology at the Moorfield Eye Hospital in London, where he received his DOMS in 1921. He was a Sanskrit and Malayalam scholar, who also trained in the science of Ayurveda as well as the practice of the Hindu rituals of Sri Vidya.
Career
Dr. Varma practiced ophthalmology at the Ophthalmic Hospital in Trivandrum, Kerala from 1922 until 1940 and was its second superintendent.[7] From 1940 to 1942, he was the Honorary Director of the Manuscripts Library, Trivandrum, Kerala,[1] and the Director of the Ayurveda College in Trivandrum, Kerala from 1942 to 1948. He also served as The Master Mason in the Minchin 2710 Masonic Lodge in 1938.[8]
He wrote and published numerous books and articles from 1939 until his death. A few of his contributions include: a scientific and analytical interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita, an exposition on the origin of Malayalam script and commentaries on the Upanishads. He was an authority on Shri Vidya rituals and Ayurveda. He exchanged many ideas and thoughts with Einstein, and translated parts of the Bhagavad Gita for him.[5]
Selected publications
Related to Vedanta, Purana & Ritualistic Worship:
Commentary on The Bhagavad Gita, Lalita Vyakhanam, in Malayalam, Publisher: B V Book Depot & Printing works, Trivandrum, Kerala, 1934.
Commentaries on the Kena, Ishvasya and Katha Upanishads based on Sankara Bhashya
Vedanta (contd.), Mimaṃsa, and Vyakaraṇa, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1939.
Agniveśyagrhyasutra Hindu Rituals, Publisher: Trivandrum University of Travancore 1940
Hindu Matha Praveshika: Introduction to Hinduism
Puraṇa (contd.) and Vedanta, Book, English. Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1938.
Nyaya and Jyotiṣa, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1939.
Jyotiṣa (contd.), Vaidyaka, and Mantra, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1939.
Related to Language & Linguistics:
Pracina keraḷa lipikaḷ, Malayalam, Publisher: Trichur : Kerala Sahitya Akademi, 1971.
Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Curator's Office Library, Trivandrum / Published under the authority of the Govt. of H.H. the Maharajah of Travancore:
Related to Ayurveda:
Sariram and Arogyamargangal
Related to Architecture:
The Vastuvidya: with the commentary Laghuvivrti of M. R. Ry. K. Mahadeva Śastri Avl
Tantra and Śilpa, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1940. Veda, Śrauta, Smṛti and Puraṇa, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1937.
Related to Literature and General Topics:
Castes of Malabar" in the Kerala Society Papers, [General Editor: T. K. Joseph] Series 9, 1932, alias Vol. II, 1997 reprint, Thiruvananthapuram, Gazetteers Dept., Govt. of Kerala, pp. 171 - 204.
The shadow play in Malabar
Kuvalayavali or Ratnapañcalika, Sanskrit Drama 14th Century, Publisher: Trivandrum: University of Travancore,1941
Raghaviya of Ramapanivada
Stuti, Niti, Chandas, Alankara, Sangitaśastra, and Kamaśastra, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1940.
Kośa, Miscellany and supplement, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1941.
Naṭaka, Campu and Akhyayika, Book, English, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1940.
Kavya, Book, Publisher: Trivandrum : V.V. Press Branch, 1941
References
- ^ a b "A comprehensive website on the life and music of Swathi Thirunal".
- ^ "西北攘世新能源有限公司". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "History of Padmanabhaswamy temple Trivandrum". Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Traditional Medicine - keralaTodays Kerala". Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ a b "The NMJI". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ Matthew S. Wolfgram (2009). "Ayurveda in the age of biomedicine: Discursive asymmetries and counter-strategies" (PDF). deepblue.lib.umich.edu.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Orange Weave template".