A chronological probe into Siddha system.

To revive the Siddha system of medicine, a chronological probe including archaeological and historical sources ofthis discipline is necessary. Siddha system is based on th e atom and 96 101ft uvams of Saiva Siddhanda. Archaeological excavations at Harappa and Mohenjedaro, showing light on Siva-Sakti cult form a background for Siddha. There are views of links with the submerged Lumer ia continent and these are to be probed and established. It gives four chronicle tables giving period, classified on the basis of Mythology. Vedas. Tamil Sangam etc. To improve the vitality and to revive the Siddha/system of Iudian Medicine and to make it more contributory to the wealth of the nation as a whole and to serve the common man. a chronological probe of this discipline is necessarv. Such a probe naturally includes historical and archaeological sources. It establishes that the starting point of Siddha, as per agamas, is an at orn and 96-thmhullam of Saiva-Siddhanda whereas that of Ayurveda is Vedic and has a p anjaboadic base. This important difference has to be historically explored in a congenial manner. The word 'chronology', is defined as computation of time and assignment of events etc to their correct date and finally arrangement or the same order of time, in relation to chronological table or list. This basic principle has to be applied in relation to Srddha for its revival and research in relation to its history also. Archaeologv initiate" a study of ancient cultures through their material remains. With the help of this principle, a study of Indus valley civilizatiun, as supported by t h ~ archaeological excavations of Harappa and Mohenjedaro form, a background for Siddha. The material remains of these two excavatioris throw light on the 'Siva-Sakthi' cult and on evidence for a highly evolved urban civilization, contrasted with a simple nomadic rural civilization of the central Asia. These evidences take one to one of the very old Dravidian culture and civilization which has got a link with the submergc:d Lumer ra continent i. e. 'Kumari-Kandam' in the southernmost *4, Arnnasamudram KoaJ, Kulavaolgarpuram, Pa layarnkottar, 627 002 Chronology oj Siddha=Gurusironmani 35 end of India. These considerations form a sound background for Siddha or Tamil system of medicine, having a direct bearing on the southern languages and cultures, as well as have an all India relationship. This vital link has to be probed and established chronologically and archaeologically supported by internal and external evidences of very old manuscipts, inscriptions and others. Accordingly new chronological tables or lists are given, to serve as a working base with regard to Siddha, in order of time, for assignment of events in relation to the system to their correct historical dates. These tables are as follows: Claronicle Table I : 1. Mythological Period 2. Pre-Historic Period 3. Historic Period Chronicle Table II : 1. Pre-Vedic Period (Indus Valley Civilization) 2. Vedic Period 3. Post-Vedic Period 4. Present Period Chronicle Table III : 1. First Tamil Sangam Period 2. Second Tamil Sangarn Period (Siddha medical and other allied knowledge considered to have come first from) Siva Umai Nandhi Muruga Agathiyar and Tbirumoolar Other Siddhars and others 2500 B. C. and earlier 2500 B. C. to 1500 B. C. 1500 B. C. and later Hindu period Muslim Period British Period Present period Independent India 4000 B. C. and earlier (Kumari Kandam i. e. Lumeria continent) 4000 B. C. to 1500 B. C. (Mad urai as capital) 36 3. Third Tamil Sangam period to recent Times. Chronicle Table IV : As per Thotrakiramam of Siddhars i. e. evolution of the universe upto present periods as recordedin Tholkappiam etc. Bulletin Ind. Inst, tu«. su«. Vol. XIII 1500 B. C. and later (MaJurai as capital) 1. Chera-Chola-Pandian Period 2. Pallavn period 3. Nayakar period 4. Muslim period 5. British period 6. Independent India I. "Choonium Nilai' (State of Emptiness) 2. Param (Evolved by Panja Bootha Panjeekaranam) 3. Para -param 4. 1mboothams 5. Oor-Arivu to Aruarivu Man etc. 6. Pre-Historic to recent period. Any of t he pattern or patterns of chronological tables given above may be taken for a probe into Siddha History to fix up events about the history of Siddhars. Basic Principles of Siddha. Siddha medical formularies and Pharmacy. Clinical treatment on Siddha lines with special reference to Nadhi reading. Kayakalpa treatment finally leading to Raja-Yoga and Samat hi Nilai etc. have to be historically probed and fixed up. At this stage epigraphical and archaeological finding' etc. serve as internal and external evidences. as source materials to arrive at useful conclusions obje ctively, Comparative study in all these aspects with other disciplines will also be very helpful for re-writing of all the fields, bringing out every thing to light. But this very big job requires a well established department of history of Siddha medicine, with a team of whole hearted research scholars without racial and other preconceived narrow ideas. Also this historic revival requires continuous and sustained efforts without any break of work in this historical research of our heritage. The patterns of the periods and the governing principles of chronology and archaeology are given only as food for thought, for senior as well asjunior pioneer research scholars in the history of Siddha system on all its aspects. 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