A Liter - Journal of Traditional and Integrative Medicine

JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL AND INTEGREATIVE MEDICINE (2021) ISSN 9504–332X

Article available online at http://www.jtim.biosci.in

Journal of Traditional and Integrative

Medicine

Journal homepage: http://www.jtim.biosci.in, Vol 4, Issue 1, 2021 (Jan-Mar)

* Corresponding author.

Peer review under responsibility of Reverse Publications. This is an Open access article under the Creative Commons Attribute s of CC-BY-NC-ND license

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

© Reverse Publications 2021, Hosting by Reverse Publications. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.

Review Article

Corroboration of Nanju Maruthuvam in Selective Ancient Tamil Literature- A

Literature Review.

Sangeetha A*1, Thiruthani M2, Rajarajeshwari A3

*1PG Scholar, Department of Nanju Maruthuvam, 2Professor,Head, Department of Nanju Maruthuvam,3Lecturer, Research Methodology & Biostatistics,

Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India.

A R T I C L E I N F O

Article history:

Received Jan 2020

Received in revised form

Jan 2021

Accepted Feb 2021

Keywords:

Poison, Nanju Maruthuvam, Tamil literature, antidote.

Pages: 443-448

A B S T R A C T

Siddha System of Medicine is one of the earliest traditional systems of medicine

and Nanju Marthuvam is one part of Siddha Medicine. Agasthiyar is believed to

be the father of Siddha Medicine. Many Siddhars described about poisons and

their treatment methods. The early history of poisons is described in the ancient

Indian Shastras, Atharvaveda(1500B.C) describes poisons. Susruta(350B.C)

described how the poisons were mixed with food and drink, snuff or sprinkled

over clothes, beds, jewellery or put in the ears, eyes. Hippocrates added a

number of poisons in fourth century B.C. In this review articles are collected

from some selective ancient tamil literature. Periya puranam, Purananooru,

Pingalanaigandu, Mahabharatham, Sieevagasindamani, Thirukkural,

Kambaramayanam. This present study is focused on detailed analysis of poisons

and historical evidences of Nanju Marthuvam. This study used to research

purposes.

© 2021 J Trad Integr Med, Hosting by Reverse Publications. All rights reserved.

http://www.jtim.biosci.in/

http://www.jtim.biosci.in/

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sangeetha et al / Journal of Traditional And Integrative Medicine (2021) (4) (1) 443-448

INTRODUCTION

Siddha system of medicine is most ancient and

spiritually enriched one. Nanju Marthuvam Siddhars

described about poisons and their treatment methods.

Poisonous substances are produced by

plants,animals or bacteria. The early history of poisons

is described in the ancient Indian Shastras,

Atharvaveda(1500B.C) describes poisons.

Susruta(350B.C) described how the poisons were mixed

with food and drink, snuff or sprinkled over clothes,

beds, jewellery or put in the ears, eyes. B.C 1900 –

1200B.C Egyptian documents that had directions for

collection, preparation and administration of more than

800 medicinal and poisonous recipes. 800B.C India

Hindu Medicine includes notes on poisons and

antidotes.

50 – 100 A.D Greek Physicians classified over

600 plant, animal and mineral poisons. 50 – 400 A.D

Romans used poisons for executions and assassinations.

The Philosopher, Socrates was executed using hemlock

for teaching radical ideas to youths, The active agent of

the poison hemlock is the piperidine alkaloide conine.

Conine causes gradual paralysis of the spinal cord,

finally stopping the breathing without any previous

clouding of the consciousness. Avicenna A.D 980 –

1036 Islamic authority on poisons and antidotes.

Cleopatras died by enticing Egyptian serpent snake to

bite her arm.

AIM

To document evidences of nanju maruthuvam

mentioned in various classic ancient tamil literatures.

OBJECTIVES

To compile and document the evidences of nanju

maruthuvam scattered in various classic ancient tamil

literatures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

STUDY TYPE:

Literature review

MATERIALS:

1. Periya puranam

2. Purananooru

3. Pingalanaigandu

4. Mahabharatham

5. Sieevagasindamani

6. Thirukkural

7. Kambaramayanam

REVIEW OF LITERATURES

SNAKE ANOTHER NAME:

Aravu, Kadsevi, Angatham, Viyalam,

Uragam, Ari, Masunam, Puyangam, Pannangam,

Nagam, Sarpam, Vaguvavagatham, Kudapatham,

Panthal, Pani, Aki, Vidatharam, Poogi, Thanthasugam,

Kumpinasam, Kakotharam, Maraalam, Sakkri.

(pingalanikandu 2601)

POISON NAME:

Kaalam kaari karala neelamkara - malaala malang

Kadu vida nanjae

(pingalai nikandu 2608)

Kaalam, kaari, karalam, neelam, karam, alaalam, alam,

kaduvidam

SPIDER NAME

Silampi uluthai kaavan silanthi (pingalanikandu 2611)

SPIDER BITE

paḷḷikoḷ polutu ayavantip paramartām kanavil

veḷḷam nīrcaṭaiyoṭu ninru mēniyaik kāṭṭi

uḷḷam vaittu emai ūti mun tumintapāl oliya

kkoḷḷum ippuram cilampin koppuḷ enraruḷa

- (periyapuranam 1850)

Once a devotee and his wife prayed to lord Siva during

their prayer, the devotee’s wife saw a spider on the

statue of lord Siva at onces she blow the statue to

remove the spider. But the devotee scolded his wife not

to do so that night lord Siva appeared in the dream of

the devotee and showed his one side of the body which

was full of blisters, the other side of the body was free

from blisters because the devotee’s wife removed the

spider from it.


CALOTROPIS (ERUKKU)

nallavum tīyavum alla kuvi iṇarp

pullilai erukkam āyinum uṭaiyavai

kaṭavuḷ pēṇēm ennā

- (Purananooru 106)

The offering may be good or bad even the

calotropis (erukku) flowers or buds. The god accepts

the offering of a devotee who offers with the true

devotion.

MEDICINE FOR WOUND

tīṅkani iravamoṭu vēmpu manaicceri

vāṅku maruppu yāloṭu pal iyam karaṅkak

kai payap peyarttu mai ilutu iluki;

aiyavi citari, āmpal ūti

icai maṇi erintu kāñci pāṭi

neṭunakar varaippin kaṭi narai pukai ik

kākkam vammō kātalantōli

vēnturu vilumam tāṅkiya

pūmporik kalirkāl neṭuntakai puṇṇē!

-(Purananooru 281)

This poem explains the following medication for

those who suffered with great wounds during the war,

the leaves of Erava (Indigofera Aspalathoides) and

Neem (Azadirachta indica) should be plug in the house.

Plays several muscical instruments including Jaffna

(yal) sings and dance the kaanchi pann blow the

Aambar flute (kuzhal) and apply the collyrium

(kanmai). Sprinkle the white mustard seeds (Brassica

nigra). Aagil (Aquilaria agallocha) fumigation in the

house.

METHODS TO IDENTIFY THE POISONS

vaṇṇappū mālai cāntam vālaṇi kalankaḷāṭai

kaṇmukat turuttit tūymai kaṇṭalār koḷḷa vēṇṭā

aṇṇalam puḷḷōṭellā āyiram pēṭaic cēval

uṇṇunī ramiltaṅ kākka yūkamōṭāyka enrān

(sieevagasindamani 1893)

añcanak kōlinārrā nākamō raruvik kunrir

kuñcaram pulampi vīlak kūrnuti eyirrir kollum

pañciyin melli tēnum pakaiciri tenna vēṇṭā

añcittar kāttal vēṇṭu marumporu ḷāka venrān


To identify the poisons which were mixed with the

jewelleries, clothes, sandal paste, place them in front of

the Great egret (Annaparavai) this turns its eyes into

blood red colour.

When it placed in front of the Sakkaravaaga paravai

(bird) angrily it turns its face from the poisons things.

This method is used to identify the poisons present

in food and water. When the poisonous food is given to

karunkurangu (monkey) it does not eat that food.

Even the cobra bites with its sharp phalanges, the

poison can kill a large elephant. Likewise don’t under

estimate the enemies.

vāṭpaṭai yanuṅka vēṭar vaṇcilai vaḷaiya vāṅkik

kōṭṭali yinattin moyttār koti nunaip pakali tammāl

vīṭṭinār maintar tammai viḷintamā kavilnta tiṇṭēr

pāṭṭarum pakaṭu vīlnta panivarai kunivu tottē

(sieevagasindhamani 436)

Poisonous arrow was used to kill enemies during

war

SNAKE BITE REASONS

polintunañ cukuttalacca miraiperu vekuḷi pōkam

kalintumī tāṭal kālam pilaippena eṭṭi nākum

pilintuyi ruṇṇun taṭṭa mataṭṭa mām piḷirri numpar

olinteyi ruūnañ ceyyuṅ kōḷena marruñ connān


Overflow of poison, having fear, thought of food

that belongs that snake, increased anger, seeing of

others while mating, During hood dancing, When

someone accidentally crosses the

snakes path. Taking revenge for previous abuse, due to

these eight reasons snake will bite. During the bite time

the venom will come from all teeth (kaali, kaalathiri,

neeli, neelakandi) then it leads to death. If bite is from

other teeth and the venom is spitted on that place it will

lead to suffering.

antaṇa nāru mānpā laviyinai yalarnta kālai

nantiyā vaṭṭa nāru nakaimuṭi yaraca nāyil


tantiyā muraippin tālait taṭamalar vaṇika nārum

pantiyāp paluppu nārir cūttiran pāla tenrān


kanniyaik kaṭitta nākaṅ kanniyē kanni nōkkam

annatē yaracar cāti mūnreyi ralunti yālnta

konnumā nākaṅ koṇṭāl koppuḷām viralil tēytta

manniyatu eṇmaṭṭāyin maṇṭalippāla tenrān

(seevagasindamani 1288)

If the snakes body smells like milk rice which

was made from cow’s milk then it belongs to Anthana

Saathi snake. If it smells like Taberanaemon divericata

(Nanthiya vattai) which blooms early morning then it

belongs to Manimuditharittha Arasathi snake. If it

smells like Pandanus fascicularis (Thalai) then it

belongs to Vaniga Saathi snake. If its smells like

Arsenic then it belongs to Soothira Saathi snake.

Seevagan said that patumai was bitten by the snake

at early morning and also only three impressions of the

teeth is seen (Kali, Kalathri, neli) so she will not die.

If the blisters come when bite site is rubbed with

fingers then it is a large snake which gives suffering,

otherwise honey like clear water comes from bite site

then the bitten snake is Seethamandali.

ANTIDOTE

Bheeman fainted on the river bank due to eating

the food which was mixed with anesthetic drug by

Duryodhan. At that time Duryodhan wrapped Bheeman

which and then throwed him in Ganges river. Before

itself on that place Duryodhan made an arrangement of

fixing the sharp edjed soolam to kill Bheeman. But

unfortunately their is no soolam where Bheeman fell

down. But the poisonous snakes bite Bheem.

Eventhough the poison from snake neutralises the food

poison given to Bheem and then he woke up without

any sufferings.

tuñcinār cettārin vērallar eññānrum

nañcuṇpār kaḷḷuṇ pavar

(Thirukkural 926)

They that sleep resemble the deed (like wise) they

that drink are no other than poison eaters.

SANJEEVI MOUNTAIN

In sanjeevi mountain there is a medicine which will

made a person to survive even after death. Another

medicine which will bind the body even if it is splitted

and then a medicine which will remove the damaged

weapons from the body and also another medicine

which will cures the damaged body are also present due

to presence of Arakkar sanjeevi mountain refused to get

off and remains in sky itself eventhough it remains in

sky the dead soldiers gets life due to the medicinal air

that comes from Sanjeevi mountain. But the Arakkars

did not get life because their bodies was throwned in

sea. The arrows that stucked in Laskshmans body was

removed. So he get another life.

Table 1. Poisonous types and medicine

Type

of poisonous

Medicines

References

Spider poison - Periyapuranam

Name of

snake, poison,

spider

- Pingalanigandu

wound poison Internal

medicine

Mahabharatham

Calotropis

poison

- Purananooru

Arrow poison - Seevagasindhamani

Alcohol

poison

- Thirukkural

Poisonous

food

Snake poison

Externalm

edicine

Seevagasindhamani

Poisonous

food

External

medicine

Kambaramayanam

Wound

poison

External

medicine

Purananooru


Figure.1.Type of medicine

Figure.2.Type of poison

25%

75%

TYPE OF MEDICINE

internal medicine external medicine

8%

8%

8%

17%

17%

25%

17%

Type of poison

Alcohol

Arrow

Calotropis

Poisonous food

Spider

Snake

Wound


Peer reviewed || Indexed Journal

DISSCUSSION

In this present study specific ancient tamil literatures

like periyapuranam, purananooru, mahabharatham,

kambaramayanam, pingalanigandu,

sieevagasindhamani, thirukkural was reffered.

Pingala nigandu mentions about the other names of

poisons and poisonous snake.

Purananooru, kambaramayanam and mahabharatham

contains described various antidodes for poisonous

substances.

Sieevaga sindhamani the identification of poisonous

metrials and identification of poisonous snake by their

smell.

Arrow poison was used to kill enemies in war.

CONCLUSION

The main aim of the study is to document the evidence

of nanju maruthuvam. The description about poisons in

periyapuranam, purananooru, mahabharatham,

kambaramayanam, sieevagasindhamani,pingalanigandu,

thirukkural. But poisons was mentioned in purananooru at

first century itself. This study explore the significance of

poisons in animals and their mentions about antidote. This

documentation will help as a further research purpose.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Pulavar Natarajan, P.R, Periya puranam molamum

uraium second part,3rd edition, , Uma pathippakam,

Chennai, dec 2011

2. Manikavasagam. N, Thirutakka devarin sieevaga

sindhamani second part, 2nd edition , Uma

pathippakam, Chennai, 1st dec 2007

3. Chakaravarti, Rajagopalassari, Mahabaratham, 45th

edition, Vanathi pathippakam, Chennai, , feb 2013

4. Pulavar Nannan, Thirukkural molamum velakka

uraium,1st edition,Yegam pathippakam,Chennai, , 2012

5. Pulavar Selvanatan.M,

M.A,.M.Ed,.Kambaramayanam, 8th edition, Shri

Hindhu pathippakam, Chennai, june 2014

6. Sambasivam pillai,T.V.Tamil – English Dictionary of

Medicine, Chemistry, Botany & ailed science(based on

Indian Medical science), 1994

7. Elambodharan.S , Pingala nigandu, 1st edition, Meena

Gopal pathippakam, Chennai, 2009

8. Manikavasakan.N , Purananooru molamum urai, 6th

edition, Uma pathippakam, Chennai, june 2012

9. Manikavasagam.N, Thirutakka devarin sieevaga

sindhamani third part 2nd edition, Uma pathippakam,

Chennai, june 2012

10. Narayana Reddy.K.S, The Essential of Forensic

Medicine and Toxicology.33rd edition, Jaypee Brothers

Medical Publishers(P)Ltd.,2014,NewDelhI.

A Liter - Journal of Traditional and Integrative Medicine

Documents

Transcript of A Liter - Journal of Traditional and Integrative Medicine