Santhigiri Siddha Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram

Santhigiri Siddha Medical College (SSMC), established in 2002 by Santhigiri Ashram, embodies the vision of its Founder Guru, Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru. As the first Siddha Medical College in Kerala and the first outside Tamil Nadu, which is known as the birthplace of the Siddha system, SSMC stands out in the field of traditional medicine. It is unique among India's nine Siddha colleges for offering instruction in English rather than Tamil, providing its graduates with a global perspective. Currently, students from various countries, including Switzerland and Japan, are enrolled at SSMC.

The college aims to develop physicians with a profound understanding of Siddha medicine, adhering to its foundational principles, with extensive practical training and a commitment to the 'Nava Arogya Dharma Siddhantham' (New Doctrine of Healthcare) envisioned by Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru.

SSMC offers a Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS) program, affiliated with the University of Kerala and the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS), Thrissur. It is recognized by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), New Delhi, with updates to the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine's website pending. The program spans four-and-a-half years, including three 18-month Professional Periods and a 12-month Compulsory Rotatory Resident Internship (CRRI). To date, seven graduating cohorts have completed the program and are successfully employed in their fields.

Located near Thiruvananthapuram, the college benefits from a tranquil environment and features a distinguished faculty, a well-equipped hospital with specialized departments, modern laboratories, a comprehensive library, and expansive medicinal plant gardens. It also boasts a GMP-certified pharmacy for Siddha and Ayurveda drugs, comfortable hostels, a vegetarian canteen, and various extracurricular facilities.