Vaidya (Sanskrit: वैद्य), or vaid is a Sanskrit word meaning "doctor, physician". Vaidyan or Vaidyar is a similar term used in the southern region of India to denote a physician, particularly in Kerala.Today it is used to refer to traditional practitionerers of Ayurveda", an indigenous Indian system of alternative medicine. Senior practitioners or teachers were called Vaidyarāja ("physician-king") as a mark of respect. Some practitioners who had complete knowledge of the texts and were excellent at their practices were known as Pranaacharya. Some royal families in India had a personal vaidya in attendance and these people were referred to as Rāja Vaidya ("the king's physician"). In Maharashtra, like many other last names, the last name "Vaidya" is linked to the profession that the family followed.

Vaidya as a surname

As a last name in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, Vaidya Vaidyar or Vaidyan are usually found in several communities like the Brahmin, Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu, Billava, Mogaveera, Nairs,Ezhava as well as Sonar (goldsmith).

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