EAP810/1/1/115

Title in original script: அமுத கலை ஞானம்- 1200

The manuscript is composed of a text whose the palm leaves from the talipot palm tree (Corypha umbraculifera) are numbered from 1 to 91; the text is incomplete. The manuscript is in good condition, the edge of the leaves being lightly damaged by mould. Size of the manuscript 36,1cm x 4,8cm. The palm leaves (in Corypha umbraculifera) of the text are numbered in Tamil and Arab from 1 to 91. The manuscript is in condition. The edge of some leaves has been slightly damaged by mould.

The text by Akattiyar is entitled Amuta Kalai Ñāṉam- 1200; it is written in verses. It approaches diverse subjects related to siddha tradition: medicine and alchemy (preparation of medicines and products), and esotericism (magic, meditation and rituals).

The preparations of medicines concern:

A decoction (kaṣāyam) and an oil (tailam) for treating fever (curam)

Medicated oil (tailam) for treating gastritis (kuṉmam), piles (mūla nōy), flatus in pregnant women (karppa vāyu) and skin diseases (kuṭṭam).

Wax like medicines: Kenti meḻuku, Tāḷaka meḻuku, Liṅka meḻuku and Pūraṇa meḻuku; Pēti kuḻampu and Akattiyar kuḻampu.

Calcined white medicines prepared from metals and minerals: Kārīya paṟpam, Porikāra paṟpam, Aritāra paṟpam, Kentaka paṟpam and Cātiliṅka paṟpam; Tāra veḷḷai; Cavukkāra cuṇṇam, Kalluppu cuṇṇam, Veṭiyuppu cuṇṇam, Karuvaṅka cuṇṇam, Kaṟpūra cuṇṇam, Kenti cuṇṇam, Kampiyuppu cuṇṇam, Vaḻalai cuṇṇam and Pūmi nāta cuṇṇam.

Calcined red medicines prepared from metals and minerals: Raca kaḻaṅku centūram, Ayakānta centūram, Poṉ nimiḷai centūram and Karuvaṅka centūram.

Stone-like medicines: Cavukkāra kaṭṭu, Kaṟpūra kaṭṭu, Turucu kaṭṭu, Aritāra kaṭṭu, Nāka kaṭṭu, Navaccāra kaṭṭu, Kārīya kaṭṭu, Veḷḷīya kaṭṭu and Pāṣāṇa kaṭṭu.

Medicine based on mercury: Cātiliṅka kaḷaṅku.

Pungent product: Pūraṇa ceyanīr, Kāracāra ceyanīr, Meḻuku ceyanīr and Kaṭṭu ceyanīr.

Medicines for longevity: Amirta raca kaṟpam and Vallārai kaṟpam.

The text provided information on medicinal plants such as Lagenaria siceraria (veṇcurai) and Phyllanthus reticulatas (karunelli).

The iatrochemical processes presented in the text concern the method to prepare artificially (vaippu) borax (veṅkāram), perchloride of mercury (cavvīram), arsenic (toṭṭi pāṣāṇam), cinnabar (liṅkam) and zinc (nākam), the method to extract pure copper from ferrous sulphate (aya cempu) and from crude ore of copper (kuṭavaṉ cempu), the combination of three salts (mūppu), and the fabrication of a product called turicu muppu combining three salts with copper sulphide.

The part devoted to esoteric knowledge approaches numerous subjects. It mentions several alchemy-linked products: fuller’s earth (pūmi nātam) and several types of salt called pūraṇa uppu, Civa uppu, Nanti uppu, pārai uppu kuru and alkali (kāracāram), and exposes the method to obtain elixir (amutuṇṇum muṟai). It informs on the primary originator (āti mūlam) and on actions (cittu) realised by the gods Ānumaṉ, Civaṉ (Civaniti), Acupati, Sun (Aruṇa), the goddess Mataṉa Kāḷi and the agonist maya (virōta maya). It presents the method to worship a chakra at Chidambaram (Citampara cakkaram) and specifies a prayer for calming the mind (māṉaca pūjai). Regarding meditation, it specifies the initiation (tīṭcai) of the letters ‘a’ (akāra) and ‘u’ (ukāra) forming the mystical sound (piraṇava mantiram) AUM which represent both the aspects non manifested and manifested of God, and the location of these letters in the body (akāra ukāra niṟkumiṭam), some yoga methods (yōka muṟaikaḷ) and the act to regulate breath (vāyu tampaṉa cittu).

The text lists the names of eighteen cittarkaḷ (patiṇeṉ peyar). It presents the curse formulated by Akattiyar (Kumpamuṉi cāpam) and the eight magical actions (aṣṭa karma vālai).

Finally, it evokes the purity (cuttam) of the river Ganga.