Kerala is and has always been home to many ancient art forms, including dance, folk

songs, drama and holistic treatments. But one of the most ancient and probably the most

fascinating art form has been Kalarippayattu, a form of martial art which has been handed

down through generations.

Called Kalari for short, noone is precise about the age of this centuries-old tradition, but

most historians agree it has been around for at least 2000+ years. The origin of Kalari

have long been shrouded in the mists of time, but legends say that it descended from

Parasurama, master of all martial arts, who was a disciple of Lord Shiva. Parasurama

is credited with raising Kerala from the abyss of the Arabian Sea, and it is said that he

established 42 Gurukuls and set 21 masters to inculcate the principles of Kalari to watch

over and protect the land he had created. Gurukul is the place where the students of

Kalari are taught and nurtured.

This great art is mentioned in the Dhanur Veda, and the Vishnu Purana lists Kalari as

one of the 18 traditional branches of knowledge. The patron saint of Kalari is said to

be Sage Agastya, a holy man and ascetic, who was said to possess incredible physical

strength and unmatched powers of meditation and self-awareness. So much was his

mental strength that ancient folklore say that, when Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathi were

married, all the gods and goddesses were present at Mount Kailasa, causing the balance

of the world to shift, it was Agastya who was sent south to restore balance back to the

world. It is the essence of this mental strength and dexterity that Kalari has drawn its

basic concepts from.

In fact, the origins of popular martial arts such as kung-fu and judo can be traced back to

Kalari. It has been widely documented that an Indian sage named Bodhidharma brought

the knowledge of this art to China, to the ancient Shaolin temple, where he found the

resident monks listless and unable to protect themselves against marauders. He taught

them the principles of martial technique, using movements taken from animals found in

the wild, such as the tiger, crocodile, snake and others.

Though commonly viewed by an observer as a means of self-defence, the art of Kalari

is in no way just a martial art. A Kalari proponent is systematically trained in scientific

exercises and bringing flexibility and ergonomic harmony to his body and body organs.

He also learns about human physiology and how each part of the body can be trained and

conditioned to be used with speed, accuracy and effectiveness. The Veda states “ Human

is an immortal spirit encased in a perishable body so there should be points where spirit

hinges matter which are called `marmas` or vital points.” It is these vital points of human

body that Kalari seeks to bring into focus.

Kalari teaches that there are 108 vital points or marmas on the human body, and that an

attack on these points can cause pain, paralysis, disability or even death. These marmas

can also be stimulated for natural healing of the body or treatment for ailments such

as accidents, fractures, dislocations, rheumatism, paralysis, spondilitis and nervous

disorders. Students of Kalari are massaged by their gurukkal ( teacher ), with the feet and

using special medicated oils. This brings extreme flexibility and harmony to the body,

making them fast, agile and nubile.

Students are initiated to Kalari ideally from age 7, and it is not uncommon to see training

being imparted over a time of 10-12 years. A similarity can be drawn to the ancient

Greek city of Sparta, where similar customs have been followed. Practitioners are trained

in flexibility exercises, unarmed combat, and fighting with weapons such as the sword

and shield, spears, short knives, staves and a variety of other weapons. But the primary -

weapon the student learns to use is his mind. Meditation, self-control and inner peace are

the cornerstones of Kalari.

Kalari was a way of life in medieval times in Kerala. There were numerous gurukuls

and masters to train and nurture young boys and girls in this art. One of the types of

Kalari was Ankakalari, where they were trained to be warriors for their land and ruler.

Any disputes between kingdoms were often decided by a duel between a warrior of each

faction. These duels were called `Ankas`, and it was a public spectacle where thousands

would arrive to watch the Anka in a public arena. An Anka usually took place on a raised

platform and the fights were usually to the death. The fighters were paid handsomely

for their participation and it was considered to a matter of pride to take part in one. A

Kalari fighter was trained to be brave, fearless and act with honour, and they were well-

respected in their villages for their exploits.

The art of healing through Kalari – called Kalarichikilsa or Marmachikilsa has its roots

in traditional Ayurveda and Sidhaveda. It primarily uses very elaborate and specialized

massage techniques, employing medicinal oils and herbal preparations to effect natural

healing and revitalization of the body. It is also said to be very effective in getting rid of

body toxins and eliminates poisons.

This noble art was all but lost during the British rule in India. Fearful of uprisings,

a decree was stamped forbidding the carry of weapons, which led to a decline in the

number of duels, and subsequently, the number of gurukuls and masters. But it has found

a large number of followers in recent times, who have sought interest in learning the

basic roots of this ancient art. More popular now, is the massage healing therapy, which

has found note all over the world.

It also brings hope to find gurukuls springing up in various parts of kerala, seeking to

train young men and women in the art of meditation and self-restraint. This is indeed an

encouraging thought, considering that control over the mind and self-realization would

work wonders in today`s high pressure world.