Millenniums ago Lord Parashurama, the warrior sage, taught the divine knowledge of Kalaripayattu to a group of people. Kalaripayattu, since then has been used for protection of virtue and submission of the vice, an illustrious martial tradition with few parallels in the history of our human civilization. It is a unique knowledge that when mastered enables the practitioner to hurt as well as heal. Kalaripayattu, experienced a period of decline during the British Raj, when it had been outlawed for fear of rebellion, but a new confident India is again surging to rediscover its roots and Kalaripayattu is witnessing a renaissance.
I have since long been a very active reader of history books, narratives and documentaries on Indian culture and past traditions, Kalaripayattu had hence never been an unknown sea for me. Watching innumerable videos over YouTube, and articles on Wikipedia, I had kept my database on Kalaripayattu updated. Nothing but a severe bout of back-pain could actually give me the idea to start scouting about possible Kalari school in Delhi which would offer me a regimented physical activity to mitigate my lumber pain forever. Searching the centre was not difficult as internet has made our lives much easier. The very first day of exercise gave me an idea what I have missed for all this time, I have been cursing myself as to how I could not join at-least a year earlier. Kalaripayattu, which combines yoga postures with those of Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Katthakkali, appears as a surreal choreography perfected over millenniums of human interaction with our flora, fauna and environment.
Martial arts are known to instill into the practitioner a sense of discipline and order. A balanced mind and body are an asset to the society forming the basic building blocks of a nation of civilized gentile. Before we can command our subordinates or younger ones, our minds must be able to command our bodies and martial arts make it achieve. As American statesman George Washington famously once said about discipline, “Nothing is more harmful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army superiority over another”. Japan and Korea are societies known for discipline and order, it was only here that after catastrophic and annihilating wars both of these nations rose like phoenix to lead the world in technological development. Both of these societies have extended and deep rooted martial traditions which advocate a synchronized union of mind and body. Kalaripayattu infuses courage into the mind of the practitioner by making him or her fearless confronting the sin and sinner. In the immortal words of the great Sage Thiruvalluvar, “Mental courage is true manhood, Lacking that man is like a wood”. It is important to gather all our vital energies and concentrate on the beats of the commands in order to create a union of mind and body. Kalaripayattu is therefore essential for us to rejuvenate our pride and civility, as it weaponizes us against fear, indiscipline and crime.
My personal experience of learning Kalaripayattu has been very gratifying both mentally and physically. I had joined Kalaripayattu as an outdoor activity which can give me a great thorough workout besides all its heritage which I wanted to experience, but it has also given me some very good friends. The circle I have been able to make here in class gives me a wider horizon which I otherwise would miss sitting in office or going on a hike with friends. Kalaripayattu has been healing me of my lumber related problems and I have seen myself more confident while handling situations not to discount the fact being in the line of disciples of the great sage Lord Parashurama. I wish we could master and popularize Kalaripayattu even more. There lies the path to our personal and social growth.
I have since long been a very active reader of history books, narratives and documentaries on Indian culture and past traditions, Kalaripayattu had hence never been an unknown sea for me. Watching innumerable videos over YouTube, and articles on Wikipedia, I had kept my database on Kalaripayattu updated. Nothing but a severe bout of back-pain could actually give me the idea to start scouting about possible Kalari school in Delhi which would offer me a regimented physical activity to mitigate my lumber pain forever. Searching the centre was not difficult as internet has made our lives much easier. The very first day of exercise gave me an idea what I have missed for all this time, I have been cursing myself as to how I could not join at-least a year earlier. Kalaripayattu, which combines yoga postures with those of Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Katthakkali, appears as a surreal choreography perfected over millenniums of human interaction with our flora, fauna and environment.
Martial arts are known to instill into the practitioner a sense of discipline and order. A balanced mind and body are an asset to the society forming the basic building blocks of a nation of civilized gentile. Before we can command our subordinates or younger ones, our minds must be able to command our bodies and martial arts make it achieve. As American statesman George Washington famously once said about discipline, “Nothing is more harmful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army superiority over another”. Japan and Korea are societies known for discipline and order, it was only here that after catastrophic and annihilating wars both of these nations rose like phoenix to lead the world in technological development. Both of these societies have extended and deep rooted martial traditions which advocate a synchronized union of mind and body. Kalaripayattu infuses courage into the mind of the practitioner by making him or her fearless confronting the sin and sinner. In the immortal words of the great Sage Thiruvalluvar, “Mental courage is true manhood, Lacking that man is like a wood”. It is important to gather all our vital energies and concentrate on the beats of the commands in order to create a union of mind and body. Kalaripayattu is therefore essential for us to rejuvenate our pride and civility, as it weaponizes us against fear, indiscipline and crime.
My personal experience of learning Kalaripayattu has been very gratifying both mentally and physically. I had joined Kalaripayattu as an outdoor activity which can give me a great thorough workout besides all its heritage which I wanted to experience, but it has also given me some very good friends. The circle I have been able to make here in class gives me a wider horizon which I otherwise would miss sitting in office or going on a hike with friends. Kalaripayattu has been healing me of my lumber related problems and I have seen myself more confident while handling situations not to discount the fact being in the line of disciples of the great sage Lord Parashurama. I wish we could master and popularize Kalaripayattu even more. There lies the path to our personal and social growth.
