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.
