ABSTRACT

SIDDHA MEDICINES IN PALM LEAF MANUSCRIPTS

Dr. T. MOHANA RAJ(President/Correspondent, A.T.S.V.S. Siddha Medical College,

Munchirai, Pudukkadai P.O. Kanya Kumari District.)

Manuscripts are the treasures of our ancient Literatures . They reflect the culture and customs of our people. Siddha system of medicine which is the oldest practice prevailed in our country also is having evidences in these manuscripts. The manuscript provide documents related to Pediatrics, General Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Varmam, Ophthalmology, ENT, Veterinary, Meteria media, treatment methods, food and nutrition for the patients etc. The speciality in these literatures is that, they provide messages related to the symptoms, disease cause, treatment methods etc. So the documentation and preservation of these manuscripts plays an important role to preserve the old treasures of our ancestors.

We are digitizing and publishing the materials in the Palm leaf manuscripts collected from our district with the help of the Government. The work is still continuing.

SIDDHA MEDICINES IN PALM LEAF MANUSCRIPTS Dr. T. MOHANA RAJ.

(President/Correspondent, A.T.S.V.S. Siddha Medical College,Munchirai, Pudukkadai P.O. Kanya Kumari District.)

INTRODUCTION Before the invention of paper our ancestors used processed palm leaves, silk cloth etc., for writing. Among these written matters Siddha medical literatures are also included. Many of these literatures were ruined by natural calamities. Most of the literatures ruined were because of the unawareness of the people who owned them for they don’t know how to preserve them. Here in this juncture I want to thank the National Manuscript Mission for their contribution to arrange seminars and workshops to secure atleast the remnants existing today.

HISTORY OF SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

Research scholars believe that there was a Continent which existed to the Southern part of the present Kanya Kumari District, Which was called as the Lemurian Continent or as the Kumari continent. This Continent was said to be drowned by the Ocean, because of Continental drift or due to some other natural calamities. And it is said that it is in this Continent that the first generation of the human race existed and flourished. Those who lived in this Continent were called as the Dravidians. Even today the Dravidian or the Tamil Culture is admired by all the people through out the world. In this culture medicine and treatment played a very important role because the method of treatment which these people followed was said to be received directly from God through Siddhars, for the well being of the society. These Siddhars are the people who devoted themselves for God the Almighty and for the society. Lord Siva, Parvathi, Nanthi, Agasthiyar, Bohar, Pulipani were some of the prime Siddhars of this category. The system of medicine formed by the Siddhars was named after them as Siddha system of Medicine.

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During the period of 12th and 18th century, it was the Golden time for the siddha system of medicine, because it flourished among the rich and the poor as a life giving system of medicine. The Royal communities also recognized the Siddha Physicians for their ailments. But after the invasion of the British, this system started to decline. People were very busy in money making and they don’t have time to undergo treatment in a long time procedure. They wanted to have instant remedy. They don’t bother even it was a surgery. In short they want an instant pain relief.

FALL OF SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

Because of the lack of emergency medicines, lack of sincere dedicated persons, failure in conversion of these literatures into other languages, lack of researchers to work on this system etc., this system started to decline. A prime reason for the fall of this system was that only dedicated people can practice this system in those days. Because the Physicians who followed this system did this practice as a divine service to the society and their target was not money. So, most of those families suffer due to poverty. Their familians did not want to continue this job for they could not earn for their lively hood from this. Also if an interested person in this field wanted to learn he has to learn this only in Guru-Sishya method of teaching. The Gurus also did not want to teach the complete matters to the students for the reason that, the Sishya may succeed him one day or he may be money minded. In the written manuscripts also they gave warning “don’t teach this to an improper person if so you will definitely go to hell”. Also the Gurus got assurances from their students that they will not teach or give the records to strangers.

PALM LEAF MANUSCRIPTS

Palm leaf manuscripts were introduced just before the entry of paper. The palm leaves were not used directly as they are, but they are specially processed for this purpose and some herbals like Eclipta alba (juice) is used to give clear visibility of writing. During those time there are very few number of people who had the knowledge of writing . So while reading the manuscripts one can predict the period and place of its writing. The letter style used for writing can predict the period of its writing and the language (colloquial language) used can predict the place of its writing.

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Because the manuscript writers who were the professionals for writing will write the contents in his own way mixed with his colloquial language. Also the person who dictates the matter will present the subject from his own intellectual. So his style and form will be reflected in these manuscripts.

SIDDHA MANUSCRIPTS

The existing manuscripts which we have collected reflects the culture of Kanya Kumari District . They provide materials related to Medicine, Astrology, Witchcrafts, Folk music, Dramas ,Architecture etc. Medical literatures which we have published provide materials related to Pediatrics, General medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Varmam, Ophthalmology, ENT, Veterinary , Meteramedica, treatment methods, food and nutrition for the patients etc. The specialty in these literatures is that, they provide messages related to the symptoms, disease cause, treatment method etc.

PRESENT WORK

Presently we are digitalizing these palm leaf manuscripts as a documentation process as well as a preservation technique with the support of the department of AYUSH. In that way we have digitized about 4000 bundles already. We are also printing and publishing these manuscripts and research books based on these manuscripts. We have already published eight research books in the field of Varmam. Also we have published twentyone books containing 191 individual literatures. We are still continuing these works. We humbly request your support and blessings in this field.

SIDDHA MANUSCRIPTS

The existing manuscripts which we have collected reflects the culture of Kanya Kumari District . They provide materials related to Medicine, Astrology, Witchcrafts, Folk music, Dramas ,Architecture etc. Medical literatures which we have published and digitalized Medical manuscripts related to Pediatrics, Medical manuscripts related to General medicine, Medical manuscripts related to Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical manuscripts related to Varmam, Medical manuscripts related to Ophthalmology, Medical manuscripts related to ENT, Medical manuscripts related to Veterinary , Medical manuscripts related to Siddha Matera medica, Medical manuscripts related to treatment methods, manuscripts related to food and nutrition for the patients, Medical manuscripts related to Medicinal preparation etc. The specialty in these literatures is that, they provide messages related to the symptoms, disease cause, treatment method etc.