Vaidyas of Kerala: A Journey into the World of Traditional Medicine in India

This book combines two research interviews dedicated to the topic of traditional healing practices prevalent in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Representatives of local families of hereditary doctors (vaidyas) still successfully use the knowledge of Ayurveda, folk medicine, and healing from poisons in treating their patients. Through numerous amazing stories told by the vaidya, one after another, the pictures of the lifestyle and way of life of the traditional layers of Indian society emerge: authentic healing practices, rituals and beliefs of the Brahmins, family traditions, significant historical events of the region, etc. In the Russian version, the texts of the interviews are supplemented with detailed comments from the translators, facilitating the reader's immersion into the mysterious world full of unfamiliar realities, terms, and rules.