Both physical and mental skills acquired combine in a kind of psycho-somatic intuition-the medical and martial competence of practitioners. Injuries incurred in the kaḷari are addressed in the vaittiyacālai, and apprentices’ learning progress in one surrounding can be measured by their prowess in the other. This paper depicts how far this South Indian practice figures simultaneously in the kaḷari, the training ground where combat techniques called varma aṭi, ‘hitting the vital spots’, are taught, and in the vaittiyacālai, the dispensary for varma maruttuvam, ‘vital spot treatments’. ''Varmakkalai, ‘the art of the vital spots’, combines therapeutic and martial techniques: Varmam spots are of combative relevance, but also applicable in curing ailments. The datas were collected from traditional paper manuscripts and printed books. It plays a promising role in reviving a person from unconscious state, instant pain management in neuro-musculo-skeletal diseases and also in other ailments. This review brings out the history, classification of varmam, physiological action and pathological aspects of varmam, its relation with bio-energy transmitter pathways (naadi), angular energy connections(Kona nilai) and the application of this art in therapeutics. These points are located in the junctions of nerves, naadis, muscle and bones. Varmam points are bio-energetic sites through which subtle vital energy flows and aid physiological functions of the body.

This medical science had been developed by Tamil Siddhas from ancient times and being transferred to generations through oral tradition, palm leaf and paper manuscripts. The systematic study of varmam energy in the application of martial arts and therapeutic usage is called as Varmakalai. Varmam is the special branch of Siddha Medical system still in practice in Southern parts of Tamil Nadu, especially, in Kanya Kumari and in Southern parts of Kerala.

Varma kalai books in tamil pdf