An urumi is an Indian sword with a flexible, whip -like blade. Originating in modern-day Kerala , a state in southwestern India, it is thought to have existed from as early as the Sangam period .
98-578: It is treated as a whip sword, made with special combination of steel and therefore requires prior knowledge of whip as well as the sword. For this reason, the urumi is always taught last in Indian martial arts such as Kalaripayattu . The word urumi is used to refer to the weapon in Malayalam . In Kerala , it is also called chuttuval , from the Malayalam words for "coiling," or "spinning," ( chuttu ) and "sword" ( val ). Alternatively, Tamil names for
196-557: A sampradaya monastery for religious renunciates in Guru–shishya tradition . For example, in the context of the Dashanami Sampradaya sect, the word denotes both martial arts and religious monastic aspects of the trident-wielding martial regiment of the renouncing sadhus . The term akhara , is a gender-egalitarian term, which means the circle or more precisely the spiritual core , congregation or league , it
294-490: A d . The Haryanvi and Khari Boli dialects shorten this to khada (खाड़ा). Jadunath Sarkar documented the founding date of various akharas based on a 19the century manuscript provided to him by the Nirvani Akhara of Dashanami Sampradaya. In its earliest usage, akhara referred to training halls for professional fighters. Govind Sadashiv Ghurye translates the term as "military regiment". Ancient use of
392-483: A boxing art while speaking to Manjusri . It also categorised combat techniques as joint locks, fist strikes, grapples and throws. The Lotus Sutra makes further mention of a martial art with dance-like movements called Nara . Another Buddhist sutra called Hongyo-kyo (佛本行集經) describes a "strength contest" between Gautama Buddha's half-brother Prince Nanda and his cousin Devadatta . Siddhartha Gautama himself
490-417: A demon in the form of a water buffalo , lasts for 45 days. The Manusmriti tells that if a warrior's topknot comes loose during such a fight or duel, the opponent must give him time to bind his hair before continuing. The Charanavyuha authored by Shaunaka mentions four upaveda (applied Vedas). Included among them are archery ( dhanurveda ) and military sciences ( shastrashastra ), the mastery of which
588-432: A domestic life. Some strictly practice Brahmacharya (celibacy) and others may require complete renunciation of worldly life. For example, wrestlers are expected to live a pure life while living at akhara with other fellow wrestlers, refraining from sex and owning few material possessions. In some languages such as Odia the word is officially transcribed as akhada , by way of rendering the flapped [ ɽ ] sound as
686-559: A heavily militaristic culture, characterising them as " martial races " and employing them in the armed forces. Sikhs – already known among Indians for their martial practices – were particularly valued by the colonists as soldiers and guards, and were posted throughout not only India but Southeast Asia and other parts of the British Empire . Members of the army were allowed to box as a way of settling disputes, provided that they were still able to carry out their duties as soldiers after
784-632: A key role specially the Dashanami akhara. In 1780 CE, the East India Company administration establish the sequence of order of procession for royal bathing by the akharas at Kumbh Mela to eliminate disputes. Today, akhara may be used for religious purposes or for the teaching of yoga and martial arts. Some of the noted Akhara organizations include Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (All India Akhara Council), Nirmohi Akhara , Shri Dattatreya Akhara and Guru Hanuman Akhara . Sampradaya
882-446: A kshatriya dynasty in northern India which exceeded the preceding Gupta Empire. During this period, Emperor Nagabhata I (750–780 AD) and Mihir Bhoja I (836–890) commissioned various texts on martial arts, and were themselves practitioners of these systems. Shiva Dhanuveda was composed in this era. The khadga , a two-handed broad-tipped heavy longsword, was given special preference. It was even used for khadga-puja , ritualised worship of
980-518: A match. The particular form of boxing used by the Punjabi soldiers was loh-musti , as the kara worn by Sikhs could be wielded like brass knuckles . The resurgence of public interest in kalaripayat began in the 1920s in Tellicherry as part of a wave of rediscovery of the traditional arts throughout south India which characterised the growing reaction against British colonial rule. During
1078-458: A peculiar kind of sword which, though curved towards the point, is straight near the handle. They wield it with great dexterity. The skill that they exhibit passes all description. Others are skillful in fighting with daggers and knives of various forms; of these there are upwards of a hundred thousand. Each class has a different name; they also differ in their performances. At court, there are a thousand gladiators always in readiness." Avid hunters,
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#17327657020821176-557: A popular sport among the Mughals was shikar or tiger-hunting. While often done with arrows and later even rifles, it was considered most impressive to kill a tiger with a hand-to-hand weapon such as a sword or dagger. A warrior who managed to best a tiger would be awarded the title of Pachmar . In the 16th century, Madhusudana Saraswati of Bengal organised a section of the Naga tradition of armed sannyasi in order to protect Hindus from
1274-516: A prolonged battle between Arjuna and Karna using bows, swords, trees, rocks and fists. Another unarmed battle in the Mahabharata describes two combatants boxing with clenched fists and fighting with kicks, finger strikes, knee strikes and headbutts. The oldest recorded organized unarmed fighting art in the Indian subcontinent is malla-yuddha or combat-wrestling, codified into four forms in
1372-574: A section found in the Vedas (1500 BCE - 1100 BCE) contains references to martial arts. Indian epics contain the earliest accounts of combat, both armed and bare-handed. Most deities of the Hindu-Buddhist pantheon are armed with their own personal weapon, and are revered not only as master martial artists but often as originators of those systems themselves. The Mahabharata tells of fighters armed only with daggers besting lions, and describes
1470-486: A series of revolts. Silambam was also banned and became more common in the Malay Peninsula than its native Tamil Nadu. Nevertheless, traditional fighting systems persisted, sometimes even under the patronage of enthusiastic British spectators who tended to remark on the violence of native boxing and the acrobatic movements characteristic of Indian fighting styles. The British took advantage of communities with
1568-614: A stratum of Rajput warriors who would gather after harvest and arm peasants into militarised units, effectively acting as a self-defense squad. Prevalent in Rajasthan , Maharashtra and Bengal , they would give up their occupations and leave their families to live as mercenaries. Naga sadhu today rarely practice any form of fighting other than wrestling, but still carry trishula , swords, canes and spears. To this day their retreats are called chhauni or armed camps, and they have been known to hold mock jousts among themselves. As recently as
1666-456: A teacher, left to "fight of his own in danger". Over time, weaponry evolved and India became famous for its flexible wootz steel. The most commonly taught weapons in the Indian martial arts today are types of swords, daggers, spears, staves, cudgels, and maces. Weapons are linked to several superstitions and cultural beliefs in the Indian subcontinent. Drawing a weapon without reason is forbidden and considered by Hindus to be disrespectful to
1764-527: A term traditionally applied to the native inhabitants of India throughout antiquity] self-rule) at a time of Muslim supremacy and increasing intolerance. Utilizing speed, focused surprise attacks (typically at night and in rocky terrain), and the geography of Maharashtra , Karnataka , & South India ; the Maratha rulers were successfully able to defend their territory from the more numerous and heavily armed Mughals. The still-existing Maratha Light Infantry
1862-402: A type of spear which integrated a pointed spear butt and a club near the head, making it similar to a mace. On the other hand, the longer cavalry spear was made of wood, with red cloth attached near the blade to prevent the opponent's blood from dripping to the shaft. The Marathas were revered for their skill of wielding a ten-foot spear called bothati ( ਬੋਥਾਟੀ ) from horseback. Bothati fighting
1960-540: A wider system like Gatka , silambam or on its own. In the Kama Sutra the sage Vātsyāyana enjoins all women to practice fighting with single-stick, quarterstaff, sword and bow and arrow in addition to the art of love-making. The stick ( lathi in Prakrit ) is typically made of bamboo with steel caps at the ends to prevent it from splintering. Wooden sticks made from Indian ebony may also be used. It ranges from
2058-450: A ‘religious system’. It relates to a succession of masters and disciples, which serves as a spiritual channel, and provides a delicate network of relationships that lends stability to a religious identity. Sampradaya is a body of practice, views and attitudes, which are transmitted, redefined and reviewed by each successive generation of followers. A particular guru lineage is called parampara . By receiving diksha (initiation) into
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#17327657020822156-402: Is a form of training common to many combat sports which may vary in its precise form varies, but it is relatively ' free-form ' fighting, with enough rules, customs, or agreements to make injuries unlikely. Langot (लंगोट) or langota (लंगोटा), also Kaupinam (कौपिनम) or kaupina (कौपिन), is a traditional style of Indian loincloth for men, worn as underwear in dangal held in akharas. It
2254-601: Is a particular system of belief and within it a particular guru 's lineage is called parampara . There are 3 distinct belief-system Sampradayas (Vaishnava, Shaivite and Dashanami sampradaya), each of which follows one of 3 types of Guru–shishya parampara lineage ( Deva , Rishi and Manav parampara), each sampradaya-parampara may have several akharas of shastradhari (intellectuals) or astradhari (warriors), and larger akharas may have own one or more permanent mathas . Sampradaya ( Sanskrit : सम्प्रदाय IAST sampradāya ) translated as ‘tradition’, 'spiritual lineage' or
2352-491: Is a place where practicing martial artists lodge and train under a martial art guru, akhara is also usually an arena for the dangal organised among the competing sports person. While living at akhara, pehlwan practice celibacy, stay smoke free and alcohol free and they eat nutrition tradition diet usually rich in milk, ghee , dried nuts and roti. Dangal is Hindi language word which means Sparring or competition in akhara, Sometimes called "Chhinj" in punjabi . Sparring
2450-473: Is also affiliated with Juna Akhara. There are numerous other still-extant akharas, founded by the disciples of the existing akharas, that are usually loosely or directly aligned under one of the existing akhara lineage. The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) (Hindi: अखिल भारतीय अखाड़ा परिषद , transliterated as All India Akhara Council ), founded in 1954, is the apex organisation of 13 akharas of Hindu Sants (saints) and Sadhus (ascetics) representing
2548-447: Is governed by the sacred body of five Sri Pancha and organized into 52 Matha or Marhi (Hindi: मढ़ी). Many assume 52 Marhi to refer to 52 lineages but they refer to 52 Desas (countries). These 52 Marhis are divided into 8 Davas corresponding to 8 directions. The maths are permanent centres of monastic practice with physical structures, led by a mahant or spiritual leader. Though not all akharas follow this structure, mainly due to
2646-542: Is more often used in English when referring to the Panjabi-Sikh fighting style. A common way to practice precision-cutting is to slice cloves or lemons , eventually doing so while blindfolded. Pairing two swords of equal length, though considered impractical in some parts of the world, is common and was considered highly advantageous in the Indian subcontinent. Stick-fighting ( lathi khela ) may be taught as part of
2744-463: Is noted to be one of the noblest form of defense within Indian cultural heritage. As mentioned in Vedic literature, the bow and arrow is the most applauded weapon among Kshatriyas. Siddharta Gautama , Rama , Arjuna , Karna , Bhishma , Drona and Ekalavya were all said to be great archers. Dhanurveda is an ancient treatise on the science of archery. It describes the practices and uses of archery,
2842-410: Is now mainly used by men when exercising and other intense physical games especially wrestling , to prevent hernias and hydrocele . Langota, mostly worn by wrestlers, is a sewn undergarment which covers the buttocks and groin . A kaupina, mostly worn by ascetics or by older men in many parts of India, is a similar but unsewn garment that does not cover the buttocks and instead it passes between
2940-577: Is one of the "oldest and most renowned" regiments of the Indian Army, tracing its origins to 1768. Indian martial arts underwent a period of decline after the full establishment of British colonial rule in the 19th century. More European modes of organizing kings, armies and governmental institutions, and the increasing use of firearms, gradually eroded the need for traditional combat training associated with caste-specific duties. The British colonial government banned kalaripayat in 1804 in response to
3038-438: Is practiced with a ball-tipped lance, the end of which is covered in dye so that hits may easily be confirmed. In solo training, the spear is aimed at a pile of stones. From this was eventually developed the uniquely Indian vita which has a 5 feet (1.5 m) length of cord attached to the butt end of the weapon and tied around the spearman's wrist. Using this cord the spear can be pulled back after it has been thrown. Archery
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3136-462: Is said to be skilled in spear-fighting, by holding his divine spear called Vel . The Indian spear is typically made of bamboo with a steel blade. It can be used in hand-to-hand combat or thrown when the fighters are farther apart. Despite primarily being a thrusting weapon, the wide spearhead also allows for many slashing techniques. By the 17th century, Rajput mercenaries in the Mughal army were using
3234-486: Is similar to the Greek-origin word academy and the English word school , can be used to mean both a physical institution or a group of them which share a common lineage or are under a single leadership, such as the school of monastic thought or the school of martial arts. Unlike the gurukul in which students live and study at the home of a guru , members of an akhara although train under a guru but they do not live
3332-487: Is typically dual-wielded, with one in each hand. The urumi is handled like a flail but requires less strength since the blade combined with centrifugal force is sufficient to inflict injury. As with other "soft" weapons, urumi wielders learn to follow and control the momentum of the blade with each swing, thus techniques include spins and agile manoeuvres. These long-reaching spins make the weapon particularly well suited to fighting against multiple opponents. When not in use,
3430-428: The guru–shishya traditional parampara of a living guru, one belongs to its proper sampradaya . One cannot become a member by birth , as is the case with gotra , a seminal, or hereditary, dynasty . In the traditional residential form of education, the shishya remains with his or her guru as a family member and gets the education as a true learner. In some traditions there is never more than one active master at
3528-685: The Char Dhams during the reign of Katyuri dynasty of Garhwal Kingdom . In 904 CE and 1146 CE, Niranjani Akhara and Juna Akhara were founded respectively. In 1398 CE, Timur massacred thousands of Sadhus of various Akharas and Hindus at Haridwar mela after sacking Delhi to punish the Tughlaq Dynasty 's Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq 's perceived lack of brutality towards Hindus. In 1567 CE, Jogis (Giris) and Sannyasi (Puris) battled each other as detailed in
3626-446: The Indian subcontinent . A variety of terms are used for the English phrases "Indian martial arts", deriving from ancient sources. While they may seem to imply specific disciplines (e.g. archery, armed combat), by Classical times they were used generically for all fighting systems. Among the most common terms today, śastra-vidyā , is a compound of the words śastra (weapon) and vidyā (knowledge). Dhanurveda derives from
3724-570: The Pallava dynasty commissioned dozens of granite sculptures showing unarmed fighters disarming armed opponents. This is similar to the style described in the Agni Purana . Martial arts were not exclusive to the kshatriya caste, though the warrior class used them more extensively. The 8th-century text Kuvalaymala by Udyotanasuri recorded fighting techniques being taught at educational institutions, where non-kshatriya students from throughout
3822-786: The Tabaqat-i-Akbari , both are 2 of the 10 orders of Dashanami Akhara. Puris were outnumbered by 200 to 500 by Jogis, Akbar asked his soldiers to smear ash and join Puris to help them, this led to the victory of Puris, In 1657/1672 CE, Satnami revellion against Aurangzeb's persecution of Non-Muslims. In 1664 CE, Dashanami Akhara possibly battled Aurangzeb . In 1690 CE and 1760 CE, Akharas of Saivites and Vaishnava sects fought each other at Nashik mela (60,000 died) and Haridwar mela (1,800 died). In 1770-1820 CE, during Sannyasi rebellion against Company rule in India , Akharas played
3920-612: The Vedas and the epics have their origins in military training, such as boxing ( musti-yuddha ), wrestling ( maladwandwa ), chariot-racing ( rathachalan ), horse-riding ( aswa-rohana ) and archery ( dhanurvidya ). When the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE) founded the Dashanami Sampradaya , he divided the ascetics into two categories: Shastradhari ( Sanskrit : शास्त्रधारी, lit. scripture-bearers) intelligentsia and Astradhari ( Sanskrit : अस्त्रधारी, lit. weapon-bearers) warriors. Shankaracharya established Naga sadhus as an astradhari armed order. He also popularised
4018-507: The Vedic Period . Stories describing Krishna report that he sometimes engaged in wrestling matches where he used knee strikes to the chest, punches to the head, hair pulling, and strangleholds. Based on such accounts, Svinth (2002) traces press ups and squats used by South Asian wrestlers to the pre-classical era. In modern usage, akhara most often denotes a wrestling ground and is typically associated with kushti . For wrestlers,
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4116-399: The Vedic Period . Stories describing Krishna report that he sometimes engaged in wrestling matches where he used knee strikes to the chest, punches to the head, hair pulling, and strangleholds. Based on such accounts, Svinth (2002) traces press-ups and squats used by Indian wrestlers to the pre-classical era. In Sanskrit literature the term dwandwayuddha referred to a duel, such that it
4214-424: The chakram (war-quoit), the spear, the tomara (iron club), the gada (mace) , the axe, the hammer, the bhindipāla or laguda , the vajra , the dagger, the slingshot, and finally deeds with a bludgeon or cudgel. A short passage near the end of the text returns to the larger concerns of warfare and explains the various uses of war elephants and men. The text concludes with a description of how to appropriately send
4312-530: The chhau dance was performed only by martial artists. Some traditional Indian classical dance schools still incorporate martial arts as part of their exercise regimen. Written evidence of martial arts in Southern India dates back to the Sangam literature of about the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD. The Akananuru and Purananuru describe the use of spears, swords, shields, bows and silambam in
4410-434: The 13 akharas to manage the akhara-related affairs across all kumb melas and across the nations. The still-extant seven Shastradhari or monastic Hindu akhara founded by the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya (also the founder of four Mathas ) can be classified, in terms of affiliation and the number of followers, as three major akharas, three minor akharas under major akharas and one smaller akhara under
4508-719: The 1950s, it was not unusual for Naga sadhu to strike to kill someone over issues of honour. There is also a 17th-century Dhanurveda-samhita attributed to Vasistha . The pehlwani style of wrestling developed in the Mughal Empire by combining native malla-yuddha with influences from Persian varzesh-e bastani . Coming from a hilly region characterized by valleys and caves, the Marathas became expert horsemen who favoured light armour and highly mobile cavalry units during war. Known especially as masters of swords and spears, their heavily martial culture and propensity for
4606-515: The 3rd century, elements from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , as well as finger movements in the nata dances, were incorporated into the fighting arts. A number of Indian fighting styles remain closely connected to yoga , dance and performing arts. Some of the choreographed sparring in kalaripayat can be applied to dance and kathakali dancers who knew kalaripayat were believed to be markedly better than other performers. Until recent decades,
4704-811: The Indian subcontinent, some of which are not found anywhere else. According to P.C. Chakravati in The Art of War in Ancient India , armies used standard weapons such as wooden or metal-tipped spears, swords, thatched bamboo, wooden or metal shields, axes, short and longbows in warfare as early as the 4th century BC. Military accounts of the Gupta Empire (c. 240–480) and the later Agni Purana identify over 130 different weapons. The Agni Purana divides weapons into thrown and unthrown classes. The thrown ( mukta ) class includes twelve weapons altogether which come under four categories, viz. These were opposed to
4802-527: The Sangam era. The word kalari appears in the Puram (verses 225, 237, 245, 356) and Akam (verses 34, 231, 293) to describe both a battlefield and combat arena. The word kalari tatt denoted a martial feat, while kalari kozhai meant a coward in war. Each warrior in the Sangam era received regular military training in target practice and horse riding. They specialized in one or more of the important weapons of
4900-524: The Vedas. The curved shape of the bow is called vakra in the Artha Veda. The bowstring was called jya, and was strung only when needed. An arrow was called an iṣu , and a quiver was called an iṣudhi which was slung on the back. Archers wore a hastaghna, which was an arm guard or shield usually worn on the left forearm and was used to protect the wearer from friction caused by the bowstring. A dhanushkara
4998-515: The akhara serves as a training school and an arena in which to compete against each other. The akhara used by wrestlers still have dirt floors to which water, red ochre, buttermilk and oil are added. Aside from wrestling, other fighting systems are also taught and practiced in akhara, which are commonly named after their founder. Indian martial artists may still practice in regional versions of traditional akhara today, but these are often replaced with modern training studios outside India . While akhara
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#17327657020825096-583: The blade, telling the price or source of acquisition, throwing it on the ground or using it for domestic purposes. Nakula and Sahadeva are said to be skilled swordsmen in Mahabharata . Sword-fighting is one of the common Indian fighting arts. Varieties include the curved single-edge sword, the straight double-edge sword, the two-handed longsword, the gauntlet-sword , and the urumi or flexible sword. Techniques differ from one state to another but all make extensive use of circular movements, often circling
5194-474: The body holds its post for 4 years. It is a concept similar to centuries-old Indian republican consensual elective system of Panchayat (at an individual village level) and Khap (grouping of the related villages within a union). Among the five elected Sri Pancha of the akhara, they hold the following positions in the decreasing order of seniority, all of which can be considered guru in their own right: At highest level, akhara are classified into one of
5292-504: The buttocks. The major traditional Indian-origin martial arts akhara, mostly focused on wrestling and Pehlwani , by state include: Shastra (Sanskrit and Hindi: शास्त्र) means treatise, scriptures or the school of thoughts based on those. There has been a long monastic tradition of obtaining "Shashtra Vidhya" (knowledge of Sashtras ) in various Sampradaya schools of thoughts in Hinduism , where disciples could learn one or more of
5390-424: The craft of bow and arrow making, training of the army, and enumerates the rules of engagement. The treatise also discusses martial arts in relation to the training of warriors, charioteers, cavalry, elephant warriors, infantry etc. It was considered as a sin to shoot a warrior from the back and fight more than one warrior at a time. The bow used in the Vedic period were called danush , and were described in detail in
5488-462: The eastern districts of Hindostan use a small shield called " chirwah ". Those from the southern provinces have shields of such magnitude as to cover a man and a horse. This kind of shield is called tilwah . Another class use a shield somewhat less than the height of a man. Some again use a long sword, and seizing it with both hands they perform extraordinary feats of skill. There is another famous class called Bankúlis. They have no shield but make use of
5586-432: The fight are listed below: Then there follows a more detailed discussion of archery technique. The section concludes with listing the names of actions or "deeds" possible with a number of weapons, including 32 positions to be taken with sword and shield ( khaḍgacarmavidhau ), 11 names of techniques of using a rope in fighting, along with 5 names of "acts in the rope operation" along with lists of "deeds" pertaining to
5684-461: The following in a monastic setting: Hindu scriptures , Yoga Sashtra , Vastu shastra (architecture), Vaimānika Shāstra (ancient aerospace technology), Jyotiḥśāstra (astrology), Nadi Sashtra (fortune telling), Rasa shastra (medicine), Shilpa Shastras (arts and craft), Natya Shastra (dance, drama and performing arts), Tantra , Para Vidya (Higher scholar), Madhu-vidya (knowledge of bliss), and so on. According to some texts, an akhara
5782-876: The following three decades, other regional styles were subsequently revived such as silambam in Tamil Nadu, thang-ta in Manipur and paika akhada in Orissa. One of the earliest extant manual of Indian martial arts is in the Agni Purana (dated to between the 8th and the 11th century). The dhanurveda section in the Agni Purana spans chapters 248–251, categorizing weapons into thrown and unthrown classes and further divided into several sub-classes. It catalogs training into five major divisions for different types of warriors, namely charioteers, elephant-riders, horsemen, infantry, and wrestlers. The nine asanas (stances) in
5880-437: The four different Sampradaya (philosophical denominations) based on their traditional systems: Each sampradaya has several paramparas (lineages), each started by a guru based on the guru-shishya tradition . The subsidiary status is as per the traditional Shahi Snan preferential sequence of procession, though time to time several subsidiary akharas have unsuccessfully tried with authorities to have this sequence altered as
5978-466: The goddess Chandika . Thus the saying that a sword cannot be sheathed until it has drawn blood. It was a mother's duty to tie a warrior's sword around his waist before war or a duel. In addition, she would cut her finger with the sword and make a tilak on his head from a drop of her blood. Weapons themselves were also anointed with tilak, most often from the blood of a freshly-decapitated goat ( chatanga ). Other taboos include looking at one's reflection in
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#17327657020826076-462: The human body of which 64 were classified as being lethal if properly struck with a fist or stick. Sushruta 's work formed the basis of the medical discipline ayurveda which was taught alongside various martial arts. With numerous other scattered references to vital points in Vedic and epic sources, it is certain that Indian subcontinent 's early fighters knew and practised attacking or defending vital points. Around 630, King Narasimhavarman of
6174-404: The infantry group called the 'Urumi Swordsman'. Urumi is a weapon in one of the best-selling video games of all time called Elden Ring , a Japanese-made game. In the game attacks from urumi cannot be parried. Urumi is the weapon of Nilah, a champion in the game League of Legends , an American-made game. Indian martial arts Indian martial arts refers to the fighting systems of
6272-474: The insufficient size. For example, smaller akhara, some as small as having only one marhi, may be set up either as a subsidiary affiliate to a larger and more established older akhara group or occasionally an independent akhara due to the disagreements over succession. Akharas can march as subsidiary akhara under the current preferential order of sequence in the Shahi Snan during Kumbh Mela or they are given
6370-401: The intolerant Mughal rulers. Although generally said to abide by the principle of non-violence ( ahimsā ), these Dashanami monks had long been forming akhara for the practice of both yoga and martial arts. Such warrior-ascetics have been recorded from 1500 to as late as the 18th century, although tradition attributes their creation to the 8th-century philosopher Sankaracharya . They began as
6468-552: The lance is mentioned as early as the 7th century by Xuanzang . After serving the Dakshin sultanates of the early 17th century, the scattered Marathas united to found their own kingdom under the warrior Shivaji . Having learned the native art of mardani khela from a young age, Shivaji was a master swordsman and proficient in the use of various weapons. He took advantage of his people's expertise in guerilla tactics ( Shiva sutra ) to re-establish Hindavi Swarajya (native [Hindu being
6566-595: The largest followership in India . These are entitled to the special privilege of the Shahi Snan at Kumbh Mela and Ujjain Simhastha mela in a pre-determined sequence. The monastic akhara and their Sri Pancha of various sects meet during the Kumbha Mela . The Naga sadhu and the various akhara traditionally lead and initiate the bathing rituals before the general population steps in. The order of procession
6664-544: The last place if their claim for the independent akhara is approved by the authorities. According to the texts, the top administrative body of each of the akhara is the Sri Pancha (sacred body of five), representing Brahma , Vishnu , Shiva , Shakti and Ganesha . It is elected by consensus from among the Mahants of Matha or Marhi (Sanskrit: मठ and Hindi: मढ़ी ) that make up an akhara on every Kumbha Mela and
6762-757: The late 16th century, compiled under the patronage of Akbar . The Ain-i-Akbari tells that the Mughal court had various kinds of fighting men from around the empire who would demonstrate their skills every day in exchange for rewards. Among them were said to be both native and Mughal wrestlers , slingers from Gujarat , Hindustani athletes, boxers , stone-throwers and many others. "There are several kinds of gladiators, each performing astonishing feats. In fighting they show much speed and agility and blend courage and skill in squatting down and rising up again. Some of them use shields in fighting, others use cudgels. Others again use no means of defence, and fight with one hand only; these are called ek-hath . Those who come from
6860-461: The length of a cudgel to a staff equal to the wielder's height. The stick used during matches is covered in leather to cushion the impact. Points are awarded based on which part of the body is hit. Techniques differ from system to system, but northern styles tend to primarily use only one end of the staff for attacking while the other end is held with both hands. Southern styles like also make use of this technique but will more often use both ends of
6958-401: The major akhara: The akhara with the most sadhu is Juna Akhara , followed by Niranjani Akhara and Mahanirvani Akhara . Among these, today, three are considered major akhara (Juna, Niranjani and Mahanirvani) and three minor akhara (Avahan affiliated with Juna, Ananda affiliated with Niranjani and Atal affiliated with Mahanirvani). The 7th, small Brahmachari (celibate) akhara named Agni
7056-476: The much larger unthrown class of three categories. The duel with bow and arrows is considered the noblest, fighting with the spear ranks next, while fighting with the sword is considered unrefined, and wrestling is classed as the meanest or worst form of fighting. Only a Brahmin could be an acharya (teacher) of sastravidya, Kshatriya and vaishya should learn from the Acharya, while a shudra could not take
7154-567: The number of their followers grew. Initially there were only 4 akharas based on the sampradaya (sect), which have split into subsidiary akharas due to differences in the leadership and expansion in the followership. In January 2019, there were 13 akharas that are allowed to participate in Prayagraj Kumbh Mela and they have formed the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad with 2 representatives from each of
7252-542: The particular geography of their origin. Tradition ascribes their convergence to the 6th-century university of Takshashila , ancient India's intellectual capital. Located in present-day Panjab, Pakistan, the Ramayana ascribes the city's founding to Bharata who named it after his son Taksha. From the 7th to the 5th centuries BC it was held in high regard as a great centre of trade and learning, attracting students from throughout present-day Pakistan and northern India. Among
7350-514: The period including the spear ( vel ), sword ( val ), shield ( kedaham ), and bow and arrow ( vil ambu ). The combat techniques of the Sangam period were the earliest precursors to kalaripayat . References to "Silappadikkaram" in Sangam literature date back to the 2nd century. This referred to the silambam staff which was in great demand with foreign visitors. The ten fighting styles of northern sastra-vidya were said to have been created in different areas based on animals and gods, and designed for
7448-452: The pommel. The pommel often has a short decorative spike-like protrusion projecting from its centre. The blade is fashioned from flexible edged steel measuring 0.75 to 1 in (19 to 25 mm) in width. Ideally, the length of the blade should be the same as the wielder's armspan, usually between 4 and 5.5 ft (1.2 and 1.7 m). Multiple blades are often attached to a single handle. The Sri Lankan variation can have up to 32 blades and
7546-456: The popular sports mentioned in the Vedas and the epics have their origins in military training, such as boxing ( musti-yuddha ), wrestling ( maladwandwa ), chariot-racing ( rathachalan ), horse-riding ( aswa-rohana ) and archery ( dhanurvidya ). Competitions were held not just as a contest of the players' prowess but also as a means of finding a bridegroom. Arjuna , Rama and Siddhartha Gautama all won their consorts in such tournaments. In
7644-545: The prince of Odisha who was known for being an expert with both the sword and dagger. The prince accepted the challenge until he learned he would be fighting one not of royal blood and so killed himself rather than having to "soil his hands". Fernao Nunes and the Persian envoy Adbur Razzak relate that Deva Raya II survived an assassination attempt "as he was a man who knew how to use both sword and dagger better than anyone in his kingdom, avoided by twists and turns of his body
7742-490: The same time in the same guruparamaparya (lineage). When the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya founded the Dashanami Sampradaya , he divided the ascetics into two categories: Astra (Hindi: अस्त्र), the weapons or martial arts have a long tradition in India. The oldest recorded organized unarmed fighting art in South Asia is malla-yuddha or combat-wrestling, codified into four forms and pre-dating
7840-402: The skills used on the battlefield, encompassing not only actual fighting but also battle formations and strategy. Martial arts are usually learnt and practiced in the traditional akharas . An Indus valley civilization seal shows two men spearing one another in a duel which seem to be centered on a woman. A statue of a spear thrower was also excavated from an Indus valley site. Dhanurveda ,
7938-464: The staff to strike. The latter is the more common method of attacking in the eastern states and Bangladesh , combined with squatting and frequent changes in height. Yudhishthira is said to be a master in spearplay warfare in Mahabharata , while Shalya was also noted to be an excellent warrior in the field of spearplay. Also according to Indian Hindu myths, Murugan , the son of Lord Shiva ,
8036-406: The subcontinent "were learning and practicing archery, fighting with sword and shield, with daggers, sticks, lances, and with fists, and in duels ( niyuddham )". Hindu priests of the traditional gurukula still teach unarmed fighting techniques to their students as a way of increasing stamina and training the physical body . The Gurjara-Pratihara came into power during the 7th century and founded
8134-519: The subjects taught were the "military sciences", and archery was one of its prime arts. Some measures were put into place to discourage martial activity during the Buddhist period. The Khandhaka in particular forbids wrestling, boxing, archery, and swordsmanship. However, references to fighting arts are found in early Buddhist texts , such as the Lotus Sutra (c. 1st century AD) which refers to
8232-623: The sword. The Gurjara-Pratiharas continuously fought off Arab invasions, particularly during the Caliphate campaigns in India . The Arab chronicler Sulaiman wrote of the Gurjara ruler as the greatest foe to Islamic expansion, while at the same time praising his cavalry. Kalaripayat had developed into its present form by the 11th century, during an extended period of warfare between the Chera and Chola dynasties. The earliest treatise discussing
8330-572: The techniques of malla-yuddha is the Malla Purana (c. 13th century), unlike the earlier Manasollasa which gives the names of movements but no descriptions. Over a period of several centuries, invading Muslim armies managed to occupy much of present-day Pakistan and northern India. In response to the spread of Muslim rule, the kingdoms of South India united in the 14th century to found the Vijayanagara Empire . Physical culture
8428-503: The thrusts aimed at him, freed himself from him, and slew him with a short sword that he had". After a series of victories, the Central Asian conqueror Babur established Mughal rule in north India during the 16th century. The Mughals were patrons of India's native arts, not only recruiting akhara-trained Rajput fighters for their armies but even practicing these systems themselves. The Ausanasa Dhanurveda Sankalanam dates to
8526-598: The urumi is worn coiled around the waist like a belt, with the handle at the wearer's side like a conventional sword. A peptide found in the mucus of a South Indian frog is named urumin . This name is inspired from the urumi , since urumin kills the H1N1 flu virus effectively. Urumi is used as the weapon of Kanroji Mitsuri in Japanese manga series Demon Slayer . It is used in Microsoft game ' Age of Empires II ' by
8624-411: The weapon are surul katti (coiling knife), surul val (coiling sword) and surul pattakatti (coiling machete). In Sinhala , it is known as ethunu kaduwa. The urumi hilt is constructed from iron or brass and is identical to that of the talwar , complete with a crossguard and frequently a slender knucklebow. The typical handle is termed a "disc hilt" from the prominent disc-shaped flange surrounding
8722-482: The weapon around the user's head. The flexible nature and lightweight of Indian swords allows for speed but provides little defensive ability, so that the swordsman must instead rely on body maneuvers to dodge attacks. Entire systems exist focusing on drawing the sword out of the opponent's body. Stances and forms traditionally made up the early training before students progress to free sparring with sticks to simulate swords in an exercise called gatka , although this term
8820-763: The well-trained fighter off to war. The Arthashastra , c. 4th century BCE, typically attributed to Chanakya chief advisor of Chandragupta Maurya is one of the earliest treatises on statecraft, including diverse topics such as economics, politics, diplomacy and military strategy. There is an extant Dhanurveda-Samhita dating to the mid-14th century, by Brhat Sarngadhara Paddhati (ed. 1888). Other scattered references to fighting arts in medieval texts include the: Kamandakiya Nitisara (c. 8th century ed. Manmatha Nath Dutt, 1896), The Nitivakyamrta by Somadeva Suri (10th century), The Yuktikalpataru of Bhoja (11th century) and The Manasollasa of Somesvara III (12th century) A wide array of weapons are used in
8918-419: The word can be found in the Mahabharata (c. 400 BCE text describing 900 BCE era) epic which mentions Jarasandha 's Akhara at Rajgir . Legendary figures like Parashurama and Agastya are credited as the founders of the early martial akhara in certain regions of India. Svinth (2002) traces press ups and squats used by South Asian wrestlers to the pre-classical era. Many of the popular sports mentioned in
9016-668: The words for bow ( dhanushya ) and knowledge ( veda ), the "science of archery" in Puranic literature, later applied to martial arts in general. The Vishnu Purana text describes dhanuveda as one of the traditional eighteen branches of "applied knowledge" or upaveda , along with shastrashāstra or military science . A later term, yuddha kalā , comes from the words yuddha meaning fight or combat and kalā meaning art or skill. The related term śastra kalā (lit. weapon art) usually refers specifically to armed disciplines. Another term, yuddha-vidyā or "combat knowledge", refers to
9114-439: Was a battle between only two warriors and not armies. Epics often describe the duels between deities and god-like heroes as lasting a month or more. The malla-yuddha (wrestling match) between Bhima and Jarasandha lasts 27 days. Similarly, the dwandayuddha between Parasurama and Bhishma lasts for 30 days, while that between Krishna and Jambavan lasts for 28 days. Likewise, the dwandwayudda between Bali and Dundubhi,
9212-414: Was a bowyer, or the profession of bow crafting and arrow making, and it had become a regular profession by the early Vedic period. Others called jyakara specialized in making bowstrings. Akhara Akhara or Akhada ( Hindi : अखाड़ा, romanised : Akhāṛā ) is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training, both in the context of Indian martial artists or
9310-554: Was a champion wrestler and swordsman before becoming the Buddha . Like other branches of Sanskrit literature , treatises on martial arts become more systematic in the course of the 1st millennium AD. Vajra-musti , an armed grappling style, is mentioned in sources of the early centuries AD. Around this time, tantric philosophers developed important metaphysical concepts such as kundalini , chakra , and mantra . The Sushruta Samhita (c. 4th century) identifies 108 vital points on
9408-903: Was given much attention by both royalty and commoners in the empire, with wrestling being particularly popular with both men and women. Gymnasiums have been discovered inside royal quarters of Vijayanagara, and records speak of regular physical training for commanders and their armies during peacetime. Royal palaces and market places had special arenas where royalty and common people alike amused themselves by watching matches such as cockfights, ram fights, and wrestling. One account describes an akhara in Chandragiri where noblemen practiced jumping exercises, boxing , fencing and wrestling almost every day before dinner to maintain their health, and observed that "men as old as seventy years look only thirty". The Italian traveller Pietro Della Valle wrote of cane-fighting in southern India. According to Pietro, it
9506-402: Was the custom for soldiers to specialise in their own particular weapon of expertise and never use any other even during war, "thereby becoming very expert and well practised in that which he takes to". As their ancient predecessors, swordplay and wrestling were commonly practiced by the royalty of Vijayanagara. Krishna Deva Raya is said to have arranged a duel between a champion swordsman and
9604-508: Was the duty ( dharma ) of the warrior class. Kings usually belonged to the kshatria (warrior) class and thus served as heads of the army. They typically practiced archery, wrestling, boxing, and swordsmanship as part of their education. Examples include such rulers as Siddhartha Gautama and Rudradaman . The Chinese monk Xuanzang writes that the emperor Harsha was light on his feet despite his advancing age and managed to dodge and seize an assailant during an assassination attempt. Many of
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