Principles of Siddha
Siddhars have recommended certain basic guidelines to be followed for healthy living which includes observation of certain regimen as mentioned in “Pini anugaa vidhi” literally meaning rules that help prevent disease. Their concept of “Kaayakarpam” for prevention of diseases is highly admirable as it makes one’s body resistant to infections. Their concepts pertaining to Habitat, Seasons, Diet (Thinai/Nilam, Naal ozhukkam, Kaala ozhukkam, Unavu) are preventive as well as adaptive.
1. Pini Anugaa Vidhi (Prevention of diseases)
“Thinna mirandulae sikka adakkaamar...” -- Therayar
“ Paal unbhom; ennai perin veneerir kulippom…” -- Therayar
The above verses illustrate the do's and don’ts in all our activities. These preventive measures against illness are summarized below:
- Drink boiled water
- Take meals twice a day
- Take diluted buttermilk and melted ghee
- Take sufficient quantity of milk and milk products
- Never eat root tubers except yam
- Never consume food that was prepared the previous day
- Always have food after feeling hungery
- Always consume sour curd
- Practice walking after a good diet
- Drink water at the end of meals
- Use hot water while taking oil bath.
- Never suppress any natural urge
- Never sleep during daytime
- Always indulge in healthy sexual acts
- Take emetic medication once in six months
- Take purgative medication every four months in a year
- Take snuff medications eight times in a year
- Shave hairs weekly
- Take oil bath once in every four days
- Apply eye medications once in three days
- Never smell fragrance during midnight
- Never reside close to dust and articles related to dust
- Never sleep under a tree shade or near a burning lamp
Thus, it is preventive as well as constructive. Kaaya Karpam is studied under three categories viz.
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Mooligai Karpam
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Thathu and Seeva Karpam
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Yoga Karpam
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Mooligai Karpam :This deals with drugs used in Siddha for Kaaya Karpam (rejuvenation and longevity) which have plant origin
Ex: Fruits of Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) -
Thathu and Seeva Karpam :This deals with minerals and animal products used as Kaaya Karpam preparations. This also includes “Muppu” (A combination of three salts) - a very unique preparation in Siddha.
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Yoga Karpam (Yogic Practices):Yogasanam, Pranayamam, Iyamam, and Niyamam fall under this category.
Siddhars have described several yogic postures which are aimed at developing and maintaining the wellness of the body and soul. Saint Thirumoolar has detailed several yogasanas (yogic postures) in his valuable work titled ‘Thirumandiram’.
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Hilly tract (Kurinji)
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Sylvan tract (Mullai)
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Agricultural tract (Marutham)
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Coastal tract (Neithal) and
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Arid tract (Paalai)
Habitat (Nilam) |
Geographical description |
Prevalent disease |
Hilly tract |
Mountains and its surroundings |
Kabham related disease and liver disease |
Sylvan trac |
Forest and its surroundings |
Pitham, vaatham related diseases and liver disease |
Agricultural trac |
Fields and its surroundings |
Ideal place for healthy living |
Coastal Tract |
Ocean, sea and its surroundings |
Vaatham related disease and liver disease |
Arid Tract |
Desert and its surroundings |
Vaatham, pitham, kabham related diseases |
Humours (Uyir thathukkal) |
Hilly tract |
Sylvan tract |
Cultivation area |
Coastal area |
Arid area |
Vatham |
@ | # | # | ||
Pitham |
# | @ | # | ||
Kabham |
# | @ | # |
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Taste
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The constitution of person who intakes the diet
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Time of season
Season |
Preferred taste |
Preferred Diet |
Medications |
Preferred life style |
State of 3 humours (Uyir Thathukkal), Appetite |
Rainy season from Aug 16th – Oct 15th (Kaarkaalam) |
Sweet (Inippu), Sour (Pulippu), Salty (Uvarppu) |
Hot potency and digestible food. |
Emetic, purgative drugs and appetizers |
Use dry clothing. Avoid butter milk, day time sleep and tire some work |
Pitham is in accumulated state,Vaatham is in aggravated stateDecreased appetite |
Autumn from Oct 16th – Dec 15th (Koothir kaalam) |
Sweet (Inippu), Bitter (Kaippu), Astringent (Thuvarppu) |
Dry and cool food, light diet |
Bloodletting |
Avoid curd, oil, fats, alcohol, daytime sleep sunlight, dew, heavy meals and salty diet.Use clean and dry
clothes. |
Pitham is in aggravated state, Vaatham is in mitigated state. |
Early winter Dec 16th – Feb 15th (Muun Pani kaalam) |
Sweet (Inippu), Sour (Pulippu), Salty (Uvarppu) |
cool | Oil (thylam) application |
Use boiled water, blankets. Exposure to evening sun light and slight work is good. Always use footwear. |
Pitham is in mitigated state.Increased appetite and immunity. |
Late winter from Feb 16th – Apr 15th (Pinpani Kaalam) |
Sweet (Inippu), Sour (Pulippu), Astringent (Thuvarppu) |
Avoid diet that increases vaatham |
Oil (thylam) application |
Use boiled water, blankets. Exposure to evening sun light and slight work is good. Always use footwear. |
Kabham is in accumulated state. |
Spring from Apr 16th – June 15th (Ilavaenil Kaalam) |
Bitter (Kaippu), Pungent (kaarppu), Astringent (Thuvarppu) |
Dry and hot potency food, solid, liquid and semi-solid food. |
Emetic, Nasal application (Nasiyam)medications. |
Avoid bulky diet cool diet and daytime sleep |
Kabham is in aggravated state. |
Summer June 16th – Aug 15th (Muduvaenil Kaalam) |
Sweet (Inippu) |
Coolant |
Vatha neutralizing medications |
Reside in ventilated area. Avoid food that is digested with difficulty. |
Vaatham is in accumulated state,Kabham is in mitigated state. |
- Tongue (Naa)
- Colour (Niram)
- Speech (Mozhi)
- Eyes (Vizhi)
- Stool (Malam)
- Urine (Moothiram)
- Touch (Sparisam)
- Pulse (Naadi)