Author : Sriman Mahavirya das

Email : manju.kalari@gmail.com

Date Produced : March 15, 2011

Editor : Sriman Subhananda Hari Das

Serial No. : 41 of 54

KALARI

THE MOTHER OF MARTIAL ARTS

STRUCTURE

What is Kalari? History of Kalari

Weapons in Kalaripayattu

Modern modifications and origin of other martial arts

Kalari Practice Stances in Kalari

Marma and Marma therapy

Role of Kalari in implementing Daiva Varnasrama Dharma

Shri Parasuram’s Vedic Martial Arts

Get- Involved

WHAT IS KALARI?

payattu(Malayalam:പയററ്)

derived from

payattuka meaning to

"fight/ exercise" or "to put

hard work into".

Kalari (Malayalam:കളരി) meaning school

The term Kalaripayattu is a compound from the words

WHAT IS KALARI?

Kalari is considered as the arena where a traditional

physio-psychological discipline is practiced which helps to

generate physical, mental and spiritual benefits. The

Kalari legacy is also considered as a scientific system of

physical-culture training beneficial to the modern

sportsman and physical culturist.

The arena of practicing this spiritual art is called as Kalari

which literally means a place where the knowledge is

being taught. The oriental architectonic science "VASTU

SASTRA" determines the architecture of the Kalari space

in a scientific manner.

HISTORY OF KALARI

Sage Parasurama is the master of all Martial Art forms

and is credited to be the re-claimer of Kerala from the

Arabian Sea known as Parasurama Srusthi. Kalaripayattu

originated in ancient South India.

One of the oldest fighting systems in existence

Kalaripayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset

forms, weaponry and healing methods.

HISTORY OF KALARI

Taught in Kerala

(including Tulunadu i.e.

Kasaragud, Mangalore

and Udupi ). The art was

learnt by Chinese

travelers and hence

travelled to China as well

as other Mongolian

countries.

WEAPONS IN KALARIPAYATTUVal Sword

Paricha Buckler

Kettukari/Neduvati/Shareeravadi/Piram

buStaff

Kurunthadi/Cheruvadi/Muchan Stick

Kuruvadi Short stick

Lathi Long stick

Kuntham Spear

Vettukathi Kukri/Machete

Gada Mace/Club

Churika Short sword

Maduvu Deer-horn dagger

Kattari Dagger

Otta Curved stick

Urumi/Chuttuval Flexible sword

WEAPONS IN KALARIPAYATTU

MODERN MODIFICATIONS AND

ORIGIN OF OTHER MARTIAL

ARTS

Kung- fu, popularized by the monks of the Shoaling

Temple traces its ancestry to Bodhi Dharma - an Indian

Buddhist monk and Kalaripayattu master.

Other Martial Arts:

Kung Fu – China

Karate – Japan

Thai Kick boxing – Ong Bak – Thailand

Taekwondo – Korea etc.

KALARI PRACTICE

Specific commands associated with each exercise are called vaytari.

Kaalkal

Kaalkal literally means legs. In the kalari context, it refers to kicks as well as leg-raising exercises (kaal eduppu) to increase flexibility.

Paada chakram (round kick- inside to outside)

Paada Bhramanam (round kick- outside to inside)

ner kaal (straight kick)

kona kaal (right to left, left to right kick)

veethi kaal (round kick - inside out)

ner-kona-veethi kaal (combined kick)

thirichi kaal (both side kick - kick straight turn around and kick)

aga kaal (round kick - outside in)

iruththi kaal (kick and sit)

iruththi kaal 2 (kick and sit - turn and sit)

Kalari: Few photos

STANCES IN KALARI

Gajavadivu Elephant stance

Simhavadivu Lion stance

Asvavadivu Horse stance

Varahavadivu Boar stance

Sarpavadivu Snake stance

Marjaravadivu Cat stance

Kukkuvadivu Rooster stance

MatsyavadivuFish stance (Gurukkal Govindankutty Nayar

and the C.V.N. Style)

MayuravadivuPeacock stance (Gurukkal P. K. Balan

Style)

MARMA AND MARMA THERAPY

MARMA AND MARMA THERAPY

You cannot be a fighter without knowing how to heal

your wounds.

The word 'marma' was used for the first time in

Atharva Veda (ancient Indian scripture).

The main distinguishing feature of the kalaripayattu

master's medical expertise from that of others is his

psycho-physiological training as a martial artist and

his practical knowledge of the body's vital spots

'Marma'.

MARMA AND MARMA THERAPY

According to marma adi, our body is crisscrossed like

irrigation channels with meridians, a closed

interconnecting system through which prana flows in

the body. While acupressure, or shiatsu, follows a 14-

meridian theory (with 361 marma or tsubo points),

marma shastra believes there are 26 meridians in all.

Of these, 12 are located in pairs on the left and right

sides.

In addition to their martial art expertise, Kerala's

traditional Kalaripayattu practitioners are also highly

skilled in this therapy form.

MARMA AND MARMA THERAPY

Treatments cover specific injuries or pathological

conditions including bruises, joint dislocations, bone

fractures, emaciation of muscles and limbs and post

operative orthopedic rehabilitation. The therapies also

include the emergency counter-applications for

potentially deadly shocks or blows to the body's vital

spots, Marma. The therapies also include various

internal medications specified according to the

particular situation.

MARMA AND MARMA CHIKITSHATREATMENT

ROLE OF KALARI IN

IMPLEMENTING

DAIVA VARNASRAMA DHARMA

Martial Arts is essential for ksatriya training

Self-defense is an art for everyone

Protection is especially meant for cows, brahmanas,

women, children and old men

Kalari provides training to all varnas, especially to the

ksatriya varna (ksatriya gurukula)

Kalari aims to revive the ancient marma treatment to

help the suffering once again become contributors to

the society

VARNASRAMA COLLEGE

EFFORTS OF DAIVA

VARNASRAMA MINISTRY

The ministry will establish

“Shri Parasuram’s Vedic Martial Arts”.

The ministry will help introduce “Ksatriya

Gurukulas” to propagate the practice of Kalari.

The Ksatriya Dharma department of the Daiva

Varnasrama Ministry focuses on “protection”,

“administration” and “welfare” of the general

society.

Sriman Mahavirya das

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Name Sriman Mahavirya das

Age and Gender 31, Male

Country/Province of Origin India, Karnataka

Educational Degree and Year Kalari Graduate, 2006

Educational Institution Hindustan Kalari Sangam , Kerela

Professional Work/Experience Instructor/Marma Therapist

Affiliation with ISKCON Since 2011

Present Service in ISKCON Instructor/Therapist