Kalaripayattu
Indian martial art from Kerala
Kalaripayattu (Malayalam: [kɐɭɐɾipːɐjɐtːɨ̆]), also known simply as Kalari, is an Indian martial art that originated in modern-day Kerala during the 3rd century BCE.
Etymology
Kalaripayattu is a martial art which developed out of combat techniques of the 11th–12th century battlefield, with weapons and combative techniques that are unique to Kerala. The word Kalaripayattu is a combination of two Malayalam words – kalari (training ground or battleground) and payattu (training of martial arts), which is roughly translated as "practice in the arts of the battlefield." Kalari may also be derived from the Malayalam or Sanskrit term Khaloorika, which is the name of a goddess associated with Shaktism who is worshipped in Kalaripayattu.
The Kamika Agama 5th century CE South Indian ancient text from the Shaiva Agama tradition, discusses the construction of the Khaloorika as a place for military exercise.
History
Associations with Indian folklore and legends
According to legend, Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, learned the art from Shiva, and taught it to the original settlers of Kerala shortly after bringing Kerala up from the ocean floor. A song in Malayalam refers to Parashurama's creation of Kerala, and credits him with the establishment of the first 108 kalaris throughout Kerala, along with the instruction of the first 21 Kalaripayattu gurus in Kerala on the destruction of enemies.
According to another legend, Ayyappa, a war deity from Kerala, learned Kalaripayattu in the Cheerappanchira Kalari in Muhamma.
Early history
According to Philip Zarrilli, the Dravidian combat techniques of the Sangam period (600 BCE – 300 CE) and Sanskritic Dhanur Vedic traditions were the earliest precursors to Kalaripayattu. Each warrior in the Sangam era received regular military training in target practice, horse and elephant riding. They specialized in one or more of the important weapons of the period including the spear (vel), sword (val), shield (kedaham), and bow and arrow (vil ambu).
Late medieval period (c.
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