VARMAM - Therapy to ailments caused to Nerve-centres of the body

Hundreds of Life-centres of the human body lie dormant within bones, nerves, veins, muscles, joints and inner organs are found either deep or at the surface of the body.

Varma Medical sciences deals with the presence of various Life-centres (Nerve-centres) of the body and the ill-effects produced, if these centres were traumatized. 

In short, Varmam are vital points in the body that act as energy transformers (or) batteries.

It is said that the Siddhas, who had the blessings of Lord Shiva taught this science to the people for their well-being.  This medical science deals with the multifarious techniques by using Retrieval and Massage methods, medicines and gadgets.

Different types of alternative medicines have been thriving in India for Centuries. Varman is a special Indian Medical science, mainly used to treat ailments caused by impacts to Nerve-centres. Study of Varmam is called ‘Thanuology’.  It can cure not only outward, physical ailments but inward, non-physical too.

As per the Legend, Lord Shiva (Thanu) is the originator for Varmam. Once, he happened to see his young sons Ganesha and Karthikeya in single combat. Shiva admonished them telling that by hitting and kicking each other, impacts ailments would arise. Parvathi, his consort, oversaw this incident and wanted to know more about Varmam. The conversation between Thanu and Parvathi became the philosophy of Varmam. Later Parvathi taught Varmam to their son Lord Murugan. Lord Murugan then taught Siddha Agasthiyar. Agasthiyar later gave a written form that reached the masses. But the original texts (and their copies), directly written by siddhas, are not available now. Saints who have grasped the meaning of the siddhas sayings have given a poetic form, which is used in modern day learning. So far, around fifty thousand (50,000) songs are available. As this science has been originated from Lord Shiva (Thanu), it is called Thanuology.

The science of Thanuology was utilized by ruling kings of those days to treat the wounded and the disabled soldiers who were injured in the wars by their enemies. It is of 14 types covering 828 Nerve-centres.  They are

• Padu Varmam
• Thodu Varmam
• Thattu Varmam
• Odukki Varmam
• Aathara Varmam
• Paeibootha Varmam
• Porutthu Varmam
• UI Varmam
• Moli Varmam
• Nokku Varmam
• Kudori Varmam
• Vali
• Channi
• Thanthira Varmam

Human body is divided into five areas in which varmam (varma points) are discussed. They are:

Here are few instances (mythological happenings), where a fatal hit happened on account of effect of impacts of Life-centres:

1. In Biblical story, Giant Goliyath was killed by a shepherd boy David by striking the Life-centre in the temple (Natchathira kalam) with a stone, sent out from the catapult.
2. So also in the epic of Ramayana during the fight between Vaali and Sugreeva, Vaali was killed by the strike of an arrow at the heel (Uyuiradangum Kalam) by Sri Rama.
3. In Mahabharatha, in the Kurukshetra battle, Duryodhana was killed by Bheema by striking a nerve-centre (Tharangi Varmam) at the thigh, with the weapon discus.
4. Same way, Ravana was killed by Rama by means of arrow at Umbilicus (Bramah Varmam).
5. Lord Krishna was killed by a hunter shooting an arrow on the sole of the foot, mistaking it for a bird.

Vital Life-centres (Padu Varmam) are dominant on bones and joints; Medium Life-centres (Thodu Varmam) on nerves; Striking Life-centres (Thattu Varmam) on Veins; Inner Life-centres on muscles and Chronic life-centres on blood-clots, formed due to impacts on the body.

As the flow of electricity is controlled by switches, the flow of life in the human body is controlled at the nerve-centres. When these are traumatized by a hit or a cut either directly or indirectly then the whole body is out of control i.e paralyzed. This is manifested by symptoms like fainting, fits, sprain, swelling, bleeding, shivering, fractures, dislocations (or) even death.

According to Indian system of Medicine, Tri-doshas (which are 3 humors of the body) conditions the health of the humans. Vata, Pitta and Kapha act in the proportion of 4:2:1. Vata (wind) dominates at bones and joints; Pitta (heat) at muscles and Kapha at nerves. Variations in any one of doshas leads to diseases. All these can be treated by Thanuology.