EAP810/23/24

Titles in original script:

• நூல் 1: சித்தர் ஆருடம்
• நூல் 2: சத்யாரூடம்- 100;

The manuscript is composed of two texts, complete, whose the palm leaves are numbered from 1 to 18. The texts are written in verses. The manuscript is in good condition; a few leaves are affected by larvae.

Text 1- The text, entitled Cittar Ārūṭam, was written by Akattiyar. The text contains palm leaves numbered from 1 to 4.

It deals mainly with poisoning by animal bites. It describes the signs of poisonous bites (viṣa kuṟikaḷ), the bites which are minor and curable (cil viṣam) and those which are fatal (val viṣam) and informs on snakes (pāmpukaḷ), their types and qualities (kuṇam), the difference in the nature of poison (viṣataṉmai) between male and female snakes. It presents a variety of medicines (maruntu vakai) appropriate to treat poisonous substances.

Text 2- The text is entitled Catyārūṭam-100; its author is not mentioned. It text contains palm leaves numbered from 5 to 18 on which 104 verses are inscribed (4 verses are supplementary).

The text deals also with poisonous bites. It describes the diverse species of snakes (pampu), scorpions (tēḷ), and centipedes (pūrāṉ), the symptoms of poisoning (viṣa kuṟi) and the clinical characteristics of person according to the toxicity of poison, as well as the medicines (maruntu) appropriate to treat poisoning with their adjuvants (aṉupāṉam), and the dietary prescription to observe (pattiyam).

Size of the manuscript: 42,0cm x 2,6cm. The palm leaves of the text 1 are numbered from 1 to 4 and of the text 2 from 5 to 18. The text 1 is introduced by a leaf with a note, and two blank leaves open and close the manuscript. This manuscript is in average state; a few leaves are affected by larvae.