Kalari

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The traditional training of Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala a small state in south India, is always done inside the Kalari (literally, threshing floor or battlefield), which is a specially constructed practice area. Payattu means 'exercise in arms or practice'.

Every Kalari has a Puttara (meaning "platform where flowers are kept" in the Malayalam language). It's a seven tiered platform placed in the south-west corner of every Kalari, housing the guardian deity of the Kalari. The seven tiers symbolise the seven abilities that each person must possess: Vignesva (strength), Channiga (patience), Vishnu (power to command), Vadugashcha (the posture), Tadaguru (training), Kali (the expression) and Vakasta - purushu (sound). Other deities, most of them incarnations of the Bhagavathi or Shiva, are installed in the corners. Flowers, incense and water are offered to the deity every day. Before starting the day's practice, it is the norm for practitioners to pray to the deity. Not only is the Kalari a temple of learning, but it is also a temple of religious worship with a cult and ritual of its own.

There is also a Guruthara inside all kalaris. Guruttara means "the place where a lamp is kept burning in reverence to all the gurus (masters) of the kalari".

[edit] Construction of a Kalari

Traditionally the Kalari is constructed by digging a hollow in the ground forming a sunken area four feet in depth, forty-two feet in length and twenty-one feet in breadth. This is usually called KuzhiKalari. Kuzhi means "portions formed by caving in the earth" in the Malayalam language.

The entrance to the Kalari is in the east, to let in the morning sunlight, and leads into the forty-two foot leg running East-West while the twenty-one foot leg runs North-South. Another consideration taken when constructing the kalari is that it is built in the south-west side of the main plot, just like the puttara which is kept in the South-West corner of the Kalari itself. The floor of the Kalari is leveled using mud.

[edit] AnkaKalari and Ankathattu

Ankathattu is a four to six feet high platform constructed temporarily for the purpose of fighting duels. Ankam means war in the Malayalam language. This platform is constructed as per tradition and is in the center of the ground from where people can watch the fight. This place altogether is called AnkaKalari.

A few centuries back in Kerala, south India, quarrels between local rulers were resolved by fixing an Ankam, a duel to the death, between two Ankachekavars, each ruler being represented by one Ankachekavar. The ruler represented by the surviving Ankachekavar was considered the winner.

[edit] See also

Indian martial arts
Various Indian martial arts
Adithada - Angampora - Bothati - But Marma Atti - Chakram - Gatka - Inbuan Wrestling - Kabaddi - Kalarippayattu - Kuttu Varisai - Lathi - Malla-yuddha - Mallakrida - Malyutham - Marma Adi - Mizo Inchai - Mukna - Niyuddha-kride - Pata - Pehlwani - Sarit Sarak - Shastar Vidiya - Silambam Nillaikalakki - Savasu - Thang Ta - Varma Kalai - Vajra Mushti / Vajra Mukti
Notable Practitioners
The Great Gama - Phillip Zarrilli - Karl Gotch - John Will - Jyesthimallas - Gobar Goho - Imam Baksh Pahalwan - Paul Whitrod - Gulam
Related articles
Kshatriya - Yoga - Indian mêlée weapons - Dravidian martial arts - Ayurveda - Sri Lankan martial arts - Indian martial arts in popular culture - Foreign influence on Chinese martial arts