It combines massage, alternative medicine, traditional yoga and martial arts[1] in which the body's pressure points (varmam) are manipulated to heal or cause harm.
[2] Its combat application is known as Adimurai (it includes a component called Varma Adi, meaning "pressure-point striking") can be done either empty-handed or with a blunt weapon such as a stick or staff.
Varma Kalai is usually taught in the advanced stage of Adimurai,[3] Kalaripayattu, and Silambam in Kerala and Tamil Nadu;[4][5] strikes are often targeted at the nerves and soft tissues.
While disguised as an old man, Murugan passed the knowledge of 108 Varmams to the sage Agastya[4] who then recorded it and disseminated the skill among his students.
[6] With numerous other scattered references to Varmam in Vedic and epic sources, it is certain that Tamil Nadu's early fighters knew and practiced attacking and defending vital points.