Home -> Alternative Therapies -> Siddha Medicine

Learning Siddha Medicine

Dr. Ramesh Kabadia

The mind of a beginner must possess the power of perfect concentration and his soul must be filled with the longing for absolute freedom from all relative conditions and from the laws, which govern phenomena. He must realize that even the enjoyment of heavenly pleasures is a kind of bondage since it keeps the soul entangled in the meshes of phenomenal relativity, nor should he stop until the goal is reached.

Understanding this noble science and to explain the problems of existence by it. But modern physiologists, anatomists, biologists and medical practitioners are still uncertain as to the proper solution of these problems. The more they investigate; the more doubts arise in minds.

Why does an atom move and vibrate? The man who is able to dominate both body and mind is the master of himself. The king in his own conscious domain.

The Concepts

Siddha medical science says that all abnormal and diseased conditions of the body are caused directly by imperfect or weak expression of the vital energy, and indirectly by improper mental activity. The cure of a disease therefore means the removal of the obstacles, which prevent the breath from working in an absolutely normal way. This can be done either by physical processes or by regulating mental functions.

A yogi doctor heals disease in himself by increasing the vital action by rousing the latent powers of breath, which is the source of all life force. He knows how to fill his whole body, nay every cell, with increased vitality.

By regulating the polarity of the cells through the higher vibrations of breath he generates a strong current of vibratory breath, directs its course through the disordered cells of his organs and changes the structure of these cells by creating a rapid circulation of the blood charged with the healing power of breath and sending it to the parts affected. In this way the cells are restored to their normal condition and the disease is cured.

The yogi doctor does this consciously and in the most scientific manner with the help of breathing exercise accompanied by concentration. According to the siddha medical science all nervous currents and all molecular motion in the brain cells and nerve canters are caused by this breath. If the molecules of the cells are filled with a new and strong current of vital force or breath, their vibration will be enormously increased and this will enable them to throw off the impure matter that retarded their natural activity. And recover their normal healthy condition.

Vital force is also the propelling power in circulation. Siddha medical science says that the vital energy is stored up in the nerve centers of the spinal cord. It is the cause of the motion of the lungs, which in turn produces respiration. And respiration is the cause of the circulation of the blood and of all other organic activities.

Respiration

Modern physiology tells us that every portion of our body, every tissue and cell breathes, that the lung is nothing more than an instrument in the respiratory process, the chemical operation, which is the essential part of the function, occurring elsewhere in the cells and tissues themselves. The lung is only the door through which oxygen enters system.

The physiologists of the eighteenth century held quite different views, even the father of modern chemistry, Levi Osier himself supposed that the main act of respiration took place in the lungs. What really happens is that, oxygen is introduced into the lungs filters through the thin walls of the pulmonary capillaries, where it finds the red corpuscles of the blood a substance called hemoglobin, with which it unites to form a compound known as oxy-hemoglobin, a very unstable compound. Throughout the tissues in the capillary vessels of the whole body, oxygen is allowed to escape freely and to affect its work upon the cells. The blood therefore is merely a vehicle.

The organic combustions do not occur in the lungs, their seat being in the cells and tissues throughout the whole system. The respiratory organs are medium through which it enters the system. The blood, which has been once used in our bodies, would be of no further service if it were not purified by the lungs. Ordinarily air when in haled contains 21% oxygen and when exhaled 12% having lost 9% in a healthy adult man average pulsation is 15 in a minute and about two ounces of blood are driven by each pulsation from the heart to the lungs or nine pounds and six ounces in a minute.

The quantity of blood in the human body is considered to be about one fifth of the weight of the entire body or 28 pounds in a man weighing one hundred and forty pounds. The full quantity of blood in the system will therefore flow through the lungs in the short period of three minutes.

The Potential

Nature has not given capacity to any organ without a purpose. And we are sure that if everyone were to use the full capacity of his lungs, weak or diseased lungs would be a thing of the past. If we understand the science of breathing we can develop lung power to its utmost capacity (every one should). Then by well regulated breathing exercises, we can purify every particle of matter in the cells of the organs and with the help of the current of breath can ultimately drive out all physical weakness. We can get better and surer results by increasing the vital current. By polarizing the activity of the cells and removing the obstacles of hat prevent the proper manifestation of the vital current in those cells, we shall get rid of the disease.

Harmonizing the Mind and the Body

How to increase the vitality of the system by generating new nerve currents of a higher order? How to polarize the vibration of the cells? And how to awaken those powers which lie dormant on the sub-conscious plane as well as in the nerve centers of the spine. It also tells us that when the powers begin to manifest, we rise above the influences and changes to which ordinary mortals are subject.

India is the only country where from ancient times this science has been carefully studied in all its aspects by the yogis, rishies, and seers of truth.

The aim of Siddha medical science is to establish absolute harmony between his vital actions and his mental functions to transcend all laws, to rise above the influence of all environmental conditions and to be the supreme leader of the mind and of the entire system.

According to this, perfect self mastery and consequent freedom do not come to one who has not learned the secret of regulating the vital energy and who has not aquired the power to direct it wherever it is needed. Before anyone can control this invisible vital force, he must know its principal seat in the body, he must learn where this unseen king of physical activities is enthroned, who are his attendants and how he governs his kingdom.

What the Teachers Say

Rishies of Siddha medical science says that, the vital energy resides with his attendants in the nerve centers of the spinal column. These centers are the main stations where this vital force is stored. There are many centers in the spinal cord out of which proceed the motor and sensory nerves, which cover the whole body including its organs.

All sensations and motions of the limbs depend upon these nerve centers in the spinal column and the brain. There two currents which flow in and out of the brain through the spinal column and nerves; they are called afferent and efferent currents. They run through the anterior and posterior channels of the spinal cord.

There are ten leading centers in the spinal cord is enthroned in the center opposite the thorax. It is the respiratory center. It moves the lungs, causes respirations and gives activity to all other centers, which are dependent on it. If the royal center is disturbed or vibrates abnormally those which are subject to it and through them the whole system will act in a corresponding manner and the result will be disease, organic trouble or continued ill-health.

So long however, as the royal center is in a normal condition, the movement of the lungs, which causes. Inspiration and expiration will be regular. They say that great majority of people breath irregularly and that there are differences in the breathings of men and women. The causes of this irregular breathing are many-food, drink, fear, sickness, sorrow, nervous excitement, passion, anxiety. These do not affect the breath directly, but they do influence it indirectly by producing abnormal activity of breath, first with nerve centers, then in the movement of the lungs, which expresses outwardly as irregular breathings.

Hence irregularity of breath is the external sign of abnormal action of the respiratory center in the spine. For by gaining a complete knowledge of his own nature he will gain correct knowledge of the whole universe, since laws that govern he human body are universal. All these laws are nothing but the modes in which breath operate in nature. Therefore seers (everyone) seek first to understand the individual breath and the vital laws, which govern his own system.

In India this fact was recognized and the siddha medical science (The science of spirituality) was carefully studied by the sages, who had no other ambition or purpose in life than to acquire knowledge for its own sake. They explained this science, practiced medical science, noted the results and instructed their pupils, not to make a profession out of it, or use it to earn money or to gain fame in the society. On the contrary, they refused to teach those who came to learn for professional ends. And it is because of this disinterest on their part that the knowledge of the seers is so pure and unadulterated by ambition or selfish motive. They also realized the dangers which might arise from ignorant practice of these exercises.

What it Takes

Ceaseless effort, persistence, perseverance in practice are necessary to attain to the state of super consciousness that which is realized in it cannot be revealed by intellect or by any other mental faculty therefore truth cannot be attained by reading books or scriptures or by intellect or sense perception, but by reaching the state of super-consciousness. Those who are searching for ultimate reality of the universe and are not satisfied with the knowledge gained through the sense or through the aid of instruments, should struggle hard.

Before they can arrive at this state they will have to follow faithfully the steps already enumerated and with patience and perseverance overcome all the obstacles which beset the way.

The Importance of a Guru

There are many obstructions such grief, disease, mental laziness, doubt, cessation of the struggle to attain this state. Heaviness of the body and mind, thirst for worldly things, false knowledge, non-attaining concentration, falling away from the state once attained, irregular breathing etc., they can be easily avoided by regular practice under the guidance of a teacher. If a student tries to practice by himself any of the exercise stated above, he may have some unpleasant experiences, which may disturb his mind or nervous system.

Some of the powers generated by these practices are too dangerous to be handled by an experienced student.

When the super conscious realization is acquired all doubts will cease forever, all questions concerning the nature of the soul will be answered, he search after truth will stop, the mind will become tranquil and the soul will be emancipated from the bondage of ignorance and self-delusion.

He alone has reached happiness on this earth, the alone has conquered the world, who has gained perfect control over his mind and body, whose soul rests in tranquility and whose eyes behold divinity in everything and everything in that external being which is the infinite abode of existence, knowledge and bliss absolute.

Next Page