Kalari and Ayurveda- two fruits of the same tree planted by sages
By Guru Yogi Shivan
Spirituality is India’s gift to the world. Rishis, the ancient sages, who wrote the hymns of the Vedas, in their quest for the ultimate truth also gave to the mankind vast knowledge for the fulfillment of a meaningful life. It was these great sages and seers, who through their meditative prowess identified and developed the medicinal system of Ayurveda and the martial art form Kalaripayattu also known as Kalari for the upliftment of society and mankind as a whole.
For those unfamiliar with the ancient way of living, it may sound surprising as how can a seer or a sage can be guru (teacher) to a martial art form or how can he develop a system of medicine with elaborate description to the medicinal value of plants and treatment of diseases. To add to this ‘Bharatanatyam’ is one of the oldest and popular classical dance form in India. The origin of this dance form can be traced to the sage Bharata Muni, a Rishi who wrote the book ‘Natyashastra’. Such was the contributions of these great ancient sages that they touched every sphere of life.
Kalaripayattu or Kalari is the first and the mother of all martial art form in the world. The Kalari originated in South India and there are two styles in practice. The Guru of Thekkan (southern) Kalari is sage Agastya and guru of Vadakkan (Northern) Kalari is warrior sage Parasurama. Though the real recorded accounts of the ancient Indian history has faded away with time, due to a series of invasions that India underwent, there was undoubtedly a rich Indian culture and tradition that created a healthy society. This glorified past of the land Bharatam or Bharat which later came to be called as India can still be traced in various parts of the country and in Southern state of Kerala in particular. A number of South Asian martial arts are believed to have originated from Kalari and still shares many similar fighting styles.
Of these Kalari, other than being a martial art form has various dimensions to it and was developed for a greater cause. It was a martial art form practiced by men and women of all ages thereby building a healthy society. They specialized in one or more of the important weapons of that period including the spear, sword and shield apart from various techniques of fighting with bare hands. Kalari tournaments were often held with much pomp and splendour and these arenas were also the recruiting ground for the warriors of erstwhile King’s army.
The medical side of Kalari – Masters turned healers
Kalari also has a medical side to it. The masters of Kalari were also well versed in the art of healing which was taught to the disciples. This was incorporated in the martial art form by the seers so that those practicing Kalari were also able to keep diseases at bay. Also, they could heal if anyone of the fellow mates was wounded in the practice or during the actual performance of the martial arts. Those who learn Kalari are also taught various aspects of the human body as the flexibility of body, focused mind and the correct moves are considered vital elements in Kalari. The control of breath ( Pranayama) and its various manifestations were put to good use in the Kalari on the outer level. The master of Kalari is called as Gurukkaal and even today many approach them for treatments of various ailments mainly outer injuries, muscular problems and even broken bone. The masters of Kalari were learned scholars in various marmam - vital points in the human body. When in the battlefield, if the use of these vital points in the body was to neutralize the opponents, back home, it was used to cure diseases and has a medical purpose to it. Marmashastram (Science of Marmam) stresses on the knowledge of marmam and is also used for marma treatment. Kalaripayattu teachers were also qualified experts in various forms of massages (uzhichil) with medicinal oils. This they gave to students to increase physical flexibility and to develop a healthy body. It was Kalari that lend the massages to Ayurveda system of medicine. Thus, we can see how Kalari is closely knitted to Ayurveda and Yoga.
Though Kalari in ancient Kerala was practiced by women and men, still there were people who were unable to practice it. Mostly, young children and old people. When a Kalari practitioner was able to fight diseases affecting his body through various means of practice as laid down in Kalari, there was a need for proper treatment mechanisms for the common man. This is where the Ayurveda came in. The vision of the great Indian sages was so vast that they bridged this gap by formulating Ayurveda system of medicine.
The great Ayurveda system was developed by these sages not only by the trial and error method but also through immense knowledge they acquired by their intense meditation. It is claimed that even these sages were able to transform themselves in their deep meditative state to match the level of a plant to unravel their medicinal values and pass it on for the betterment of the mankind. The medicines were developed for both internal and external application. The modern-day medicine through their intense research and various laboratory tests are now slowly accepting the fact that various medicinal use of plants as laid down in Ayurveda are indeed true. But it may require many years for the western scientific acumen to fully grasp the knowledge that Indian seers gave to the mankind.
Having said this, though the Western reductionist science does not have space for the findings of the Indian seers, the newly evolved quantum physics has come very close to ancient Indian philosophy. German physicist, Hans-Peter Durr, who put forward the duality principle in quantum physics had said that he is just playing the second fiddle to the ancient Indian sages who taught the great Advaita philosophy to the world.
The spiritual side of Kalari – Joining the dance of the cosmos
The martial art form Kalari has a spiritual nature attached to it. Envisaged and passed on to the disciples by the great sages, Kalari’s spiritual side is little known today to the modern world. But those who practiced Kalari and went out in search of the ultimate truth that connects a human being deep within and outside were able to recognize the spiritual side of Kalari. The great warrior masters ‘Chekevars’ as they were called, through arduous practice of the martial art indeed were able to identify and tap this huge spiritual potential attached with Kalari. The great sages Agastya and Parasurama passed this vital aspect in Kalari to their disciples and it was passed on from one generation to the other by the Kalari gurus. These ‘Chekavars’ apart from Kalari also practiced ‘Dyana’ or meditation and were able to tap the cosmic energy.
It is said that a ‘Chekavar’ never tastes defeat on the battlefield. Kalari is practiced in ‘Kalam’ which can be translated as Kalari arena. Once the Chekavar declares a fight with an opponent (usually another Chekavar) they start Vritham (penance) and involves in ‘Dyana’ or meditation. Till the day of the fight, the Chekavar involves in these practice in the Kalari training centre. If a Chekavar does not return from the arena of the fight it means he is dead. That means the great Kalari warrior fights till the last breath and joins the dance of the cosmos once he leaves the body. That also implies that he never returns to bear the weight of a defeat. Thus, every Chekavar remains undefeated.
In a way, we are all Chekavars. This life of ours is the arena where ‘we’ the warriors are constantly fighting diseases. We should all be duty bound to lead a complete and meaningful life to evolve victorious. Kalari, Ayurveda, Yoga and all those passed on to mankind by the great sages of India will be a guiding light.
