Beyond the Weapons: The Philosophy of Kalaripayattu, a South Indian Martial Art
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12726/tjp.32.9Keywords:
Martial Art, Kalaripayattu, Kerala, body, mind, ritualsAbstract
Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art that has evolved over centuries in the southern Indian state of Kerala, offers a rich tapestry of physical practice, ritualistic elements, and philosophical underpinnings. Beyond its function as a combat system, Kalaripayattu embodies a unique ideology that intertwines the body, mind, and spirit. While the philosophical dimensions of other martial arts have been extensively explored, Kalaripayattu remains a largely untapped wellspring of philosophical inquiry. This study delves into the intricate interplay between the martial practice, ritualistic performances, and the underlying philosophy of this martial performance. Drawing on Merleau-Ponty's concept of ‘lived body’, this study explores the non-dualistic nature of a unique Indian martial art, demonstrating how it transcends the traditional mind-body dichotomy. By examining the various dimensions of this art form, the essay aim to illuminate its significance as a cultural and intellectual pursuit that transcends mere physical combat. This study employs a multifaceted method, combining detailed fieldwork with historical research
References
Bell, C. (1995). Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. Oxford University Press.
Bell, C. (1997). Ritual: Perspectives and Dimensions. Oxford University Press.
Cheng, D. T. (2005). Living Kung Fu: The Tao of Internal Power. Inner Traditions.
Chun Yip, & Connor, D. (1994). Wing Chun Martial Arts: Principles and Techniques. Red Wheel/Weiser.
Cynarski, W. J., & Lee-Barron, J. (2014). Philosophies of martial arts and their pedagogical consequences. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology, 14(1), 11-19.
Cynarski, W. J., & Lee-Barron, J. (2014). Philosophies of martial arts and their pedagogical consequences in Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology, 14(1).
Descartes, R., Haldane, E. S., & Ross, G. R. T. (1993). Meditations on First Philosophy in Focus. Routledge.
Dikshitar, V. R. R. (1999). War in Ancient India. Cosmo.
Dhruvarajan, V. (2002). Religion, Spirituality and Feminism. In V. Dhruvarajan (Ed.), Gender, Race, and Nation: A Global Perspective. University of Toronto Press.
Farrer, D. S. (2023). Becoming Animal in the Chinese Martial Arts. In P. Dransart (Ed.), Living Beings: Perspectives on Interspecies Engagements (1st Ed.). Bloomsbury.
Geva, A., & Mukherji, A. (2007). A Study of Light/Darkness in Sacred Settings: Digital Simulations. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 5(3), 507-521.
Miller, D. R. (1996). The Way of the Earth: Encounters with Nature in Ancient Martial Arts. University of California Press.
Merleau-Ponty, M. (2002). Phenomenology of Perception. Routledge.
Naess, A. (1973). The Shallow and the Deep Ecological Movement: A Summary. Inquiry 16(1), 1-4.
Nešković, M. (2024). Embodied Spirituality: Shaolin Martial Arts as a Chan Buddhist Practice. International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology, 8(3), 1-26
Oyama, M. (1993). Zen and the Art of Martial Arts. Kodansha International.
Pillai, E. K. (1970). Studies in Kerala History. National Book Stall.
Priest, G., & Young, D. A. (Eds.). (2008). Martial Arts and Philosophy: Beatping and Nothingness (Vol. 53). Popular Culture and Philosophy. Lexington Books.
Puthuppanam, M. (2005). Kadathanadan Kalaripayattu: Adisthana Thathwangal: Maipayattu. Onnam Bhagham (The Basic Principles of Kadathanadan Kalaripayattu: Maipayattu. Volume I). Kadathandu KPCGM Kalari Sangam Publishers.
Shi-Yongxin. (2018). The Shaolin Temple Story: Explore Shaolin History, Culture, Kung Fu and Chán Tradition. Shaolin Temple Publishing House.
Slingerland, E. (2006). Effortless Action: Wu-wei As Conceptual Metaphor and Spiritual Ideal in Early China. Oxford University Press
Vakoch, D. A., & Castrillón, F. (Eds.). (2014). Ecopsychology, Phenomenology, and the Environment. Springer.
Vijayakumar, K. (2000). Kalaripayattu Keralathinte Saktiyum Southaryavum (Kalaripayattu: Power and Beauty of Kerala). Department of Cultural Publications.
Yamamoto, T. (2002). Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai (W. S. Wilson, Trans.). Kodansha International. (Original Work Published 1716)
Ward, K. (1998). Non-Dualism (Advaita Vedanta). In Religion and Human Nature (pp. 21-42). Oxford University Press.
Zarrilli, P. B. (1992). To Heal and/or To Harm: The Vital Spots (Marmmam/Varmam) In Two South Indian Martial Traditions, Focusing on Kalaripayattu. Journal of Asian Martial Arts, 1(1), 36-67.
Zarrilli, P. B. (1998). When The Body Becomes All Eyes: Paradigms, Discourses, And Practices of Power in Kalaripayattu, A South Indian Martial Art. Oxford University Press.
Zarrilli, P. B. (2005). Kalarippayattu is eighty percent mental and only the remainder is physical: power, agency and self in a south Asian martial art. In J. H. Mills (Ed.), Subaltern Sports: Politics and Sport in South Asia (pp. 19-46). Anthem Press.
Zhang, T., Hooi, L. B., Lu, L., & Tie, Y. (2024). Effect of Environmental Factors on Performance in Martial Arts Competitions. Proceedings of the 12th AMER International Conference on Quality of Life (pp.343–348).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Ashitha Mandakathingal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
