Chathuragiri Hills Kunduruti Paliyars’ Herbal Medicine

Abstract

Chathuragiri Hill is a hill in the Western Ghats located in the village of Chaptoor in Peraiyur Taluk of Madurai District. Chathuragiri is considered to be one of the highest mountains in India. It is noted that the second highest mountain is Nilgiri and the third highest is Chathuragiri. Also on Chathuragiri hill, there are temples called Sandhana Mahalingam and Sundhara Mahalingam. Special worships are held in these temples on Aadi New Moon days. People from various districts of Tamil Nadu participate in these rituals and worship. Chathuragiri Hill is also referred to as the hill where the eighteen Siddhas lived. Various rare types of herbal plants are also found on this hill. It is on such a special hill that the Kunduruti Paliyars live. The purpose of the study is to explain the medical methods and medicinal herbs used by the nomadic people living in the forest for the issues arising from a few insects living in the forest and sudden physical problems. The purpose of this study is to explain which herbal plants are used by Paliyar people for which diseases and how.