EAP810/22/32

Title in original script: தலைப்பு இல்லை (மந்திரம் மற்றும் வைத்தியம்)

The manuscript is made of a text constituted of 25 palm leaves numbered from 67 to 94; the leaves 68, 71, 77, and 90-92 are missing, and two leaves are numbered 81 and 87. The manuscript is in good state; the leaves n° 81 and 82 have been little damaged by rodents.

The text, written in prose, deals with mantiram and preparations of medicines.

The mantiraṅkaḷ mentioned in the text are used in the field of magic (black and white). They aims to create conflicts between two closely bonded persons (pirivu, pētaṉam), to control the natural forces (stampaṉam), to mesmerise people and women (tirivaciyam), notably those who do not live with their husbands (vāḻāta peṇ vara) as well as to annihilate the ill effects of black magic (cūṉiyam teṟikka). The text presents some yantiraṅkaḷ to invoke deities reputed for their malevolent and benevolent power: Kuṭṭiccāttāṉ, Ciṅkiliyāṉ, Pēy, Māṭaṉ and Mōkiṉi, and to cripple people (muṭakku). It explains the formulation of a black paste used to perform black magic (mañcaṉi meḻuku).

The preparations of medicines exposed in the text concern Cempu paṟpam, a pill called Pacca kaṟpūra māttirai which is presented as able to treat all types of fever (cakala kāccal), and medicines (maruntu; not named) to treat delirium (caṉṉi), convulsions (vali caṉṉi), herpes (akki), ulcers (cūlai puṇ), fevers (curam), hiccup (vikkal), diseases caused by vāta imbalance (timir vātam), paralysis (carva muṭakku) and flatus (vāyu) and to induce abortion (karuvai kalaikka).

Size of the manuscript: 17.0cm x 3.2cm. The palm leaves of the text are numbered from 67 to 94; two leaves are numbered 81 and 83 and the leaves 68, 71, 77 and 90 to 92 are missing. Two blank leaves are placed at the beginning and at the end of the text. The manuscript is in excellent condition.