History of Siddha Medicine:
History and Time period of Tamil Siddha Medicine.
The period of Siddha Medicine System is at least 8000 years old. The Tamil literatures like Sangam literatures, Silapathikaaram, Thirukkural etc are replete with evidences of existence of Siddha system of medicine.
Among the didactic eighteen (பதிணென்கீழ்கணக்கு நூல்கள்–pathinen keezh-kkanakku-noolgal), ELAADHI, SIRUPANCHA MOOLAM, THRI KADUKAM are some of the names of the literary works which bears the Siddha systems evidence. Elaadhi is a Siddha Drug, Sirupanchamoolam is the combination of five herbs root which is another medicine, Thirikadukam is the mix of three medicinal products.These captions are not mere names. Their very use in didactic literature denotes the meaning associated with them and also the familiarity of these in their period.
In Naalaayira Divya Prabhantham, the use of “chuttigai” – a needle like instrument used as a cauterizer in Surgical treatments is mentioned in the following lines,
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] வாளா லறுத்துச் சுடினும் மருத்துவன் பால் மாளாத காதல் நோயாளன் போல. [/pullquote]
Even in Kamba Ramayanam, the surgical methods followed in Siddha treatments are mentioned as follows
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]உடலிடைத் தோன்றிற் றொன்றை அறுத்ததன் உதிரம் ஊற்றி
சுடலுறச் சுட்டு வேறோர் மருந்தினால் துயரம் தீர்வார்.[/pullquote]
Explanation:
If their is a malign lump in the body ,it is cut and bad blood is let out and the cauterized for the cure.
In Tolkappiyam, a treatise on phonetics and grammatical structure of Tamil language mentions about Habitats for human living
- Kurinchi – Hilly areas
- Mullai – Wooded areas
- Marutham – Agricultural tracts
- Neithal – Coastal stripes
- Paalai – Arid zones
similarly as a preventive medicine, a siddha medical work called “Pini anugaa vidhi-பிணி அணுகா விதி ” states the basic guidelines as “THINAI OZHUKKAM –திணை ஒழுக்கம் (HABITAT DISCIPLINES)” to be followed for hale and healthy life.
Siddhars – The founders of Siddha Medicine System.
The word “siddha” comes from the word “SIDDHI” which means “an object to be attained” or “perfection” or “heavenly bliss”. ie சித்தம் தெளிந்தவனே சித்தன். one who attained perfection is a siddha. so, Siddhars are the one who attained perfection or got union with god (பூரண தெய்வம் or மெய்ப்பொருள்). Siddhars were adept at Astamaa siddhi’s(அஷ்டமா சித்தி/அட்டமா சித்தி ) (The Eight great Super powers). Also siddhars were a class of popular writers in Tamil in all branches of knowledge and many of their works were written in the form of poetry and were highly encrypted.The kavi or poetry in which the medical and other scientific tracts have been composed is much admired by those who have made special study about Siddhars.
It is said that siddhars from their consciousness(மெய்ஞானம்) founded siddha medicine and recorded all their works in palm leafs.They used Tamil vattezhuthu (வட்டெழுத்து) to write palm manuscripts.
palm Manuscripts of Siddha Medicine.
Transcending boundaries of race, religion or culture, the Siddhars had always recognized and saluted knowledgeable, insightful, worthy, truthful and creative persons as their followers.
In early days and even now in some places, Siddha Medicine was taught through Guru-sisya principle and Siddhar Agathiyar school of thoughts and Siddhar Thirumoolar school of thoughts were two sects in teaching.
