HISTORY OF VARMA

 VARMA:

Mythological history of Varma:

                        Varma is believed to be gifted by Goddess Kali to the people who were suffering from ailments. Varma was called as Kali Abyasam since Kali gave it. Later it was called as Marma as it was kept as secret. Later Marma became as Varma. 

                        In the olden days Varma medicine and Varma kalai was widely practised in Kanniyakumari and Kerala. Varma spots and certain types of varma kalai and varma chikita had written notes in the form of olai suvadi. 

                     People who was well versed in Varma was appointed as King's personal vaidya. People of olden times considered Varma as a treasure and a family belonging. So it was taught to people secrectly or only passed on to their own family. Varma is a very vast subject. Varma medicine of the body cannot be studied and mastered by one person. So Varma medicine notes were divided by people and studied and mastered. Olai suvadi of head ailments was taken by one group of people, varma regarding spine and parts of body were studied by other group of people. Internal medicine given for Varma injury was studied by others. So one person cannot have a complete knowledge regarding Varma. Like how modern medicine is divided as ENT, Ortho and Neuro, varma practioners are also divided so.

How was Varma taught ?

                          Learning Varma was not a easy task those days. Now a days people join school and college and recieve education. But those days guru shishya type of education system was followed. They have to stay with a Gurus for 5 years or more and serve him. Shishyas has to do everything the guru asks him to do. Just because the student stayed with guru and served him does not assure that he will teach him the varma skills. Guru will test the student and observes the persons behaviour, patience and if the guru is satisfied with the students behaviour, only then he will give the student his skills. There have been students who have served the gurus for years and ended up with only basic knowledge. 

                   There is a saying that, a person can only learn Varma if the person has God's anugraha (grace). Varma and any sort of Indian medicine is completely based on spiritual level. 

                With Varma you can kill a person or extend his lifespan so Gurus had fear that people may misuse it, so they only gave it to the rightful person. People with anger and grudge may hurt other people so they were very cautious in choosing the person to give their skills. Even if the person knows Varma and was very well versed in varma, he won't teach all his kids the Varma system of medicine. Only the chosen kid whom the father feels can take up the tradition will be taught every skill. Varma is considered as a treasure so it was taught to the family members and kept as a secret.

Downfall of Indian System of medicine:

                        Varma was widely spread all over kanyakumari and kerala. When you have something in hand we will not know its importance, like so varma was not considered as a big thing.  

                       During 19th century Plague was spreading as a epidemic. Many people lost their life and it caused chaoas in the southern part of Tamilnadu. People were scared to death. Vaccine for Plaque was discovered and were really inspired. To treat a disease people have to undergo pathyam(food restrictions) and kashayam for weeks together, whereas modern medicine showed results much instantly. People liked the instant result of the western medicine and the invasion of modern medicine took place. 

                    People who were practicing indian medicine where mocked at and said, why should i take kashayam and suffer for 2 weeks and when I can get instant result by simple small tablets. So physicians who practiced Indian medicine suffered poverty. So family members of physicians were not allowed to study Indian medicine. People who saw the suffering physicians dint allow their sons to follow it. Hence the Varma medicine faced a downfall.

            Kanyakumari after being separated from Kerala and joined with Tamilnadu, Varma medicine was not much recognised and so most people stopped practicing Varma. But in Kerala people stuck to their culture and traditions so they practiced Ayurveda and Varma. So Varma is still practised in most parts of Kerala.