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Sadvaidyasala Private Limited (SVL): Preserving a 100 year Old Family Legacy

Sadvaidyasala Pvt Ltd (SVL) is one of the oldest concerns manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines in Karnataka. As on 2014, it manufactures over 200 classical and proprietary Ayurvedic preparations. The company was established by Sri. B.V. Pundit (Bhishagratna Ayurveda Vidwan) in 1913 at Nanjangud, a small town near Mysore in Karnataka. In 2014, this 100 year old family owned business is managed by the third generation family members ( (Refer to Exhibit 1) for details about SVL family).


Nanjangud is a town in Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the river Kapila (Kabini), 23 km from the city of Mysore.

Rajesh Sreenivasan (3rd Generation Family Member of Pundit Family) shared with great pride –

Nanjangud is famous for three things:

  • Srikanteshwara Temple
  • a special variety of banana called Nanjanagoodu rasabale; and
  • Nanjangud Tooth Powder (SVL’s flagship product)

The Srikanteshwara Temple at Nanjangud is dedicated to the Hindu supreme deity Shiva, also called Sri Nanjundeshwara, ("The Lord who drank poison") to save the earth. In Hindu mythology, the Gods and demons churned the ocean in search of the ambrosia. During this churning, poison emanated first, followed by ambrosia. To prevent the poison from spreading across the universe, Shiva drank it. His consort Parvati then held his throat tightly to prevent the poison from spreading to the rest of his body. The poison remained in his throat, making it blue in colour. For this reason, Shiva is also called Neelakantha, or "the blue-throated one". Nanjanagud literally means "the place where Nanja (Nanjundeshwara) resides" in Kannada - Nanja is a short form of Nanjunda (Najannu unDava - one who drank poison), or "home of Nanja (Nanjundeshwara)". Nanjangud is also known as Dakshina Kashi or Varanasi of the South.

The residing deity of the temple was called as Hakim Nanjunda by the Tippu Sultan as it is said a favorite elephant of his was cured after prayer was offered to the deity. The Sultan then had a Lingam made of jade along with an emerald necklace and donated it to the temple. The Vaidya Nanjundeswara, even today is said to be a healer for his believers.

The place “Nanjangud” has a rich cultural and spiritual heritage with strong connection to healing and cure.

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