489 There was an institution called " Danvantari Mahal " a medical institute of research in medicine. - There was also an hospital called “Arogya Salai" probably in the South Main Street, Thanjavur. There were lots of recipes for the diseases of domestic arid wild animals and some of the recipes bear the name of the doctor or physician. who prescribed it. With referenee to these tested prescriptions, many Tamil poets have written medical books in Tamil which are propularly known by the name " Sarabhendra Vaidya Muraigal ”. - The authors of the series are Tiruvengadam Pillai, Velayutha Vathiyar, Kottaiyur Sivakkolundu Desikar, Venkatachalam Pillai and Subba Rayak Kavirayar. --
- They deal with several diseases as Garbhini Bala Roga (diseases of pregnant women and children); Nayana roga ( diseases of the eyes) ; Vata roga ( diseases of nerves and joints); Gunma roga (stomach troubles); Nirizhivu ( diabetes and other urinary diseases ); Visha Vaidyam (poisonous bites and drugs ); Kshaya rogam (Asthma, cough etc.); Janni rogam ( Delirium ) ; and Pandu Kamalai (anaemia and jaundice ).
There were hospitals attached to some of the choultries, and pilgrims who fell sick were attended to with respect and kindness till their recovery. There was a place called “Aushadak Kottadi” wherein the medicines were kept in stock and distributed. 20. Acts of austerity and festivities The Nagapanchami Vrata (worshipping live snakes and offering of -nik); the Deepavali; the Bavu Biz (the feasting of brother by a sister and vice versa); Gowri Pooja (worshipping of Gowri); Upanga Lalita ( in the month of Asvija); Harithalika (Pooja to Parvati in the month of Bhadrapada); one Kuladharma (puja performed on specific days throughout the year in the chandramouleeswara Swami Temple within the fort and Puja to the "TONKS); the somavara Amavasya (the new moon on Monday); the Navaratri; the Sankaranti (when Sivalingam is made of butter and Parvati of jaggery and presented to Brahmins); the Vinayaka Chaturti; the Sravana Somavara (Mondays in the month of Sravana); the Karthika Somavara (Mondys in the -nonth of Karthikai); Sri Rama Navami; the Kaman Pandigai ( the Holi festival); and Janavari Pandigai (the Christmas) were among the feasts and tastivities conducted regularly in the palace. 62
