Silambam
SILAMBAM
Before understanding why Silambam training is considered supreme, we must first know the philosophy of the body.
The Philosophy of the Body
The Siddhars declared:
“What exists in the universe exists in the human body.”
God created this world with natural beauty, composed of the five elements earth, water, fire, air, and space. Likewise, man too is formed of these five elements. This is an undeniable truth.
When imbalances occur among these five elements in the body, the body becomes afflicted.
These very five elements manifest in the human body as the three doshas (mukkutram):
Vata (air/ether principle)
Pitta (fire principle)
Kapha (water/earth principle)
Tiruvalluvar refers to this in the Tirukkural:
"Excess or deficiency in any of the three
Vata, Pitta or Kapha brings disease,"
According to Siddha medicine, which God bestowed upon the Siddhars, health is when these three remain in balance. If one increases or decreases, illness arises. Through pulse diagnosis (naadi pariksha), Siddha physicians determine which dosha is affected and prescribe remedies accordingly.
NEEDS OF THE HUMAN BODY
The body, made of the five elements, requires:
Pure air,
Food suited to the climate,
Proper clothing,
Shelter.
Most importantly, it requires movement.
To secure the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter, man must work. Through this labor, the body receives natural movement.
"One without physical movement is equal to a corpse."
But in today’s mechanized world, man has lost adequate natural movement. This disrupts the balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
CAUSES OF DISEASE IN THE BODY
1. IMPROPER EATING HABITS
Skipping meals, overeating, or eating the wrong food disturbs digestion, leading to Pitta imbalance.
Our ancestors remained healthy because their daily diet always included all six tastes: sour, bitter, spicy, astringent, salty, and sweet.
Balanced food strengthens the Seven Dhatu (plasma, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen) and keeps the doshas in harmony.
2. IMPROPER EXERCISE
Some think exercise is unnecessary because even those who train sometimes fall ill. But avoiding movement is a great curse.
Some do no exercise at all, while others strain excessively, sweating beyond their body’s capacity, leading to Vata disorders.
Proper exercise should balance Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, giving movement to all parts of the body.
3. WORK RELATED LIFESTYLE
People working long hours sitting (like in IT or office jobs) suffer stiffness, pain, and swelling in the back and hips.
Excessive physical labor too leads to Vata imbalance and eventually crippling conditions like arthritis.
4. IMMORAL HABITS
Tamil tradition teaches: “One man, one woman.” Pure and disciplined relationships are healthy.
Immorality or unclean habits lead to venereal diseases, infertility, kidney disorders, heart weakness, and even fatal illnesses like cancer and AIDS. This mainly disturbs Kapha.
5. ADDICTIONS
Cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs offer no benefit but only destroy body, family, and society.
Addicts fall into crime, develop mental and physical diseases, and suffer lung, liver, and digestive damage.
Intoxicants upset the balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
WHY IS SILAMBAM SUPERIOR?
Silambam is the mother art of all Martial arts, recorded in ancient literature. It is a cultural, scientific, and moral heritage, making it noble and supreme.
Silambam includes:
1. Silambam Exercise (basic stick training)
2. Decorative Silambam (festival display)
3. Combat Silambam (martial application)
Unlike some arts that strain the body or require great strength, Silambam can be practiced by children, adults, and elders alike. It increases life-force energy (prana), activates the 72,000 energy channels (nadis), and refreshes body and mind without fatigue.
It helps cure stress, anxiety, insomnia, hormonal imbalance, memory loss, and many psychosomatic disorders. Most importantly, Silambam balances the three doshas, bringing physical and mental vitality.
Ancient Testimony of Silambam
"In the battlefield it strikes,
The staff that destroys evil men,
Raises the fallen,
And never fails."
— Silamba Shastram
This is why ancient Tamils preserved and passed down Silambam to future generations.
Subdivisions in Silambam (Martial Art with Staff)
1. Martial Art Techniques
Basic Techniques – 26
Silambam Technique Lessons – 12
Martial Art Techniques – 12
2. Decorative Techniques
Basic Techniques – 26
Silambam Technique Lessons – 12
Double Stick Techniques
3. Silambam Footwork
Silambam Footwork – 12
Silambam Footwork Extensions – 12
4. Short Stick Silambam (Siramakkalai)
Single Stick – 12
Double Stick – 12
Sudis (Circular Techniques) – 6
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