Adangal (techniques to relieve injured Marmas/Varmas)

Different authors have different views regarding the adankals [adangals]. While one considers the adankal as those maneuvers usually administered to relieve the symptoms of varmabhighata like unconsciousness, shivering, protrusion of tongue, convulsions. Some are of the opinion that they are also certain vital points where Prana stays and could be stimulated for reviving the injured persons. The peculiarity of these structures is that they are deeply seated in the body and cannot be injured very easily. In case of injury they they will create only serious complications. There are fifty one such adankals. Out of these thirteen are widely used. 27

adankals. Varma Kalaikkalnjium describes 56 Vay ulla adankal 2 Unnakkin adiyil 2 Alavil 2 Alavadi puttukal Mun Nadikkul adankal Kural Valayin mathiyathil Mundelumbin adiyil 2 2 1 2 Mathipathil adankal I Mathipathil keezhil 2 Poruthil Athan keezhu 1 1 Pin adankal Nanguna mudichi poottu Thodayin pinpakkam 1 4 Ullankalil Sakthi adankal Ullankai adankal Purankalil adankal 2 N N N N N 2 2 Kavali adankal 2 Munkalil mannai adankal 1 Thudai naduvil pinpakkam 1 Varpoottu adankal 2 Kaiyin adikuzhiyil adankal 2 Peruviralin adankal 2 28

Kazhuthukkul adankal Muthuku naduvu Mel Chuzhi madakkil Chenni kuzhiyil Uchiyil Piranthalayil Sarvanga adankal General Adangal Methods 4 3 I 2 1 1 1 The injured should be handled with care and gentleness. He should be lifted and made to sit. Massage mildly on the chest and back. The rib cage is made to expand well by extending both the hands. Stretch the nerves. Massage with feet. With the right hand, massage right side and back. With the left hand, massage the left side and back. Holding at the occipital region with the both hands pressing the thump at the depression on both the sides the head is moved upwards and downwards to the front and back three times. (Odimurivu 180) 29

There are certain separate and special adangal for certain specific varmas as well. Adankal for Thilartha varma The injured should be lifted by the hair and made to sit and mild blows should be given on the head. The neck should be rubbed continuously. He must be hit on the chest with one hand. In case of injury to the Natchathira kalam the patient is made to sit. The opposite varma is massaged gently and a blow is given over the head. Chevikutty varma is revived with holding the head with one hand and stimulating the other side varmam and later giving a blow over the head. Pidari varma is revived on hitting on the head and shaking. If the opposite Urakkakalam is massaged for two spans, then shake the body gently massage the whole body then Urakkakalam can be revived. Urumi varma is stimulated by tapping the back bone and gently massage the front. Valia attisurukki is revived with tapping with the tip of the foot over the back and head and 30

shaking them. Seriya attisurukki is also stimulated similarly by massaging over the back and both the sides of the body. Kallidai kalam injuries are revived with the patient made to sit and massaged over the back and bringing the stroke downwards and gently pressing over the perineum.