Varma Kalai - wikipedia Varma Kalai Part of a series on Indian martial arts Styles Gatka Huyen langlon Kalaripayattu Mardani khel Silambam Sqay Boxing Musti - yuddha Wrestling Malla - yuddha Pehlwani Vajra - musti Legendary Figures Agastya Balarama Bhima Bodhidharma Duryodhana Ganesha Hanuman Harihara Jambavan Jarasandha Kali Krishna Kartikeya Parashurama Shiva Unniyarcha Vajrapani Notable Practitioners Guru Hargobind Shivaji Kittur Chennamma Lakshmibai Related terms Akhara Hatha yoga Kshatriya Nihang Paika akhada Varma kalai Varma Kalai ( Tamil : வர்மக்கலை varmakkalai ), is a Tamil Taditional art of vital points. It originated in Tamil Nadu. It is a component of traditional massage, alternative medicine, traditional yoga and martial arts in which the body 's pressure points ( Varmam ) are manipulated to heal or cause harm. The healing application called Vaidhiya Murai is a part of used Siddha Medicine ( siddha vaidyam ). Its combat application is known as Adimurai, Adi Murai or Varma Adimurai meaning `` pressure - point striking '', and can be done either empty - handed or with a blunt weapon such as a stick or staff. Usually taught as an advanced stage of Tamils Fighting Systems, strikes are targeted at the nerves, veins, tendons, soft tissues or ligaments, organs and bone joints. Contents 1 History 2 Schools 3 See also 4 References History Folklore traces varma kalai to the god Shiva who is said to have taught it to his son Murugan. While disguised as an old man, Murugan passed the knowledge of 108 Varmams to the sage Agastya who then recorded it and disseminated the skill among his students. Siddha medicine is also attributed to Agastya. Knowledge of the body 's vital points in India was not just confined to humans but also elephants. Known as nila, learning these points on an elephant 's body was and remains necessary for mahouts. Prodding particular nila with a stick elicits various responses such as bringing the animal under control or making them kneel. Warriors would learn to attack certain nila on opposing war - elephants during battle, which could either kill or frighten the animals. The national museums of Sri Lanka have documented at least 86 nila and their functions. Schools Varma kalai is attributed to several siddhar ( sages ), namely Agastya, Bogar, Theriyar and Pulipani. Out of these, only the Agastya school is commonly practiced in Tamil Nadu and in the neighboring state of Kerala. See also Angampora Gatka Kalaripayat Silambam Siddha medicine References Jump up ^ `` Tamilnadu - Varma Kalai ''. Tamilnadu.com. 26 December 2012. ^ Jump up to : Guruji Murugan Chillayah ( 20 October 2012 ). `` Silambam and Varma Kalai Art ''. Silambam. Retrieved 31 May 2013. ^ Jump up to : Luijendijk, D.H. ( 2005 ). Kalarippayat : India 's Ancient Martial Art. Paladin Press. ISBN 1 - 58160 - 480 - 7. Jump up ^ Stevens, B ; From Lee to Li, HarperCollins 2009 ISBN 9780007347414 Jump up ^ Zarrilli, Phillip B. ( 1992 ). `` To Heal and / or To Harm : The Vital Spots ( Marmmam / Varmam ) in Two South Indian Martial Traditions Part I : Focus on Kerala 's Kalarippayattu ''. Journal of Asian Martial Arts. 1 ( 1 ). Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Varma_kalai&oldid=866256675 '' Categories : Siddha medicine Kalarippayattu Massage therapy Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Français മലയാളം Bahasa Melayu Polski Edit links This page was last edited on 29 October 2018, at 07 : 45 ( UTC ). About Wikipedia

Question: which indian state does the art or skill of varma kalai come from
Answer: Tamil Nadu