Varmam, a South Indian healing/martial art between tradition and innovation

Abstract

Varmam, or varmakkalai is based on the theory of vital spots being placed all over the human or animal body, an injury to which can prove to be particularly dangerous and can lead to death. Due to this background varmam points are the basis of medical (varma vaittiyam – varma medicine) and martial techniques (varma ati – varma fighting) at the same time and for obvious reasons being treated very secretly, being handed down only to very few students from the varma master or Asan. Varmam is generally seen by practitioners and outsiders as a branch of the Siddha medical system of Tamil Nadu, but it has related systems in ayurvedic marma chikitsa and a relation with acupuncture or acupressure might be speculated about, which is what varma Asan sometimes do, tracing back all martial arts and acupuncture techniques to a varma/Tamil origin.

Fieldwork in Kanya Kumari, the one district famous for a living practice of varmam reveils a highly original and unique medical system with affinities to bone-setting practices. Varmam in this regard has its very own perception of the body, terminology of body parts, mudras (hand gestures) and calendrical time.

Varmam, especially its medical part, on which the talk will be focussed, is an esoteric practice which finds itself confronted with medical registration, medical pluralisms, technical innovations like ct- and x-ray scans and changing modes of education today.

Speaker

Roman Sieler, PhD candidate in anthropology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany

Organisers

Department of Social Sciences, French Institute of Pondicherry

Venue

Jawaharlal Nehru Conference Hall, French Institute of Pondicherry, 11, Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry - 605 001

Time

4.30 pm