The Union AYUSH Ministry has conferred the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards 2025 on Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur, Vaidya Neelakandhan Mooss ET, and Vaidya Bhavana Prasher, recognising their outstanding contributions to the field of Ayurveda across academic, traditional, and scientific domains. This was stated by the Ministry in a statement here on October 2.
A recipient of several national honours, including the Rashtrapati Samman, Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur is a scholar and Sanskrit academician who has dedicated over six decades to the enrichment of Ayurvedic education and literature. With an impressive oeuvre comprising 31 books and more than 300 academic works, including over 300 Sanskrit publications, Prof. Gaur has mentored scores of PhD scholars and postgraduates, playing a pivotal role in shaping contemporary Ayurvedic scholarship.
Vaidya Neelakandhan Mooss ET is the eighth-generation head of the Vaidyaratnam Group and upholds a 200-year-old Ayurvedic legacy rooted in Kerala’s classical healing traditions.
Leading a team of over 100 physicians, he has expanded the reach of Kerala’s traditional practices nationally and internationally. His efforts in community health, notably through programmes such as Marmayanam and Vajra, highlight Ayurveda as a living tradition that evolves while preserving its core principles. Vaidya Mooss expressed deep humility and a renewed commitment to nurturing Ayurveda’s dynamic role in healthcare.
Dr. Vaidya Bhavana Prasher, a scientist at CSIR–Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), was honoured for her pioneering work in Ayurgenomics, a field that integrates ancient Ayurvedic concepts with modern genomic science.
Her innovative use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for Prakriti analysis has been incorporated into national health programmes, expanding Ayurveda’s role in predictive and personalised medicine.
"The National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards are among the highest honours in the field of traditional Indian medicine. The 2025 awardees represent three distinct dimensions of Ayurveda—Prof. Gaur as the scholar, Vaidya Mooss as the traditional practitioner, and Vaidya Prasher as the scientific innovator.
Together, they exemplify the continuity and evolution of Ayurveda, highlighting its relevance in both classical and contemporary contexts", said an official from the Ministry about the achievements of the awardees.
