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Kalaripayattu and Marma Therapy
Kalaripayattu is believed by many historians and scholars as one of the oldest, most scientific and comprehensive system of martial training existing in this world today. This ancient martial art of Kerala truly deserve
 the title of the forerunners of all martial arts. The word ‘kalaripayattu’ literally means, ‘combating training inside the gymnasium’. The word ‘kalari’ has been derived from the Sanskrit ‘kholoorika’ meaning ‘a military training ground’. The traditional training of kalaripayattu is always done inside a ‘kalari’, which is a specially constructed practicing area, where the presiding deities of the tradition is ritualistically represented. It is also a temple of religious worship with a cult and ritual of its own. The master who is addressed as the ‘Gurukkal’ is revered as the representatives of the deity and is considered as the living embodiment of a long line of gurus.
First of all lets see what is ‘marma’. Marma denotes the important points in our body, which are the seat of life. The Indian Ayurvedic scientists have located 107 vulnerable anatomical areas on the surface of the human body and have labelled them as ‘Marmasthala’. According to Susuhruta every marma point is the seat of life. As there are 4 types of vessels, which are situated around the site of marma, any type of trauma to a marma point aggravates ‘Vata dosha’ and the surrounding vessels from all the sides. This results in causing serious pain in the body.
Marmas are mainly constituted by 6 vital elements. They are Soma, Maruta, Tejas, Sattva, Raja and Tama.
 Atharva Veda, an ancient Vedic text used the term marma for the first time. It was known to the kings and warriors as they applied it in the battlefields to hit and achieve maximum fatal response against their enemies. In Sushruta, marma is described, as an anatomical area where the 5 anatomical structures i.e., muscle, vessels, ligament and nerves, bone and joints are collectively present. Marma is the concentrated point of energy. If any injuries happen in marma sthalas, it may lead to death where the pressure pain exists, it can be labelled to as a marma sthala. There are certain very vital anatomical points on the body surface, which are having secret significant life values, and they are composed of muscles, nerves, blood vessels, joints, ligaments, nerves and bones. Though it is not necessary that all the structures should be present collectively at a time for the composition of marma. Even if only two structures are present it may constitute a marma point. Marmas have their panchabhautika constitution whichever mahabhuta is dominantly present, plays its role and provides its properties to that particular
marma.
For
more details about Kalari Training and Kalari-Marma Treatment, contact
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