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Martial Arts > Kalari

Kalari is a martial art of Kerala. The origin of the Dravidian word Kalari itself is doubtful, whether it is derived from the Sanskrit word Khalurika or vice versa. The meaning of the word is - a parade place for military exercises. The word is used to mean both military training centre and a place for acquisition of knowledge. Kalari also means a temple where the family deity presides. The word has also other meanings like assembly, business place etc.

Kalari has no accompanying instruments to punctuate its movements. The locomotion and bodily throws and thrusts of the practitioner are done according to verbal instructions of the teacher (Gurukkal) which are articulated in the mould of a special rhythm. Kalari is responsible mainly for the stronger elements of Kerala's dance and culture. Kalari practices gives to any dancer, female or male, proper grounding for developing skillfulness and flexibility of body. The basic stance of Kathakali resembles that of Kalari very much. The 'Chuzhippu' in Kathakali has directly sprung from the 'Vadivu' in Kalari. A Vadivu starts with a static pose which later gets charged with movement. Gaja (elephant), Aswa (horse), Kukkuta (cock), Marjara (cat), Narasimha (half lion and half man - Vishnu's incarnation), Matsya (fish) and Sarpa (snake) are poses which a student of Kalari practices as a part of his offence and defence exercises. The tandava type of movement in Kalari developed from the tradition comprising various group and individual martial forms inherited from the tribal society. One of the peculiarities of the concept of movement in the Kalari system is that it is conceived as a kind of expression of an inner urge or bhava. The term 'Sarirabhava' generally used in Kalari rightly emphasises this point and it has great relevance to Indian concept of acting. The four components of Kalari are angika, aharyya, vachika and satvika, though the practice of Sarirabhava teaches the rudimentary lessons of the combination of angika and satvika.

Kalari culture is known to Kerala from pre historic days. But there were Kalaris belonging to many communities of Dravidian origin like Pulaya and Parayas also. There was a developed system of medicine, practiced in all Kalaris and this formed a branch of Ayurveda. This system of medicine known as 'Kalari Marma Chikitsa' has earned wide popularity. Chanting of mantras without sound is also done for concentrating the mind. Now the mantras have gone out of use and Kalari is only practiced as a means of physical exercise and medicine.

There are few Kalari institutions and individual gurus in the stage engaged in continuing this system in this pristine form. Among them, C.V.N Kalari is a leading institution. The late Sri C.V Narayanan Nair Gurukkal (in whose memory the C.V.N Kalari has been established), his son Gurukkal C.V Govindankutty Nair, the late Sri. Sridharan Nair of Chirakkal are some of the prominent names in the field of Kalari.

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In the feudal society of Kerala there were suicide squads, whose motto was to kill or get killed. These dare-devil type of soldiers were known as Chavettupada. The members of the squads were dedicated to the presiding deities of famous temples and the soldiers were supposed to carry out the orders of the goddess in fighting the enemies. The soldiers were given rigorous training in the martial arts and were maintained for the protection of famous temples. The tendency to give physical training to the whole society resulted in many disastrous consequences like constant enmity between classes and the resultant bloodshed. But training in physical fitness helped in keeping a healthy community.