The Kalari
Train in Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art of Kerala, inside a traditional earthen kalari under teachers who carry the lineage forward.
Learn moreAuthentic Ayurvedic Wellness · Kerala, India
Dharmikam — Kalaripayattu, Kalari Chikilsa & Ayurveda in Kerala
A sanctuary in southern Kerala for healing, learning and spirituality — rooted in the living traditions of Kalari Chikilsa, Ayurveda and Kalaripayattu, kept alive here since 1983.
1983
Ashram established
06
Signature therapies
Kerala
Rooted in Parassala
Panchakarma Detox
Trusted by seekers
Own herbal pharmacy
What We Offer
Traditional roots, kept alive.
Our sanctuary is nestled within lush, sacred grounds featuring traditional Keralan-style eco-friendly cottages.
Farm-to-Table Healing: Our meals and medicines are prepared from organic vegetable and herb gardens grown on-site.
Pure Elements: Drinking and bathing water is drawn from our own deep, mineral-dense wells.
Global Destinations: The Ashram is home to the Hanuman Temple and the Indian School of Martial Arts (ISMA), world-renowned centers that welcome thousands of visitors from across the globe.
We provide a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science. By combining Ayurveda, Kalari Chikitsa, and Modern Medicine, we evaluate each guest through in-depth interviews, necessary investigations to create a lifestyle plan you can take home. Our protocols are designed to support and improve a wide range of conditions
The Healing Arts
Kalari Chikilsa and classical Ayurveda delivered by trained physicians, with warm herbal oils prepared to the season and to your constitution.
Learn moreLife in the Ashram
Live simply within the ashram for the length of your treatment — quiet rooms, sattvic meals and the steady rhythm of daily practice.
Learn moreThe Guru & Lineage
India has always made her most precious wisdom public. Even so, much of this wisdom remains esoteric.
Learn moreProgrammes
Every programme at Kalariyil Dharmikam begins with consultation and is then built around your constitution — the therapies...
Learn moreStories & Films
Documentaries, conversations and glimpses of life at Kalariyil Dharmikam — watch the practice long before you arrive.
Learn moreॐ सर्वेषां स्वस्तिर्भवतु
“Om Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu — Om, may there be well-being for all.”
The guiding philosophy of our founder, Satguru Hanuman Das — Guru Balachandran Master
DHARMIKAM is a rare and vibrant institution dedicated to preserving, teaching, and advancing the ancient South Indian martial art of Kalarippayattu, rooted in the tradition of Dhanurveda and regarded as a foundational influence on many Asian martial arts.
Alongside its martial arts training, DHARMIKAM carries forward a long lineage of expertise in the traditional healing practice of Kalari Chikitsa, with deep roots in Ayurveda. The institution combines this inherited knowledge and experience with insights from contemporary medical research, incorporating modern principles of support and diagnosis to enhance the efficacy, precision, and understanding of traditional healing practices.
At DHARMIKAM, this integration of ancient wisdom and contemporary knowledge strengthens the work of its practitioners while honoring the traditions, disciplines, and healing practices passed down through generations.
1983
Established in
Parassala, Kerala
Parassala, Kerala
Dharmikam Ashram
A Living Legacy of
Sacred Indian & Healing
Founded by Swami Hanuman Das and now led by his son, Dr. Girish Balachandran Nair, Dharmikam Ashram is more than just a destination—it is a sanctuary where tradition meets transformation. Here, the ancient wisdom of Kalari Chikitsa, Ayurveda, and Spiritual Wellness converges with the precision of modern medicine. We honor the vital mind-body-spirit connection through a personalized, immersive approach to health.
Dhamikam Ashram Sacred Healing Lineage
Zarrilli describes the rigorous, almost ritualistic nature of the training as the Guru imparts the "inner secrets" of the art to his son - Girish. The "Body-Mind" Connection: The Guru manually correcting Girish's posture, emphasizing that even a small deviation in the chuvadu (steps) affects the flow of vital energy. The Guru's focus on ensuring the student's body is "all eyes," meaning a state of total sensory awareness where the "internal" and "external" become one. Phillip Zarrilli's -When the Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses, and Practices of Power in Kalarippayattu, a South Indian Martial Art. Chapters -The Practice of Power, Cultivation of the body, Transmission of lineage Led by Dr. Girish Nair, a U.S.-trained physician and a lifelong practitioner of Kalari and Kalarichikitsa. By merging ancestral wisdom with modern scientific rigor, we have created a new paradigm for holistic healthcare.
A Bridge Between
Science and Tradition
Dr. Girish Nair serves as a distinguished professor and physician-scientist in the United States, bringing a world-class medical perspective to our sanctuary. Following the Samadhi of Swami Hanuman Das in 2022, Dr. Nair has stepped forward to oversee the Ashram’s mission, dedicating his life to the service and upliftment of the Kalari and healing traditions. Under his expert supervision, a dedicated team works in harmony to ensure Dharmikam remains a truly remarkable place for transformation: Expert Ayurvedic Physicians: Bridging ancient wisdom with modern medical rigor. Master Trainers: Preserving the authentic lineage of Kalarippayattu. Devoted Volunteers: Supporting the Ashram’s spirit of selfless service.
The Invitation
Come to heal, come to learn, come to experience
Come to
Heal
- Kalari Chikilsa
- Ayurveda
- Rejuvenation
Come to
Learn
- Kalaripayattu
- Kalari Training
- Traditional Practices
Come to
Experience
- Ashram Life
- Temple
- Food
- Nature
- Stillness
Ask Us Anything
Have a question about Dharmikam, our treatments, stay, programs, or anything else? Ask us — our team will be happy to help.
Inside The Ashram
Watch the practice,
as it is lived.
Warm oils pressed on the grounds, hands trained in a lineage kept alive since 2003, and mornings that begin long before the first treatment. A few quiet minutes from Parassala, before you ever arrive.
Play VideoPlanning your journey to Dharmikam?
Let us help you plan your stay.
Why Ayurveda
Healing that treats
the whole person.
Step into a rare space dedicated to healing that is as profound as it is precise. Tailored experiences designed for deep restoration of individual patient condition. Diagnostic-Backed Protocols: Science-driven wellness paths for lasting results.
Natural Healing
Herbs, oils and skilled touch — no synthetic shortcuts. Every remedy is prepared from plants grown and gathered in Kerala's own soil.
Personalised Treatment
Each treatment is shaped around you: your physiology, your season of life, and the particular imbalance that needs to be restored.
Holistic Wellness
Body, breath and mind are treated as one. Therapy is paired with movement, diet and stillness so the change actually holds.
Ancient Wisdom
Centuries of Keralite tradition, preserved through an unbroken guru–disciple lineage and practised here every day since 2003.
Ways We Heal
Kalari Chikilsa the healing art.
Experience the profound restorative power of daily traditional Kalari massage and healing techniques. Grounded in time-honored Ayurvedic principles, our treatments are designed to harmonize the body and mind. To ensure the most effective results, we go beyond standard therapies: Custom-Blended Apothecary: Every herbal massage oil and medicine is formulated specifically for you. Tri-Dosha Balancing: Your unique combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha is the blueprint for your personalized treatment plan. Targeted Healing: Potent botanical ingredients work in synergy with expert touch to release tension and restore vitality.
01
Kalari Chikilsa
Kalarippayattu, one of the oldest martial traditions in the world, is the heartbeat of Dharmikam’s culture. Practiced in its purest form through the Indian School
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02
Panchakarma
At the heart of Ayurveda is the mission to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins and restore harmony to the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
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03
Monsoon (Karkidaka) Rejuvenation
The Karkidaka season opens the body's channels — the ideal weeks for deep rejuvenation, herbal gruel and restorative rest.
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04
Postnatal Care
Gentle, structured care for new mothers: warm oil therapy, herbal support and deliberate rest to rebuild strength after childbirth.
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05
Marma & Uzhichil Therapy
Work on the body's vital marma points through Uzhichil — rhythmic full-body oil therapy that frees stiffness and settles the nerves.
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06
Spinal & Orthopaedic Care
Focused programmes for the spine, joints and old injuries, combining Kalari Chikilsa with guided corrective movement.
Learn moreTalk to a Doctor / Healer?
Rooted in Kerala
The majesty of this landscape is the foundation of every journey of healing.
Coconut groves, red earth and the long monsoon rain — the same land that grows our medicine also sets the pace of life inside the ashram. Healing here is not something you schedule around your day; for a little while, it becomes the day.
In Their Words
What others are saying.
Your First Step
Begin your journey to natural wellness.
Tell us what you are carrying — pain, fatigue, a diagnosis, or simply the wish to live better — and our physicians will suggest the right programme, the right length of stay and the right season to come.