BENGALURU: The healing power is in our genes, says Kiran Prakash Babu, the current owner of Ustad Kayangadi Papanna Massage Institute. He took over the business 15 years ago. He is a sixth-generation masseur and heir to the business started by his forefathers.
It all started in 1860 when Ustad Kayangadi Papanna, known as the captain of Garadis, used his healing powers to treat bone dislocations and fractures. He got the ayurvedic herbs from the Cottonpet dargah to heal his patients. Six generations later, the legacy is now carried forward by Kiran.
“We all learned the techniques of treatment watching our parents and grandparents. My uncle trained me. He passed away a few years ago. I wanted to study further and gain more knowledge, so I signed up for a post-graduation course in science. But, I was so involved in this business that I couldn’t complete the course,” he confesses.
In spite of several medical advancements and private hospitals coming up in the city, this institute still holds a loyal clientele.
Kiran, who sees customers of all ages, claims that all the elderly people in the city know about this institute. They pass on the information about this institute to their next generations. “About 30 to 40 people come with complaints of back pain and neck pain. If ignored, they can lead to pain in the elbow, waist and knee,” he says.
Kiran’s treatment includes massage and bandaging. “I prescribe the treatment depending on the severity of the case. The duration of the treatment can also vary. In case of a neck pain, it takes a minimum of 10 days but it can go up to a month and a half if the pain has developed into spondylitis or a muscle cramp,” he explains.
Kiran says that he uses ayurvedic herbs, stems and plants for the treatment, without any animal extracts. They are sourcedfrom Shimoga and Kerala.
“I take on only those cases that I can cure. For example, I can’t cure multiple fractures,” he says.
*Massage Institute, Akkipet Main Road, near Veerashaiva Co-op Bank