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Siddha System is an offshoot of hindu spiritualism and not drug based medical system
Highlights
Had the Siddha system ever evolved as drug based, disease/cure centric medical system as it is promoted and popularized today?
Had the Siddha system ever evolved as drug based, disease/cure centric medical system as it is promoted and popularized today?
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Without any debate, argument, arbitration or by any violent means, we can easily understand the fact that Siddha system is not a medical system, if we understand its origin and fundamentals.
Siddha system is believed to be created by Siddhars, the devotees of Lord Siva. Siddhars are described to have extraordinary wisdom, used to meditate, had written poetry worshiping Lord and had several healing powers acquired through yogic mission. They were popularly called Sivachariars.
If we elaborate the above further, we can clearly understand that the healing abilities of Siddhars were nothing but an extension of their spiritual powers acquired through devotion for Lord? How such powers of ancient Siddhars who have acquired for themselves, the Government of India has converted as ‘Siddha System of Medicine’ remains a mystery?
The ancient literatures such as Agathiya Vaidhya Rathina Churukkam and Agashtiya Vaidya Kaviyam shows that the sage Agathiya to be the first Siddhar. Further it says, Agathiyar communed with God and that is how he was gifted with such knowledge/power.
The question is how such ‘yogic powers’ of Agathiyar that he had acquired through deep meditation and devotion could be easily ‘available and usable’ to us?
Only because of divine powers, Lord Jesus was said to have cured leprosy patient with a gentle touch. None of his disciples and followers could ever inherit such powers from Jesus. Such mystic/yogic powers are unique to them and are non-transferable.
If we can easily acquire/ inherit ‘spiritual’ powers from our spiritual leaders’ means, why Lord Vishnu has to incarnate and re-incarnate himself for several times to destroy the evil? (Dhasa avathar).
The big question is how such sacred spiritual powers of the ancient Siddhars (who achieved through several spiritual sadhanas), the modern day siddhars could acquire and inherit so easily? How the spiritual healing powers of certain mystics have been converted as system of medicine? How such system is equated to scientifically proven allopathic medicine?
Spiritual Origin
If we carefully study the concepts of different Moolavarga Siddhars, we can understand the fact that their philosophy do differ. What one Siddhar has told does differ from another Siddhar.
This is because the spiritual powers of different Siddhars were reported to be different.
The message is that, the healing powers exercised by ancient Siddhars were only due to their spiritual/mystic powers and it was non transferable. The reason for the poor acceptance of Siddha system today only because the spiritual approach and philosophy of different Siddhars for their divine unification, Government of India has converted it as system of medicine. Interestingly the Government has produced several Siddha medical graduates. These Siddha medical graduates have actually studied the Siddha philosophy and spiritual practices and with the above, they cannot treat patients.
That is why many institutionally qualified Siddha private practitioners trespass and migrate to corss-pathy.
The profile of Thirumoolar, one of the important Siddhas will prove that the Siddha system was a sacred spiritual system evolved as an extension of Hindu religion and not a medical system.
It is been described that Thirumoolar had once found the dead body of a shepherd and his clueless herd of cattle. On seeing the above, the spirit of the Thirumoolar had entered into the body of the shepherd and led the cows to their home. But when he returned to his body, he could not find his body. As a result of the above, he went to meditate for three thousand years and wrote one verse every year. The main theme of the book was about attainment of Moksha or unison with God. Once again the profile of Thirumoolar clearly shows that Siddha system was never evolved as medical science but as mystic power rich spiritualism, an extension of Hindu philosophy.
Another example is Pambatti Siddhar who was also known as ‘the snake charmer healer’. He was said to have expertise in saving people from snake bite through mystic force but unfortunately none had saved his work.
It appears that Siddhars and their philosophies were nothing but an extension of Hindu philosophy of achieving unison with god as the sole purpose of human life.
To achieve that, ancient Siddhars focused primarily in making their body immortal, increase the longevity and enhance the spiritual powers. It means, Siddha system was evolved as preserving and protecting the health of a healthy individual and not as medical science.
Siddha system is Philosophy based and not medicine based
As a part of the above philosophy only, they propagated the concept of what is in the macrocosm is there in the microcosm. They further believed that man was part of the total universal nature. What is present in nature is present in man such as air, fire, water, earth and space. The above concept once again proves that Siddha system was a part of Hinduism, extension of devotion and spiritual approach of seeking God and not a system of medicine.
While exerting their healing powers, the ancient Siddhars did not just depend on their perception through sense organs, they also used their yogic powers. This shows clearly that Siddha is not a medical science.
Recognition of diseases and diagnosis in Siddha system as described by Theraiyar will show clearly how the Siddha system is different from modern medicine and how wrongly the Siddha system has been positioned as system of medicine.
Cause of various health problems
The following 11 reasons are said to cause health problems in man such as
• Altered or improper food habits
• Excessive activity
• Karma, or the outcome of the actions of past birth
• Anger
• Starvation
• Polluted water
• Over exposure to sun
• Inactivity
• Speaking too loudly
• Over indulgence in sex
• Improper dressing
Use of alcohol, exposure to rain, wind, seasonal changes etc are also recognized to cause health problems.
This shows that Siddha recognize primarily the life style associated health problems as diseases. But unfortunately the Government is promoting its as medical science and allowing the system to run as drug based system with the promise of cure for every diseases starting from cerebral palsy, cancer, AIDS to Tuberculosis.
There are four thousand four hundred and forty eight types of health problems are mentioned in Siddha with the followings reasons
1. Variation in three doshas that cause disease
2. Possession of evil spirits
3. Karma (present and previous birth)
4. Worm infestation
5. Classification according to the anatomical site
6. Due to accidents
7. Due to mental stress
The greater emphasis on evil spirit and theory of Karma (sins of previous birth) are associated with disease formation in Siddha system. This once again proves that Siddha is far away from modern medicine. Siddha system is an offshoot of spiritual approach that was prevalent in India once.
How Siddha system surpassed Dravidian movement?
With the advent of Dravidian movement, many superstitious belief systems and the concept of God the way man has been spreading in those days were questioned, removed and brought reforms and awakening in Tamil Nadu. Unfortunately, the Siddha system, the spiritual extension of Hinduism escaped the attention. One of the reasons may be Siddha system was shown as part of Tamil tradition and culture. But it has lot to do with Hinduism than with Tamil culture.
Siddha talks about the extraordinary perception and healing powers of ancient Siddhars due to their yogic life. It means, such powers can be confined and limited only to the respective Siddhars due to their yogic life. How such system is promoted as system of medicine? It is indeed a spiritual/philosophical system. How Dravidian movement failed to question the superstitious approaches of Siddha system?
Subjectivity and Skill dependence
Subjectivity and personal skills essential for the diagnosis of health problems as mentioned in Siddha system. This supports the fact that Siddha system was never born out of science or as drug based system.
The subjective methods followed in the diagnosis of various health problems in Siddha system are
1. The colour of the tongue - If the tongue appear black or blue, denotes vatha disease, if it is red, it denotes pitha disease and if it is white, indicates kapha disease. Such classification is broad, vague and very subjective.
2. Colour of the skin - The same inference what is followed for tongue is followed for skin also.
3. Speech - The tone, voice, clarity etc., are taken for diagnosis. When a patient is sick, and the patient is the main bread winner of the family, the stress, fear, anxieties are likely to be high. The members of the family also would contribute to the above problem. Under such circumstances, the patient would exhibit bizarre behaviour and how such behaviour would help in clear diagnosis?
4. The colour of the eye used is the way the colour of the skin and tongue are interpreted.
5. Body heat and sweating - Siddha believes that a person sweat excessively would suffer from vatha disorder and similarly sweating on the forehead is the indication of constipation. What an amazing connection and correlation.
6. Examination of urine - If the colour of the urine is straw, it indicates indigestion, reddish- yellow, excessive heat, rose tinge, blood pressure etc.
7. Another amazing method of diagnosis is also followed with urine. When a drop of oil is added on urine and if it spreads like a snake, it indicates vatha diseases, if it forms like ring, pitha disease and it floats like a pearl, kapha disease. What an amazing correlation?
8. Examination of the pulse is done to understand the constitution of the body and the likely irregularities.
Treatment approaches
The therapy approaches followed in Siddha system also would tell us that the system is not a ‘drug’ based system. The different treatment approaches are
1. Purgative therapy
2. Emetic Therapy
3. Fasting Therapy
4. Steam Therapy
5. Oiletion Therapy
6. Physical Therapy
7. Solar Therapy
8. Blood Letting
Can we find any trace of ‘drug’ based treatment methods in Siddha system the way it is promoted today?
Anti-Aging
Siddha philosophy believes that the aging process can be slowed down, and long and healthy life is essential for unison with God. This requires strict daily regimen in terms of diet and self discipline.
To defy age and remain healthy, Siddha system talks about
1. Use of Kayakalpa products
2. Practice of Kalpa yoga
Kalpa yoga was prescribed by Patanjali which involve eight steps such as
1. Iyama: This is a moral code, which advocates truth, non-violence, honesty and continence.
2. Niyama: This is a code for internal and external purification by study and selflessness.
3. Asana: This is concerned with physical postures that improve bodily strength and endurance.
4. Pranayama: This is the regimen for regulating breathing. It keeps the body healthy and the mind calm.
5. Pratiyakara: This refers to the withdrawal of the mind from worldly affairs and the control of the senses.
6. Dharana: This is the art of concentrating on a specific object.
7. Dhayana: Deep meditation.
8. Samadhi: This is the highest state of yoga where, one's consciousness identifies with the super-consciousness.
If we read the ancient literature of Siddha system from its origin, fundamental philosophy, approaches and the intent & content, we can undoubtedly accept the fact that it is a spiritual science, an extension of Hindu religion, meant for attaining God.
To achieve the above, different methods were followed from meditation to superstitious approaches to use of some natural materials. But unfortunately the Siddha system has been converted as system of medicine and equated with allopathic medicine. Only as a result of the above, both the system and its graduates in private practice suffer today.
Acknowledgment
Dr S Ranganathan
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