Every body knows China & Japan even the Koreans to be Martial Races but as the legend goes that Indians were forefathers of all the martial Arts of this whole region. They would know if they heard of KALARIPYATTU – the Martial Art of Kerala in Southwest of Indian Peninsula.
As the legend goes BodhiDharma a prince of Kerala (South West India) traveled to China around 540 AD as a Budhist monk and came to Shoulin-Szu monastery in Hunan province. Finding there that the monks are in bad conditions, being attacked by both men and animals, he taught them ‘Shin Palo Han Sho’ (Eighteen hands of Lo) based on attacking stances of different animals. This was the origin of ‘Chuan Fa’ popularly called Kung -Fu. BodhiDharma is also attributed with the evolution of Zen (deriving from Dhyan in Sanskrit) by amalgamating Taoist & Confucian thought with Vedantic ideas of Self. Monks in Shoulin Szu perfected the Art by incorporating within it the principles of acupuncture. Chinese acumen made Chuan Fa/Kung Fu the most mystic of all art forms incorporating Acupuncture & thus improving on from India’s Acupressure. It later took many forms, with Southern Chinese emphasizing head & arm techniques and Northerners preferring legwork-precursor of Koreans Tae Kwon Do.
These arts came gradually through Ryukyu Chain of island – Okinawa particularly- to Japan in the Asoka period (552-645AD) when Buddhism too was introduced from China. But the real development took place of the Art & of Zen took place in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) after Minamoto Yoritomo became the first Shogun in 1192 AD and ‘Bushido’ evolved. Shogun Yoritomo imposed a rigid hierarchical structure that started with the Emperor with his divine origin, followed by the Shogun, the Daimyo or feudal lords, the Bushi or Samurais as they are collectively called, and then the peasants, artisans & merchants. Samurais were bound by an iron clad Bushido (Bushi-Warrior & Do-way) emphasizing bravery honor, duty, sacrifice, self control. Since these virtues matched the tenets of Zen perfectly it became their way of life and it is difficult to talk about martial art without understanding Zen. To quote ‘Go Rin No Sho,’ “In Zen there are no elaborations it aims directly at the true nature of things. All martial art is based on the principles that knowledge is a full circle ---beginners & masters behave in the same way.
Kamakazee were in the make. With the birth of Ninjatsu as a result of social synthesis Ninjas (literally stealers-in) evolved from the Hinin class the lowliest in social tier. They were believed to be detached from Bushido and their capabilities began where even the most formidable Bushi gave in, eg. Kabudera (black arts & powerful hypnotism), Shichi-Ho-De (disguise), Yogen (Chemists), Yoko Aruki (shadow & sideways walking) and there infamous Suriken (poisen tipped darts that pierce metals) the deadliest weapons of Japan. They were children of the dark and not being bound by the Bushido, ruthless & cold blooded mercenaries whom anyone could employ.
The epicenter of this Tsunami was BodhiDhamma the prince of Kerala (India) who was a Kalari master & for him waves lashed the islands of Japan
Kalaripyattu can be traced 3000 years back & the father of this Art is said to be Rishi Parasurama (ref:Mahabharata & Ramayana the worlds greatest Epics), who is said to have vanquished the ‘ksyatriyas’ the samurai class of India
This Art is practiced in a small enclosure called Kalari (21ft/42ft) in size. The entrance faces the East. In southeast corner is a 7 tiered platform called ‘Poothara’ which houses the guardian deity of the Kalari. These 7 steps symbolizes force, patience, command powers, animal postures, sounds of animals, training & grace of the spirit god.
Other deities mainly of the ‘Shakti’ cult e.g. Lord Shiva & the Mother Power are installed in the corners. The western wall have images of past Kalari Gurus.
The word may also have been derived fom Sanskrit (Kala-weeds & Ari-enemy).Thus Kalari literally means weeding out the enemy.
It was crafted in ancient South India inspired by raw power & majestic strengths of animal forms like lion, tiger, wild boar, snake, elephant ect. These laid down the combat codes for warring clans of Cholas, Cheras & Pandyas (100yrs war) in the middle ages. It uses different types of weapons - short sticks (muchan), kettukari (long staff), urumi (long flexible swords), otta (curved sticks), kattaram (dagger) & bare hands.
Today with the advent of tanks & planes it may have lost its significance as a mortal combat but is emerging as a new messiah inspiring dances, theatre, films & most importantly in Health & fitness.
Kalari is now a panacea for many deseases. It is considered as an alternative form of treatment. This was possible as the Kalari training not only incorporates the tenets of vanquishing the enemy but reviving & resusceting the vanquished, using Ayurveda, Acupressure, medicated oils, pastes mainly to treat muscle, bones & vital organs.
The world famous medicated massage (UZHICHIL) is now used to make body supple, stimulates the nervous system, increases blood circulation & relaxes the muscles. Only professionals can provide this as our has 108 nerve centres (marmas) of which 64 called Kulamarmas are deadly. I have taken this massage & its beyond this world. Do try out if you happen to be around this part of the world.
There are many Indian Martial Art forms e.g. ‘Thangta’ of Manipur – just wait for my next blog.
Courtesy: www.kalaripayattu.org & Chetan Desai (Deep Focus Film Quarterly)
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