Mattakkal
was a renowned ‘Kalari-Payattu’,
military training center for martial art in this region. The ‘Desavazhi’ engaged ‘Kalari Asan’ teachers, (Kurup in Malabar Region) and assistants
to give strenuous training to beginners and to make necessary corrections in
their steps and body movements. The training included the practice in fencing
exercises and deadly locks. Learning the art of using weapons like – fanning
sticks, defter use of sword and ‘Urumi’ damascene blade, spear, and the
advanced lessons in ‘Hatayogam’ were
also taught here. For the Nair boys
it was mandatory to acquire these skills since it was their bread and butter.
For boys from the higher caste and for girls it was optional. But during war
times martial art was compulsory for all Brahmin youth and children. The main
criteria were to recruit them young and it was very important that they are of
good health, and good physique. Mental alertness too was one of the criteria
for gaining expertise in these areas. The classes used to commence early in the
morning or evening. The most promising
trainees were taught the Marmas, viz,
the vulnerable points in the human body. When they were well versed in the art
of fighting with sword and shield, spear, club, bow and arrow and the eighteen
tricks or techniques, and the customary laws, the Desavazhi or on special occasions the Raja will present him a sword
and shield in a passing out ceremony and declare him a Nayar (Leader) and direct him to protect Brahmins, cows, traveler’s
wealth and the fort. Nayars used to carry his sword and shield wherever they
went and they were always ready for a fight. A Nayar controlled 50 to 100
soldiers and a Kaimal or Kartha commanded 3000 soldiers.
The
‘Kalari-Payattu’ declined after the
17th century but in recent times it has staged a revival; thanks to
the various Kalari Sangams, associations.
During
1970s Vijayan Chingoth, his brothers, Murali, Vibhinnan Murali Thandasseril and
Unni Chingoth made an arrangement with Mani ‘Asan’
of Nettoor to conduct classes in ‘Kalari
Payattu’. I recall the oil massaged handsome body of Vijayan profusely
sweated after strenuous practice; his sweated body glistened in sunlight. Jacob
and I were fortunate to get a basic training in that martial art unlike our
veteran ancestors. In order to attain excellence it requires steady and
uninterrupted practice for several years. I still remember Mani ‘Asan’s first class and one of his best
advices, “It is excellent to have a giant’s strength, but it is tyrannous to
have it like a giant, and use your strength only for self-defense.”
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment