Among the existing Ashtavaidyas the Pulamanthole family has an ineradicable and distinctive culture, which is passed from a generation to the next. The members of the family acquire the knowledge from their fore generations. After Upanayanam, the children start learning from their Guru.Thus the age old tradition of Ayurveda is still kept alive.For the members of the Mana, Ayurveda is rather a lifestyle than a treatment method.Ayurveda is very much in the blood and soul of the family that we seldom can draw a line of segregation between the Pulamanthole Mana as a family and as professional practitioners of Ayurveda.
The Mana is very famous for its Ayurveda treatment based on Ashtangas,the eight branches of Ayurveda. The Pulamanthole Mana has the legitimacy for being “entrusted by Parsurama” to undertake medicinal practices.Being so, the Astavaidyans from the family were convened to the royal families of Valluvanad,the Travancore and the Zamorins on several occasions for treatment. The Mana became popularly known as the curable place for incurables, when the King of Travancore royal family once inflicted with severe stomach pain, which was not cured by others, was cured by a little boy from the Pulamanthole.Being the specialist Vaidyans for the royal families,
the Pulamanthol Mooss’s Vettilatalika and Chellam is still kept at Travancore royal family as a token of respect. The scholars from the Mana have also authored several texts on Ayurveda, like “Brihad Padyom” or “Pulamanthol Padyom” , “lalitha Padyom” etc. “Kairali” authored by Pulamanthole Mooss is an authentic text on Ashtanga Hridhaya.It is popularly known as “Pulamanthole Commentary”.“Lalita”, based on Ashtanga Samgraha is yet another commentary from Pulamanthole Mooss.
The Mana is not just into treatment, but into training as well.It makes sure not to break the lineage and to pass on the tradition and authentic methods of Ayurveda to the younger generation. According to P.K.Gopalakrishnan, the Pulamanthol Mana is a renowned institution for higher education in Ayurveda. Pulamanthole Mana has a vast collection of rare manuscripts.These, along with the Ashtavaidyans of the Mana, made the Pulamanthole is an excellent centre for learning and research. The prosperity of the Mana is considered to be the blessing of Lord Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda. Pulamanthole Mana safeguards the 3500 years old Rudra Dhanwanthari Temple at Pulamanthole.Every member of the family after formal education has to
get the blessings of the Lord Dhanwanthari, before commencing formal practice of Ayurveda.
It is believed that everyday after the closure of the temple, the Lord Dhanwanthari resides at the Mana, blessing and guarding the family and their practice of Ayurveda.It is this blessing, the strength behind their treatment.
They also conduct special rituals and offerings, for Vaghbata , on Suklapaksha Ekadeshi of every month. This is done at Vagbhata Samadhi, the final resting place of Vaghbatacharya, who is said to have spent his last days at Pulamanthole Mana, popularizing Ayurveda.
Pulamanthole Mana is also famous for its treatment of animals. Pulmanthole Mana was the best for rejuvenation treatment and other treatment for elephants in olden times, which still continues. In olden times, the people used to say “Aana madhichal pulamantholil”, meaning ‘the only place to treat an elephant with musth is at Pulamanthole’. The treatment for elephant is based on Hasthyayurvedha, which is exclusively practised at Pulamathole.