Title:
A STUDY OF MEDICAL REFERENCES FOUND IN TAMIL PROVERBS

Authors:
Mrs:Parameswary Sangkaran and Dr. ManonmaniDevi D/O M.A.R Annamalai

Abstract:
The study is a review of the medical references found in the Tamil proverbs of Cenkani (1996) in the text entitled, Tami?n???uppa?amo?ika? 2000. It is a small attempt, to reveal the medical references practiced among the ancient Tamil people, and to exhibit them in a simple and clear way to the contemporary people. The ancestors of Tamils inscribed the medical references in Siddar songs and in palm leaf manuscript. In the ancient days, people used the proverbs as a tool to solve the medical related problems. Since, the proverbs were short, simple and understandable by all; it was a great help for the laity people. Though the proverbs have a tiny structure, the concepts have in-depth connotation. They are applicable for all the people including male, female, children and adults. Due to the importance of medical references found in Proverbs, several studies have been conducted by both local and foreign researchers. Nevertheless, the study of proverbs in medicine is a new undertaking by researchers. This study aims to look at the medical references in Tamil proverbs. The study was conducted based on three objectives such asto identify the medical refernces in Tamil proverbs, toanalyze the categories and to improve the medical wisdom of the Tamil community in Tamil proverbs. This study is approached on descriptive and qualitative methods based on Relevant theory. The uniqueness of the Tamil proverbs is supposed to be used as a medical device, because the medical content in Tamil proverbs means explicit and implicit. Medical proverbs is a guide to the Tamil community of Malaysia to live a prosperous life. Such a study will ensure Malaysians, especially Indians, Tamil to retain the use of medical Tamil proverbs in their daily lives. Moreover, this study also will pave the way for new researchers in this field.