Kalaripayattu-The Mother of all Martial Arts

K-a-l-a-r-i-p-a-y-a-t-t-u

K-a-l-a-r-i-p-a-y-a-t-t-u. If you are not a Keralite and a person with limited knowledge of the history and heritage of the south Indian state of Kerala you will find difficult to read the letters together, and make a single word out of them. Don't get disheartened .You are not the first and won't be the last. It isairrefutable fact that among Indian languages, Malayalam is a real tongue twister and even Indians from other states will find it difficult to read the word and pronounce it correctly(not to mention foreigners).Despite all this, people have heard or read abouteither from the internet or from magazines or newspaper articles. Sowhat is the big deal about this word? What is all the fuss about?

Kalaripayattu is ancient martial arts form with a legacy which can be traced back beyond 2 millennia. A few decades back this ancient martial arts system was on the verge of fading away into oblivion due to the lackluster attitude of Indian youth who preferred Oriental martial art forms. Ironically on the base of historical facts it can be concluded that it was this native form of martial arts which gave birth to various other Oriental forms of martial arts like kung-Fu, Karate, Taekwondo etc. Legend connects the origin of Kalaripayattu with the Sage Parasurama who is believed to be the one who reclaimed the land of Kerala from the sea. May be most people might find it a little bit too nave to rely on legends when it comes to analysis of historical facts .Until recent past, historians were of different opinions as far as thecultural and social legacy of ancient Kerala was concerned. This used to be a major handicap to the advocates of the theory that Kalaripayattu was the mother of all martial arts. Latest archeological excavations point fingers at the fact that 2 millennia back there was a well-developed civilization on the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. Some Historians especially those who were keen to prove that Civilization in India began only with the advent of the Aryans were opposed to this. But now it is no more a bone of contention among historians as excavations in Kerala proved that in fact there was a much superior urban civilization in India before the advent of the Aryans. Furthermore it is now an established fact that in the first millennium A.D there were3 dominant dynasties in south India namely the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Cheras. In the Sangam literature works of those times we find references thatKalaripayattu laid down the combat code of the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas.So,Whatever be the history of the origin of Kerala, it might be safe to conclude that Kalaripayattu originated in ancient South India (now Kerala) as a result of inspiration drawn from the graceful and effective attacking movements of animals like tiger, elephant and wild boar. It can be safely assumed that in course of time, the movements which in the beginning must have been crude imitations of animal styles of attack were gradually modified and became more refined and effective. Along with the refinement of movements came the factor of strict discipline without which Kalaripayattu would have faded away a long time ago.

Kung-Fu, the famous martial arts form popularized by the monks of the Shoaling Temple traces its origins to a certain Bodhi Dharma - an Indian Buddhist monk from south India and Kalaripayattu master. In the light of all the above stated facts which are proof of theexistenceof a well developed civilization in ancient South India gave importance to all aspects of life equally.Nobody has any doubts whatsoever about the fact that Ayurveda-the science of life originated in India thousands of years back.There is a fact of which most historians are unaware of.In Ayurveda there is a branch of treatment which specialises in treatments for sports injuries.Even the name-Kalarichikilsa'(Kalari treatment) is proof of the fact that the roots of Kalaripayattu go down the centuries.On the base of such proof it can be safely stated that Kalaripayattu is indeed the mother of all martial arts.

Following the collapse of the princely states and the advent of free India - Kalaripayattu had lost its significance as a mortal combat code. In a Phoenix-like resurrection, Kalaripayattu is today emerging in a new avatar - an ancient art form - a source of inspiration for self-expression in dance forms - both traditional and contemporary, in theatre, in fitness and in movies too. All over Kerala there are institutions which teach Kalaripayattu in the very same way it used to be hundreds of years back strictly holding on to the traditions and customs of those times. At least some of these institutions, taking into consideration the fast pace of modern man's life have compromised with the strict rules laid down by the forefathers and teach Kalaripayattu like all other forms of martial arts.

Gods own country is welcoming everybody with open arms to a walk down the path of the history of martial arts.

Kalaripayattu-The Mother of all Martial Arts

By: sreerangomayur

POST COMMENT

Three Steps To Making Deadly Martial Art Techniques Ed Parker And Bruce Lee Were Traitors To The Martial Arts! Three Steps To Making Deadly Martial Arts Moves Ed Parker And Bruce Lee Guilty Of Treason To The Martial Arts! In Search Of The Best Martial Arts Lessons Aikido : One Of The Famous Japanese Martial Art The Martial Arts As A Pathway To The God Concept Understanding An Ascetic To Become A Neutronic Being Through The Martial Arts Three Street Fighting Martial Arts Tricks That Don't Work Too Well! Martial Arts Belts - How Does The System Work? Real Information Concerning Black Belt Rankings In The Various Martial Arts Losing Weight With Martial Arts Using Flux Theory To Understand Levels And Types Of Fah Jing In The Martial Arts