National Institute of Siddha sets Guinness World Record for Mass Varmam Therapy
The Guinness World Record event held in Chennai on December 18, 2024 is a part of the National Institute of Siddha’s (NIS) ongoing efforts to bring global attention to the benefits of Siddha medicine and Varmam therapy.
The Institute has expressed its commitment to further promoting these traditional healing practices, ensuring that they reach a wider audience both within India and internationally.
What is Varmam therapy?
Varmam is a subtle energy that flows inside the body.
Varmam therapy is the appropriate and desired pressure manipulation over the varmam points.
The places where the vaasi energy resides and activates both the body and life-energy are varmam points.
Human body has 108 varmam points. These are divided into 12 padu varmam and 96 thodu varmam.
Varmam therapy, a unique and traditional healing modality within the Siddha system of medicine, has long been revered for its effectiveness in treating various health conditions. It is particularly renowned for its ability to provide rapid relief for musculoskeletal pain, injuries, and neurological disorders.
While Varmakalai (the martial art form associated with Varmam) is often misunderstood as a combat technique, in Siddha medicine, it is a scientifically grounded therapeutic practice used to treat acute and chronic diseases, including stroke, arthritis, and trauma-related injuries.
Varmam or varmakalai is one of the special treatments in Siddha system of medicine
In Tamil Nadu, the practices of varmam possess various methods.
Thadaval, thattal, adangal is the most common varmam methodology followed by traditional practitioners.
How Varmam therapy cures?
These Varmam points in the body contain highly concentrated amount of vital energy. These energies work as a junction between the physical body and the subtle body.
According to Yoga, Ayurveda, any disease is an expression of stagnated vital energy at any one or more Varmams.
By using various techniques to release stagnated energy in specific Varmams related to specific ailments, a natural and effective healing process occurs.
Each Varmam requires specific amount of pressure and different directional movements. It should only be practiced by trained Varmanis.
Varman therapy event in Chennai at NIS
The National Institute of Siddha (NIS) has set a Guinness World Record for providing mass Varmam therapy.
The event saw 567 trained Varmanis (Varmam healers) simultaneously providing therapy to 567 individuals.
The Guinness World Record for Mass Varmam Therapy serves as a testament to the growing global recognition of Siddha medicine and its healing potential.
It demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Siddha medicine and the growing interest in traditional healing systems.
An event was held at the NIS campus in Tambaram, Chennai.
The even highlighted the growing recognition of Siddha medicine and its non-invasive, drug-free therapeutic methods, particularly through the practice of Varmam therapy.
NIS provided therapy to 567 individuals simultaneously.
This underlines the therapeutic reach and effectiveness of this traditional practice.
The Union State Minister of Ayush (Independent Charge) Shri Prataprao Jadhav appreciated the efforts of NIS in a written message.
Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (Secretary) congratulated the NIS team for this historic achievement.
The Minister said that, “This type of event is not just about achieving an award; it’s about raising awareness among the new generation and helping them understand the science and value behind such wonderful practices”.
He also added, “The Siddha system of medicine is gaining significant attention both globally and within India. We are committed to sustaining this momentum. In recent years, the National Institute of Siddha has seen great progress.”
During the event Prof. Dr. R.Meenakumari, Director of National Institute of Siddha, said “Siddha Varmam therapy is a very unique, non invasive, cost effective, non pharmacological form of treatment. It’s used in treating complicated neurological diseases,ortho and musculoskeletal diseases, autism spectrum disease, and cerebral palsy in children. This Guinness world record will help the Siddha system of medicine to get a lot of attention from the world and within India”.