The Ministry of Ayush has announced the recipients of the prestigious National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards 2025, honouring Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur, Vaidya Neelakandhan Mooss E.T., and Vaidya Bhavana Prasher for their significant contributions to the field of Ayurveda across academia, traditional practice, and scientific research.
The awards, considered among the highest recognitions in the field of traditional Indian medicine, were presented to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in promoting, preserving, and innovating within Ayurveda.
Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur, a distinguished scholar and academician, was recognised for his extensive work in Ayurvedic education and Sanskrit literature. With a career spanning over six decades, he has authored 31 books and over 300 academic publications, including 319 in Sanskrit. He has guided 24 PhD scholars and 48 postgraduate students, making a lasting impact on the academic development of Ayurveda.
Prof. Gaur has earlier been honoured with several national accolades, including the Rashtrapati Samman, for his literary and educational contributions.
Vaidya Neelakandhan Mooss E.T., head of the Vaidyaratnam Group in Kerala, was recognised for his role in sustaining and expanding a 200-year-old family tradition of Ayurvedic healing.
Vaidya Bhavana Prasher, a scientist at CSIR–Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), received the award for her pioneering work in Ayurgenomics—a field that bridges Ayurveda with modern genetic science. Her research on Prakriti-based personalised healthcare, along with the integration of AI and machine learning in Prakriti analysis, has been adopted in national initiatives like the Rashtriya Prakriti Parikshan Karyakram.
The 2025 awardees represent three vital dimensions of Ayurveda: classical scholarship, living traditional practice, and scientific innovation. Their contributions reflect the evolving nature of Ayurveda while remaining rooted in its foundational principles.