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Vaadha Varmam points in the human body are something related to air energy. These points possess the energy from air. According to Siddha medicine, these points are also called as Prana points where the Prana vayu flows throughout the body. Pittha Varmam is associated with the fire energy in human body. In Tamilian traditions they are 108 Marma points, they called as VARMA and in kalari tradition hey are 365 Marma points. The total points 828.somebody know more than 900 vital points. They are lot of classifications are there. Charaka SamhitaPreventative aspect- Marma are very sensitive places a small injury or insult is always a possibility.
Varma ati or Marma ati('hitting vital spots', also known as Varma Kalai,Varma Kalari (Tamil: வர்மக்கலை) Marma Vidhya, atimurai 'law of hitting' and chinna ati, Malayalam: chīna adi 'Chinese hitting', also Malayalam: adi kkai pidutham) is a martialart based on attacking sensitive pressure points of the human body. Ithas been practiced in Tamil Nadu and in the territory of princely state ofTravancore.
It is supposedly derived from Tamil traditional medicine, VarmaCuttiram. Tamil varmam, Malayalammarmam. It is traditionally practiced byThevarsand Nadars. Masters are known asasans.
China ati is a set of techniques taught in a few Kalaripayatschools. The origin of these techniques is credited to some Chinesesailors. Kalaripayit developed on its own and no Chinese influenceis there in it but the Chinese techiques taught in some schools isgiven the name 'Cheena Adi'.
With the formation of the Kerala KalarippayatAssociation in 1958, Varma ati became known as the 'southernstyle' of Kalarippayattu for organizationalreasons although its techniques are recognized as distinct fromthose of Kalarippayattu.
The 108 marmam points of Varma ati allegedly have parallels incertain schools of Chinese martial arts.[1][2]
Three different varmam, categorized by the attack.
- padu varmam (hit)
- thodu varmam (touch)
- nokku varmam (look)
Pressurepoints
The term varmam/marmam is a loan intoDravidian from Vedic Sanskritmarman, an n-stem neuterderived from the root mṛ 'to die', translated as 'mortalspot, vulnerable point, any open or exposed or weak or sensitivepart of the body' by Monier-Williams.The term appears in the Rigveda, where Indra hits Vritra in a marman with his vajra.[3]References are also found in the Atharva Veda[4] andscattered elsewhere in Vedic and epic sources.
This system of marmam is part of SidhaVaidhyam, whose origin is attributed to mythical sage Agastya and his disciples.[5]
The Sushruta Samhita (3rd or 4th century)identifies and defines 107 vital points of the human body.[6] Ofthese 107 points, 64 were classified as being lethal if properlystruck with a fist or stick.[7]
Varma ati recognizes 108 marmas, 12 Padu marmas (death marmas)and 96 Thodu marmas (touch marmas). There are also counter marmasto heal trauma to the marmas.[8]
There are six categories of marmam points:
- Maasa Marma (on the skin/muscles)
- Asthi Marma (at bones)
- Snayu Marma (at the nerves)
- Dhamani Marma (at arteries)
- Sandhi Marma (at the joints)
- Shira Marma (at the veins)
References
- ^Subramaniam Phd., P., (general editors)Dr. Shu Hikosaka, Asst. Prof. Norinaga Shimizu, & Dr. G. JohnSamuel, (translator) Dr. M. Radhika (1994). Varma Chuttiramவர்ம சுத்திரம்: A Tamil Text on Martial Art from Palm-LeafManuscript. Madras: Institute of Asian Studies. pp. 90& 91.
- ^Reid Phd., Howard, Michael Croucher(1991). The Way of the Warrior: The Paradox of the MartialArts. New York: Outlook Press. pp. 58–85. ISBN0879514337.
- ^Mariana Fedorova (1990). Die Marmantheorie in der klassischenindischen Medizin.
- ^Subhash Ranade (1993). Natural Healing Through Ayurveda(p. 161). Passage Press. Utah USA.
- ^Luijendijk, D.H. (2005) Kalarippayat: India's Ancient MartialArt, Paladin Press
- ^G. D. Singhal, L. V. Guru (1973). Anatomical and ObstetricalConsiderations in Ancient Indian Surgery Based on Sarira-Sthana ofSusruta Samhita.Each marma when hit causes different symptomsaccording to the anatomical structures located on or around it .These symptoms & signs are wonderfully described in poetic formby wagbhatta. Described according to locations
- ^ J. R. Svinth (2002). A Chronological History of the Martial Arts andCombative Sports.Electronic Journals of Martial Arts andSciences.
- ^Luijendijk, D.H. Kalarippayat: The Essence and Structure of anIndian Martial Art, Oprat, 2008
- Philipp B. Zarrilli, 'Varma ati' in: Thomas A. Green (ed.),Martial arts of the world: an encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO,2001, ISBN 9781576071502, 647-651.
- Asan, Ramu & Nadar, K.Kochukrishnan; 'Tekkan KalriyudeMarmam'. Published by K.Kochukrishnan Nadar, Kerala, 1970
- Luijendijk, D.H. (2005) Kalarippayat: India's AncientMartial Art, Paladin Press, ISBN 1-58160-480-7
- Luijendijk, D.H. (2008) Kalarippayat: The Essence andStructure of an Indian Martial Art, Oprat, ISBN978-1409-2262-60
- Asan, Ramu & Nadar, K.Kochukrishnan; 'Tekkan KalriyudeMarmam'. Published by K.Kochukrishnan Nadar, Kerala, 1970
Externallinks
- Zarrilli, Phillip B. To Heal and/or To Harm: TheVital Spots (Marmmam/Varmam) in Two South Indian MartialTraditionsUniversity of Exeter.
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Varma Kalai (Tamil:வர்மக்கலை varmakkalai), is a Tamil traditional art of vital points. It originated in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a component of traditional massage, alternative medicine, traditional yoga and martial arts[1] in which the body's pressure points (Varmam) are manipulated to heal or cause harm. The healing application called Vaidhiya Murai is a part of used Siddha Medicine (siddha vaidyam).[2] Its combat application is known as Adimurai, Adi Murai or Varma Adimurai meaning 'pressure-point striking', and can be done either empty-handed or with a blunt weapon such as a stick or staff. Usually taught as an advanced stage of Nadar Fighting Systems,[3][4] strikes are targeted at the nerves, veins, tendons, soft tissues or ligaments, organs and bone joints.[2]
History[edit]
Folklore traces varma kalai to the god Shiva who is said to have taught it to his son Murugan. While disguised as an old man, Murugan passed the knowledge of 108 Varmams to the sage Agastya[3] who then recorded it and disseminated the skill among his students. Siddha medicine is also attributed to Agastya.[5] With numerous other scattered references to Varmam in Vedic and epic sources, it is certain that Tamil Nadu's early fighters knew and practised attacking and defending Vital Points.[5]
Knowledge of the body's vital points in India was not just confined to humans but also elephants. Known as nila, learning these points on an elephant's body was and remains necessary for mahouts. Prodding particular nila with a stick elicits various responses such as bringing the animal under control or making them kneel. Warriors would learn to attack certain nila on opposing war-elephants during battle, which could either kill or frighten the animals. The national museums of Sri Lanka have documented at least 86 nila and their functions.
Schools[edit]
Varma kalai is attributed to several siddhar (sages), namely Agastya, Bogar, Theriyar and Pulipani. Out of these, only the Agastya school is commonly practiced in Tamil Nadu and in the neighboring state of Kerala.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Tamilnadu - Varma Kalai'. Tamilnadu.com. 26 December 2012.
- ^ abGuruji Murugan Chillayah (20 October 2012). 'Silambam and Varma Kalai Art'. Silambam. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ abLuijendijk, D.H. (2005). Kalarippayat: India's Ancient Martial Art. Paladin Press. ISBN1-58160-480-7.
- ^Stevens, B; From Lee to Li, HarperCollins 2009 ISBN9780007347414
- ^ abZarrilli, Phillip B. (1992). 'To Heal and/or To Harm: The Vital Spots (Marmmam/Varmam) in Two South Indian Martial Traditions Part I: Focus on Kerala's Kalarippayattu'. Journal of Asian Martial Arts. 1 (1).
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