Friday, July 13, 2007

Priceless Padhartha Guna Chinthamani

The famous "Paati Vaidhiyam" (Grandma's medication), used to cure some minor ailments, is being followed in some homes even today. The practice of Paati Vaidhiyam has been passed on for generations that people are able to understand the problem of an ailment or disease and are able to diagnose and cure it correctly. They are able to do it because, they knew the characteristics of the diseases and, most importantly, the characteristics of the medicines that were used to cure them. Medicines in the sense, are nothing but herbs and other eatables that are used in the day to day life.

These substances with medicinal value are not only used on the incidence of an ailment, rather it was used regularly that prevented the incidence of that ailment, leading to a healthy and properous lives. Nowadays, only some homes are gifted with the people with the knowledge of Paati Vaidhiyam, but the rest are not, because there is no one to tell the medicinal characteristics of the things that we used and consume in our day to day life. And such treasures get lost from that generation onwards and once lost it is lost forever. Only a few people take some effort to make a note of these so that it get propagated into the future. The advantage of Paati Vaidhiyam is that it diagnoses and cures the ailment perfectly and without any side-effects

Our siddhars have took the pains to analyse the cause and treatment of the diseases and they have mentioned preparations to cure many diseases completely without any side-effects. The classification of the diseases and the treatment itself forms a great reference in the field of Medicine. Not all such references can be used by the common man, because it requires some background in medicine. However, there is one such great reference that can be used even by the common man. It is a rare treasure named "Padhartha Guna Chintamani" (Padhartham - Eatables, Gunam - Characteristic, Chintamani - The one that bestows all good things). It is one comprehensive reference that explains the medical characteristics about the food items and the utensils used to prepare those food items. It explains the medical characteristics of over 1000 items. The author of this masterpiece is a Siddhar named, Theraiyar. Theraiyar is the disciple and student of Agathiar. He is also known to be best student and has written many medical texts of which some perished and some remain.

Many legends exist about Theraiyar, let us see a few of them. The name Theraiyar is because when King of country had a severe chronic pain in his head, he treated it by opening the king's skull and removing the small toad from the King's head. Therai means Toad in Tamil. As he removed the toad from the King's head he is named after that Theraiyar It is also said that Avaiyar met Agathiar and asked him to take Theraiyar as his student. Theraiyar was the most illustrious student of Agathiar, that there is a legend that he turned a mountain into gold using herbs and got the praise of Agathiar.

Theraiyar's work, the Padhartha Guna Chintamani, is one of the masterpieces that exist even today. It is great collection and a central reference about the medical characteristics of the things that humans normally consume in their day to day life and the ones that are not normally consumed. It describes the characteristics of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. It not only describes about the items that are eaten. It also describes the characteristics of the utensils used to prepare and serve the items consumed, for example, the medicinal characteristics of stone utensils used to prepare food or medicines is described.

Let us see some of the songs from that text. I have tried to give exact meanings for these songs, but in some cases, due to the medical nature, I have tried to give approximately correct meanings. The following song describes about the various parts of the plantain tree.



"Narrkadhali Andham Anall Nalgum Thando Kudalil
Sikkum Mayir Thol Nanjum Theerthidumkaan Thokkuru Poo
Megam Ozhikkum Pinjaal Venkaduppu Yaegum Kaayaal
Dhegam Muzhukka Kaalam Thaer"

meaning, the tuber of the plantain increases the body's internal heat, the stem cures ailments in the stomach and intestines, the flower cures skin disorders, the tender fruit cures ailments due to increase in body heat. Unripe fruit cause Vaadham (The proportion of air that exists in the human body) to accumulate causing bodyaches etc.

The following songs illustrates the properties of ginger



"Injikilangukku Irumal Aiyam Okkaalam
vanjikkum Sanni Juram Vann Baedhi Vinjukindra
Soolai Arum Vaadham Pom Thoondadha Theebanamaam
Velaiarum Kannaai Vilambu"

meaning, the ginger cures the following Cough, Cold, Dense Phlegm in the chest. Delirious fever, Diarrhoea, Skin disease, Vaadham. It also makes one feel more hungry

The book even tells the properties of the various types boiled water. Water that is 100% boiled, 75%, 50% and 25% boiled. The following songs explain those



"Nenjerrippu Netrivali Neengaa Puliyaeppam
Vanjamura Vandha Vayitri Noi Vinjiyae
Veezhamal Kattodu Veppirumal Suttaneer
Azhaakku Uttkolla Arum"

meaning burning sensation in the chest due to acidity, continuing sour belch, stomach ailments and dry cough will get cured when an Azhaakku - 1/8th of padi (A utensil used to measure liquid quantities) - of boiled hot water is taken.

This song tells the properties of water that is boiled 25% and 50%



"Kaalkooru Kaaineeraai Kaarigaiyae Piththampom
Maelkooru Paadhi Sutta Venniraal Maelkoorum
Vaadhamodu Piththampom Vaithu Oru Naal Sendru Unn
Urodham Pom Odi Olithu"

meaning, the water that is 25% boiled cures the (Piththam) body heat, and the water that is 50% boiled cures Vaadham and Piththam. If that water is taken a day after boiling then the diseases will run away and hide.

The next song is about the most hated of vegetables, but more medicinal in value, the Sundakkai. The Sundakkai is hated because of its bitter taste. But it is dried in the sun after soaking in curd to make the sundakkai vaththal, that is fried and eaten as such or to prepare a mouth watering kulambu variety called vaththal kulambu. The property of the Sundakkai is



"Nenjin Kabam Pom Niraikirumi Noiyum Pom
Vinju Vaadhathin Vilaivu Pom Vanjiyarae
Vaayai Kasapikkum Maamaliyil Ulla Sundai
Kaayai Suvaipaarukku Kaan"

meaning Sudakkai, that grows in the mountains and tastes bitter cures dense phlegm in the chest, Diseases caused by bacteria, the effects of Vaadham

The more amazing thing about Padhartha Guna Chintamani is that it not only explains the characteristics of the food items we eat, but it also explains the characteristics of the metal and stone utensils in which food and medicines are prepared. The following songs tell that



"Karungarrkal Vuthavuzhtham Kaanil Udalkku Inbaam
Nerukiratha Kall Dhosham Neekkum Orungu Vellai
Kall Marundho Veeramodu Kaaramum Ill Manjal Ammiyin
Marundho Noi Vilakka Enn"

meaning, black stones (Ammi, Aattukall) used to prepare food and medicine are really good for health. Red stones, cure ailments. White stones reduce the impact of spicyness and potence of the food. But the yellow stone has not medicinal value.



"Thengin Kudukkai Thigirithandha Paathirathaar
Nankiraa Punmarundhum Thanmarundhaam- Venkalathaal
Mai Yiruppaal Kattaikalaal Maarkombaal Paathirangal
Seiyyin Irandaam Patcham Seppu"

meaning, the shell of the coconut, the utensils of bamboo are good for storing medicines. But utensils out of bronze, iron, wood, horns of animals stand second to them.

Let us conclude digging further into this treasure with one last song about Vilaambalam. One great fruit with a hard shell, usually mixed with Khandsari Sugar (Vellam). The taste is really out of this world. The speciality of this fruit is that the lump of fruit inside has no contact with the outer shell. If shaken, we can hear the fruit lump rolling in. One mysterious information about this fruit is that elephants like this fruit very much and are able to absorb the fruit within without breaking the outer shell, mysterious it may sound, but it is the fact that I have heard about elephants and this fruit. The song goes like this



"Eppodhum Meikidhamaam Eelai Irumal Kabamum
Veppaarum Thaagamum Pom Meipasiyaam Ippuviyil
Endrakilum Kanimael Ichchai Vaithu Thinna Enni
Thindral Vilaankaniyai Thinn"

meaning, The Vilaambalam is always good for health. It cures severe cold, cough, dense phlegm, thirst during summer. It also induces digestion. If you intend and desire to eat any fruit on this earth, then eat this Vilambalam

The book is completely amazing, because the collection and classification of so many plants, vessels and meat of animals is a herculean one. And that too prepared hundreds of years ago, when the people in most countries at that time wouldn't have even imagined of such research. We should really admire and praise Theraiyar for such an invaluable text. This one text proves, how advanced the Tamil People were during those days. But the sad part of it is that masterpieces like this are slowly disappearing because our people really don't take care of it or are in the oblivion that these texts even exist. I hunted this book for nearly a year and finally got it in the bookfair held recently in our city. Books like these are not only a great medical reference, but they stand to add to our pride as Tamilians.

More to come, until then...

38 comments:

Megarajan said...

Hi Prabhu,

Nice info about food items.

Thanks

R. Prabhu said...

Thanks Megarajan!!!

balar said...

சித்த வைத்தியம் தொடர்பாக ஒரு செய்யுள் இருப்பதை இந்த பதிவு பார்த்ததும் தான் தெரிந்த்து கொண்டேன். இந்த மாதிரி தமிழில் உள்ள அரிய பல விஷயங்களை பகிர்ந்தமைக்கு நன்றி பிரபு..

பழனியில் பஞ்சாமிர்தத்திற்கு அடுத்து இந்த சித்த வைத்தியம் மிகவும் பிரப்லம் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.அந்த அளவிற்கு சித்த் வைத்தியம் போர்டுகள் பார்த்திருக்கிறேன்..

நெஞ்சரிப்பு மாதிரி இருந்த்தால் எனது அன்னையும் உடனே வெந்நீர் குடிக்க சொல்வார்..நல்ல பலன் கிடைக்கும்..

தொடர்ந்து வரட்டும் இந்த மாதிரி பதிவுகள்.

R. Prabhu said...

Mikka Nandri Balar, Siddha Vaidhiyam romba pazhamaiyaanadhu, very effective. But these days, caution is required to get treatment with all those roadside siddha clinics, cos they have spawned creating a hype for Siddha.

I guess you mother is a great source of Paati Vaidhiyam. And if you ask me, learn those methods from her. It will be useful for you and your next generations.

Marubadiyum Mikka Nandri Balar!!!

Unknown said...

Dear Prabhu.. read your blog on Padhartha Guna Chintamani..indeed by all accounts its a priceless treasure.

I have been searching for this book for some time now (I have been told a lot about it by my Guru). Could you please guide me as to where I could get a copy of the book..

Thank you and Santhosham
Koti

Unknown said...

Hi Prabhu... Santhosham..

This is Koti again. I had forgotten to give you my emailid. You may send the information I requested to this emailid : arudram@yahoo.co.in

Santhosham
Koti

Aboorva said...

Fine descripion, By reading their Writings (in yor blog) The Tamil Siddhas were for the little guy, the common man and woman. They never formed an order of monks, they were individualists. They helped people not only with their spirituality, but with their unique medical knowledge. They believed in spiritual egalitarianism and said realization was available to every person, not just those who shaved their heads, worshipped personal gods, or learned in scholarly Tamil. Thus, they wrote their songs in simple, easy, understandable Tamil.

R. Prabhu said...

@Koti

Thanks for coming by! You can get the book at Saiva Shiddantha Kazhagam, whose head office is at Tirunelveli but having its branches all over Tamil Nadu. Also if you live in chennai, you could visit Vanathi Pathippagam.

@Aboorva

Thanks for coming by! Indeed what you say is absolutely true.

macho said...

Please keep updating :)

R. Prabhu said...

Sure and thanks for coming by macho!

Anonymous said...

Superb !. Like the taste of the Vilambalam, I have enjoyed the taste of reading such nice articles on your blogspot. Thanks for sharing it with us ! Migha nandri !

R. Prabhu said...

@anonymous
Welcome and Thanks for coming by! Hoping to post more such interesting things in the days to come!!! Thanks once again

Chef Ragu said...

hello, am ragu from chennai

am a catering student and i have heard about the book padhartha guna sinthamani.......so want to know where can i get the book or at least publisher details of the book please mail the details to ragus987@yahoo.co.in

priyaa said...

hi, prabhu
it is great service that u have done for man kind, thanks, for the information, today my mother read a article regarding this. then i started to search for the treasure.
i also wanted to know where do u get this book. mail to me. priyaarose5@gmail.com

R. Prabhu said...

@Ragu and @Priya

Good to hear that you liked the post and the blog. You can get it at Vijaya Pathippagam, Coimbatore. However if you are elsewhere, see if there is a Saiva Siddhanta Kalagam's branch office.

sumasblr said...

OM

NICE WORK AND LOT OF HARD WORK VISIT WWW.agasthiar.org

Nanri

T.Suresh Babu

R. Prabhu said...

Thanks Suresh Babu!

priya said...

hi prabu
very useful post...
me too want to get d book...
one doubt...s the book contains d meaning f d seiyul like your post?
can i get d book by post itself...pls give me d details...my mail id:priya21687@gmail.com
thank u....

Unknown said...

is there free pdf vesrion for this book.

R. Prabhu said...

@chandrasekhar krishnan

Here you go - http://www.scribd.com/doc/23554779/Padartha-Guna-Chintamani#scribd

Unknown said...

Dear Mr.Prabu.
I tried with Vanathi Pathipagam in chennai but could not get that. downloaded the PDF link but cannot understand. please can you advice if i can get that book with meanings so that it will be useful
thanks

R. Prabhu said...

Hi Parthiban,

Try Padarthan Guna Vilakkam (2 Parts) by Kannusamy Pillai. Publisher Rathina Nayakar & Sons. That will probably help.

Srini Vasan said...

Excellent post. . Very useful. . MUCH APPRECIATED. .

R. Prabhu said...

Thanks Srinivasan

Unknown said...

U have done a beautiful job by giving us explanations n guiding us to get translations for the book..pls keep up the good work

R. Prabhu said...

Thanks Saranya!

padhu2k2 said...

Hi,
I wanted this book badly. Could you please let me know where can i get it in chennai please.

padhu2k2 said...

Hi prabhu,
As you told i enquired in saiva siddantha kazhagam chennai, but they say they dnt hv the original theraiyar book, but someone else publication. Please let me know , if you are holding the original book. Also from where you got it. My email is padhu2k2@gmail.com.please reply

Anonymous said...

is it available in english translation?
can you do a post on what it says about siru dhaniyam?

R. Prabhu said...

I don't think a translation is available. Definitely will write a post about siru dhaniyam

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your efforts. Nice post

Unknown said...

Hi Prabhu,
Your posts are so inspiring. Call you help me get the parata gunna chindamani book, original theriyar book.
Please send me some details.
I am looking for this book.
My email id is ferozafathima@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Hi Prabhu,
Do you have an English translated version of this book.

R. Prabhu said...

I am not sure if there is a translated version

Anonymous said...

Hi I live in Jaipur and would like to order this book but in English version, as I am unable to understand Tamil. Could you please help me find one? Thank you

Anonymous said...

My email address is namratakediadesign@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Excellent rendering. Thank you

Anonymous said...

App also available. Pls search in play store