National Institute of Siddha, Chennai

The National Institute of Siddha at Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai, inaugurated in 2005 as the apex teaching institution for the Siddha system of medicine. 200-bed hospital, MD-Siddha programmes in all six specialties (Pothu Maruthuvam, Sirappu Maruthuvam, Kuzhanthai Maruthuvam, Noi Nādal, Nanju Noolum Maruthuva Neethi Noolum, Gunapaadam) and a central Siddha Pharmacopoeial Laboratory. Siddha is the dominant indigenous medicine of Tamil-speaking regions; it shares Āyurveda's tridoṣa framework but places far greater emphasis on mineral and metal preparations (dhātu vargam) and on kāyakalpa rejuvenation.