Introduction

The Department of Samhita, Sanskrit & Siddhanta is one of the oldest and most distinguished departments of the institution. It deals with the basic principles of Ayurveda, Sanskrit language, philosophy, and the history of Ayurveda, catering to all professional years of the BAMS program. The postgraduate (PG) program was initiated in 2017. The department actively engages in research across manuscriptology, tool development, literary research, conceptual exploration, and the study of fundamental Ayurvedic principles using modern scientific methods. The department regularly conducts seminars and guest lecture series under the banner “Agnismriti,” in commemoration of Dr. C.R. Agnives, the foremost Professor of the department. At present, the department has two Professors, two Assistant Professors, and one Sanskrit Lecturer.
The department collaborates with Thunchathezhuthachan Malayalam University in managing academic contributions to the manuscript repository. A Professor of the department serves as an approved PhD guide under Kerala University of Health Sciences, supervising doctoral research. The department has developed a rich collection of study materials to explain the basic principles of Ayurveda and has completed 21 research dissertations so far. Its publications include Concept of Mind (2002), Sadhana (as per the PG syllabus, 2020), five textbooks authored between 2015 and 2023, and several research papers published in indexed journals. PG students also receive regular clinical training under the guidance of teachers at Arya Vaidya Sala Charitable Hospital. Currently situated in the main building, the department is expected to be shifted to the PG block in the near future.
Equipment and Facilities

1. Museum: The department maintains a well-organized museum that showcases more than 120 study materials in the form of charts and displays. These exhibits serve as valuable learning resources for BAMS students and are also informative for the general public, as they illustrate the basic principles of Ayurveda along with the foundational concepts of philosophy, psychology, and the Sanskrit language.
2. Vaikhari: the Language Laboratory: Since Sanskrit is the classical language in which the science of Ayurveda is documented, the language laboratory is designed to equip learners with an adequate working knowledge of Sanskrit through various computer-based learning activities. With seven computers, the laboratory also supports the department’s Learning Management System. With the assistance of PG scholars, the Sanskrit teacher utilizes this facility to train UG students in Sanskrit in a structured and interactive manner.
3. Department Library: Since the department primarily deals with Samhitas (the classical Ayurvedic textbooks), it maintains a well-organized library with more than 500 books—far exceeding regulatory requirements—to facilitate in-depth study of classical literature. The collection includes classical texts and their commentaries, works on materia medica, literature related to Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), and textbooks on Indian philosophy. This rich academic resource significantly supports postgraduate activities related to Samhita study and research.
4. Clinical Services: Although the department is conventionally categorized under preclinical subjects, Ayurveda does not strictly distinguish between clinical and non-clinical domains, as its fundamental principles pervade all specialties alike. In this spirit, the department actively initiates clinical training for both UG and PG scholars at Arya Vaidya Sala Charitable Hospital, where faculty members engage in regular OP and IP services. Postgraduate training is further enriched through structured clinical exposure, extending well beyond conventional regulatory requirements followed elsewhere. This integration ensures that students meaningfully apply foundational principles in real-life clinical settings.

Specialty clinics: In addition, a special OP clinic focusing on thyroid dysfunction is maintained by the department.

1. Special initiatives
2. The department has established an MoU with Thunchathezhuthachan Malayalam University to promote academic collaboration in the field of manuscriptology.
3. As part of postgraduate dissertation work, the department undertakes academic initiatives related to the institutional manuscript repository and provides structured training in manuscript studies.
4. Every year, the department organizes seminars and lecture series under the title Agnismriti in memory of Late Dr. C. R. Agnives, former Head of the Department, honoring his remarkable contribution to popularizing the true essence of Ayurvedic principles. In 2026, the department is organizing a National Seminar on Fundamental Research along with a National Talent Hunt for students.
5. The department regularly conducts activities under Vaikhari, the Sanskrit Club, including student competitions, spoken Sanskrit classes, and other programs aimed at promoting the importance and practical relevance of Sanskrit.