 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2024) |
T. V. Sambasivam Pillai | |
|---|---|
டி. வி. சாம்பசிவம் பிள்ளை | |
 Commemorative 2019 five-rupee stamp issued in memory of Pillai | |
| Born | 19 September 1880 |
| Died | 12 November 1953 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Scholar of Siddha medicine |
Notable work | Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany and Allied Sciences |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 5 |
Tanjore Vilviah Sambasivam Pillai (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., 19 September 1880 – 12 November 1953) was a Tamil scholar. He was best known for the Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany, and Allied Sciences, a reference work in Siddha medicine.[1]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Pillai was born on 19 September 1880 in Bangalore. He was the eldest son of Vilviah Manniar and Manonmani Ammal. His family was from the village of Kamuganchenthangudi, near Tanjore, and later migrated to Bangalore.[2][3] A plague outbreak in Bangalore eventually led his family to return to their village.
Pillai completed his education in Bangalore and was later appointed as a clerk in the Chennai City Police Commissioner's office.[2][3]
In 1903, he married Duraikannu Ammal, with whom he had five sons; all of whom died in childhood due to unknown causes.[citation needed] Duraikannu Ammal died in 1914 due to cholera.[2] In 1916, Pillai remarried, this time to Ammani Ammal, who died in 1917 during childbirth.[2] After these personal losses, Pillai shifted his focus to studying Siddha medicine despite not having formal medical training.[citation needed]
During his studies, he recognized the absence of an authoritative English reference in Siddha medicine, which motivated him to compile the Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany, and Allied Sciences. The dictionary was published in volumes, some of which were released posthumously.[2][4]
In recognition of his work, in 1949, the Government of Tamil Nadu, University of Madras and University of Mysore sanctioned 5000 rupees each as financial assistance for his research and accommodation at Triplicane, Chennai.[5][6]
Pillai died on 12 November 1953.[2]
On 30 August 2019, the Government of India issued a commemorative five-rupee stamp in the "Masters of AYUSH" series, recognizing the services of twelve modern masters of Indian systems of medicine, which included him.[7][8][9]
Works[edit | edit source]
Pillai spent nearly 16 years collecting material for the Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany, and Applied Sciences. In 1938, he compiled and published two volumes of his work at his own expense, but could only partially publish the third volume. The remaining part was published with assistance from the Government of Tamil Nadu.[10] The fourth and fifth volumes were published in 1977 and 1978, respectively by G. D. Naidu and his son G. D. N. Gopal.[citation needed]
Pillai's dictionary provides information about plants, minerals, metals, and animals used in Siddha medicine. Consisting of five volumes, it spans 6,537 pages and contains nearly 80,000 words. The work provides translations for Tamil words in English and describes and explains each word with appropriate annotations.[citation needed]
The dictionary was renamed The Greatness of Siddha Medicine and was published at the second World Tamil Research Conference, held in Chennai in 1968.[citation needed] The dictionary is cited in academic research related to Siddha medicine and Tamil literature.[8]
| Volumes | Part | Publisher, year | Pages | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | I | Research Institute of Siddhars Science, 1938 | 880 | It covers Tamil letters: A, Aa, and I (3 letters).
240 pages are occupied by a forward, containing research material under 27 headings. These include the topics "macrocosm vs. microcosm", "astrology in medicine", "eastern physiology", "the five elements", "humoral pathology", "science of breath", "Prana", "science of pulse", "diseases and their cure", "ancient chemistry", "alchemy", "rejuvenation", "immortality", "the ethics of a good physician", and others. |
| I | II | Research Institute of Siddhars Science, 1938 | 862 | It covers Tamil letters: i, ee, u, oo, e, ae, i, o, oa, ou (10 letters). |
| II | I | Research Institute of Siddhars Science, 1938 | 800 | It covers Tamil letters: Ka, Kaa (2 letters).
This volume consists of dictionary content from ‘Ka' to ‘Kow' in the Tamil alphabet, with 774 pages. |
| II | II | Research Institute of Siddhars Science, 1938 | 536 | It covers Tamil letters: 'Ki' to 'Kou' (10 letters).
This volume consists of dictionary content from the letters ‘Ka' to ‘Kow' in the Tamil alphabet, with 774 pages. |
| III | - | The Directorate of Indian Medicine, 1977 | 472 | It covers Tamil letters: Sa, saa, si (3 letters).
This volume consists of dictionary content from the letters ‘Cha' to ‘Chi' in the Tamil alphabet, with 774 pages. |
| IV | I | The Directorate of Indian Medicine, 1977 | 1020 | It covers the 'Si-sow, nja' series, 'da' series to 'tha, thaa' (36 letters).
This volume consists of dictionary content from 'Si' to 'Now' in the Tamil alphabet. It was published posthumously. |
| IV | II | The Directorate of Indian Medicine, 1978 | 980 | It covers the 'Thi-thow' to 'Nha' series (22 letters).
This volume consists of dictionary content from 'Si' to 'Now' in the Tamil alphabet. It was published posthumously. |
| V | - | The Directorate of Indian Medicine, 1978 | 1292 | It covers the 'Pa' series to 'Nau' series (120 letters).
This volume consists of dictionary content from 'Pa' to 'Jo' in the Tamil alphabet. |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Tamil - English dictionary of medicine, chemistry, botany and allied sciences". www.tamildigitallibrary.in. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "SEARCHi - Siddha Medical Dictionary - TV Sambasivam pillai". searchiccrs.com. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Stamp of best author of Siddha medicine to be released by PM". www.deccanchronicle.com. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ↑ "Books authored by T.V. Sambasivam Pillai". www.exoticindiaart.com. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ↑ Assurances, Madras (India : State) Legislature Legislative Council Committee on (1967). Report. Government of Madras.
- ↑ "T.V. Sambasivam Pillai". Mintage World. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ↑ "PM to release special stamps on 12 unsung 'Rockstars of AYUSH' | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. PTI. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Stamp of best author of Siddha medicine to be released by PM". Deccan Chronicle. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ↑ Wujastyk, Dagmar; Smith, Frederick M. (9 September 2013). Modern and Global Ayurveda: Pluralism and Paradigms. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-7816-5.
- ↑ Rajabhoosanam Mannayar. Siddha Maruthuva Methai T.V.Sambasivam Pillai. Chennai; Guruvarul Press; 2002. p 5-30.
- ↑ Lavanya, A.; Kumar, S.; Geetha, A.; Muralidass, S. D.; Kannan, M.; Sathiyarajeswaran, P. (October 2019). "Book Review". Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 10 (4): 319–322. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2019.09.006. PMC 6938865.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany and Allied Sciences, Vol.1 | Wikimedia
- Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany and Allied Sciences, Vol.2 | Wikimedia
- Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany and Allied Sciences, Vol.3 | Wikimedia
- Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany and Allied Sciences, Vol.4 | Wikimedia
- Tamil-English Dictionary of Medicine, Chemistry, Botany and Allied Sciences, Vol.5 | Wikimedia