Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu

Subject – Art and Culture

Context – Sankaranarayana Menon, the 93-year-old kalaripayattu exponent who has been conferred the Padma Shri for his contributions to martial arts.

Concept –

• Kalaripayattu, also known simply as Kalari, is an Indian martial art that originated in modern-day Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India.
• Kalaripayattu is known for its long-standing history within Indian martial arts. It is believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in India, with a history spanning over 3,000 years.
• Kalaripayattu is mentioned in the VadakkanPattukal, a collection of ballads written about the Chekavar of the Malabar region of Kerala.
• Kalaripayattu is a martial art designed for the ancient battlefield (the word “Kalari” meaning “battlefield”), with weapons and combative techniques that are unique to India.
• Like most Indian martial arts, Kalaripayattu contains rituals and philosophies inspired by Hinduism.
• The primary aim is the ultimate coordination between mind and body. Another focus of Kalaripayattu is specialisation in indigenous medicinal practices. Kalaris are also important centres of religious worship. Once the course is complete, one should engage in oil massage and practice to maintain shape.
  • The art also bases medical treatments upon concepts found in the ancient Indian medical text, the Ayurveda.
• Kalaripayattu is taught in accordance with the Indian guru-shishya system.
• Kalaripayattu differs from many other martial arts systems in the world in that weapon based techniques are taught first, and barehanded techniques are taught last.