Researchers in Siddha medicine recently discovered a rare collection of 350-year-old palm leaf manuscripts on Siddha herbs. These invaluable manuscripts, known as Agathiyar Gunavagadam, have now been published to serve as a textbook and reference for Siddha students. The manuscripts were originally in the possession of a Siddha physician’s family in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and were brought to light for the benefit of humanity.
Prof Dr R Meenakumari, the director of the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), played a pivotal role in this initiative. After verifying the authenticity of the text with the help of Tamil scholars and experts, the manuscripts were numbered, digitized, and transcribed. Thirunarayanan and his team from the Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research (CTMR) in Chennai undertook the laborious task of formatting the text.
The Agathiyar Gunavagadam was officially released by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the inauguration of the OPD for NIS. The palm leaf manuscript was acquired by the late Dr T Thirunarayanan through CTMR operations from Ramesh, the grandson of Vaidyar Venugopala Pillai, a practitioner of Siddha medicine in Cuddalore district.
Vidwan Dr N Srinivasan also contributed to creating printable versions of the Siddha manuscripts. This 350-year-old unpublished book distinguishes itself by detailing the characteristics of herbs found in both plain and hilly regions. Released as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative by the central government, the manuscript also covers various types of grains, vegetables, and meat, making it a comprehensive resource in the field of Siddha medicine.
