Dr P.K. Warrier, doyen of Ayurveda and managing trustee of Arya Vaidya Sala (AVS), Kottakkal, passed away here on Saturday, family sources said. He was 100.

In his lifetime, Dr Warrier treated tens of thousands of people from across the globe and his patients included former Presidents and Prime Ministers.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Dr Warrier was instrumental in leading Ayurveda to global fame and acceptance.

Dr Warrier worked towards ensuring that money should not be a barrier to treatment. “He was the patriarch of Ayurveda in Kerala,” Vijayan said.

The renowned Arya Vaidya Sala in Kottakkal near here and the Ayurveda Medical College flourished and became synonymous with Ayurveda after Dr Warrier took up the reins of the institution decades ago.

The country had honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010.

Born to Sreedharan Namboodiri and Panniyampilly Kunhi Warrisyar in June 1921, Panniyampilly Krishnankutty Warrier did his schooling in Kottakkal and joined AVS at the age of 20.