Dr. J. R. Krishnamurthy (Jalakandapuram Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy), Padma Shri

Dr. J. R. Krishnamurthy (Jalakandapuram Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy), Padma Shri
Siddha Physician & Pioneer of Scientific Siddha Medicine

A patient suffering from severe psoriasis once asked him, “Doctor, is there really any lasting relief for this condition?”

Dr. J. R. Krishnamurthy replied with quiet confidence, “In the ancient wisdom of Siddha there are answers waiting to be rediscovered and tested. We will treat you with a simple herbal oil prepared according to tradition, and we will watch carefully how your skin responds.”

That blend of traditional knowledge and scientific spirit defined his life’s work.

Jalakandapuram Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (often known as J. R. Krishnamurthy or J.R.K.) was a dedicated Siddha practitioner who spent more than five decades serving rural communities. From the early 1950s he practised in Kunrathur (Kundrathur), a village about 30 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu’s Chengalpattu district. Even into his eighties he continued treating patients there, combining classical Siddha principles with a modern, research-oriented approach.

He is best known as the original formulator of “777 oil,” a simple herbal preparation developed for the treatment of psoriasis—a complex skin condition that had few effective solutions in any system of medicine at the time. Drawing from ancient texts and his own clinical observations, he refined the formulation. It underwent scientific evaluation by the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) and rigorous clinical trials. The oil gained national recognition and was presented at the Seventh World Congress of Dermatologists in Singapore, bringing international attention to Siddha medicine.

Dr. Krishnamurthy worked to give the Siddha system a stronger scientific foundation. He published research papers, developed clinically effective formulations, and contributed to government projects under the Ministry of Health. His efforts helped move Siddha from purely traditional practice toward evidence-based acceptance while remaining rooted in its classical heritage.

He also founded Dr. JRK’s Siddha Research and Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., through which the 777 oil and other preparations reached patients across the country.

The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2010 for his contributions to medicine, recognising both his lifelong rural service and his pioneering work in scientific Siddha research.

Even after decades of practice, Dr. Krishnamurthy remained committed to the village clinic and to the belief that traditional systems could meet modern standards of validation.

“True medicine,” he believed, “honours the past while proving itself in the present—so that the suffering of ordinary people can be eased.”

From the quiet lanes of Kunrathur to national and international recognition for a simple herbal oil that brought relief to countless psoriasis patients, Dr. J. R. Krishnamurthy showed how dedicated rural practice and careful research can together enrich India’s medical heritage.