© Archives of Budo, 2008; 4: 65-69 Received: 2008.08.29 Accepted: 2008.09.21 Indian wrestling Published: 2008.10.03 Stanisław Tokarski Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland & Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Cracow, Poland Summary The article is the result of the quest in Indian libraries done in 2005. Invited by Indian Council for Cultural Relations as a visiting scholar, the author had also possibility to meet the Indian wrestlers and stay in the best sport centres in India. He also has some practical experience of the matter de- rived mainly from judo (5th Dan). He describes the traditional background of Indian wrestling, its links with yoga anatomy, the mythic accounts of legendary wrestler encounters, and ritual con- nections with sacred festivals. He also analyses the modern Indian wrestling as an ancient sport in transition. Key words: bujutsu • judo •·Kalari Payatt • kung fu • martial arts • wrestling Full-text PDF: http://www.archbudo.com/fulltxt.php?ICID=869721 Word count: 3803 Tables: — Figures: — References: 10 Author’s address: Prof. Stanisław Tokarski, Polish Academy of Sciences, Centre for Studies on Non-European Countries, ul. Nowy Świat 72, 00-330 Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] - - - - - 65 Archives of Budo „Although India may have been the cradle of the spiritu- of Indian professional wrestling was known as malla-yuddha, al martial arts – wrote Peter Payne in his book Martial Arts, described in the 13th century treatise Malla Purana, was a Spiritual Dimension more than a quarter of century ago precursor to modern Pehlwani – contemporary Indian systems are not widespread, and much knowledge has died out, or it is taught only secretly” Traditional Indian wrestling (kushti) has been widely known [1]. That particular phrase may be misleading. He proba- and widespread in Northern India much earlier. Beginning bly thought about the martial art skill of stick fi ghting and from Vedic times, it has been introduced to Indian penin- Indian boxing called Kalari Payatt, trained mainly in Kerala sula by Aria invaders coming to India through the Khyber in the South-west of India. In many other regions of India we Pass since 15OO BC or earlier and widespread among the can fi nd another forms of self-defence based on yoga anat- vernacular Dravida tribes. Since ages, the heroes of ancient omy. For many centuries they have been taught the tradi- Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana, have been rec- tional way, in close connection with religious festivals and ognized as legendary gurus of Indian wrestlers (pahlavans). Hindu or Muslim rituals. Modern forms have been widely Their skill has been considered as the gift of attributed to promoted by the Indian monthly Bharatiya Kushti. such gods like Indra, Siva, Vishnu, Krishna. There is a mem- orable wrestling contest between Bhima and Jarasandha Professor R.C. Kulreshtra in his introduction to Dhanur narrated in the Mahabharata, and there is a duel between Veda [2] made more precisely comment about the stud- Rustam and Sohrab mentioned in the Persian epic Shahnameh ies on martial art philosophical theory. “To some, the an- (Book of Kings). The brother of Lord Krishna, Balarama, was cient art of warfare – he wrote – is just for decoration and a wrestler described in these religious texts. In the chapter therefore incorrect. However, the elements of warfare are of Ramayana, there is mention of King Vali, having won immutable. The mechanism mat change but the thoughts against the mighty asura Ravana, the king of Lanka, in a remain the same. It is painful to note that though, the Art wrestling contest. Acording to Ramayana, Hanuman, the of War in ancient India was in its Zenith, no integrated and chieftain of some tribes from the South and the great ally conscious efforts have ever been made to study this art in of king Rama, has built a bridge of monkey life bodies to- India. Military history has been ignored. Consequently, we ward the residence of mighty demon. look to Western masters and draw inspiration from them while our own heritage, culture and literature on this mat- That dimension of ‘holiness’ has always been the Indian par- ter is given a safe burial, stamped with the seal «unauthen- ticularity in the fi eld of self-defense. Hindi word ‘yuddha’ has tic» Even much before Sun Tzu, Clausevitz, Moltke and been derived from ancient holy sanskrit root ‘yuddh’ which Napoleon, India has produced military thinkers like the means ‘to fi ght’. It has been the root of of such Japanese unknown craftsman of «Dhanur Veda» and the renowned words as ‘judo’ and ‘jujutsu’ brought to this country by the philosopher of war – Kautilya”. Indian Buddhist monks. Among the Indian martial arts ex- perts traveling to China more than thousand years ago was Indian wrestlers have often been vegans – they do not eat famous Bodhidharma, legendary founder of Shaolin kung meat. The origin of this diet leads to most ancient Indian fu style For these reasons some scholars believe that kushti healing, massage and herbs of Ayurveda. The roots of this an- is the earliest form of wrestling in the world. cient tradition have been often identifi ed with Dhanur Veda texts based on Arjuna’s art of arrow and bow, the mythic “Kung fu – wrote Marylin D. Mintz in her Book The Martial hero of great epic Mahabharata. The secrets of Dhanur Veda Arts Films – has its philosophical roots in Taoism, relating have been attributed to particular Indian gods. Described to nature; Buddhism, relating to self; and Confucianism, in many legends of the great Indian epics they are an im- relating to society. Taoism, attributed to Lao Tzu, a name portant part of the contemporary ethos and etnos of the meaning the Old One or the Old Philosopher, is described Indian wrestling. in the Tao Te Ching from the six century B.C, which literary means Book of the Way and Its Virtue. Preference is given to a The secret aura built around some styles of Indian wres- simple harmonious existence, Buddhism, prescribing self tling has been a part of Indian heritage. In old days the denial and compassion, was a result of China fi rst century transmission of sacred knowledge has been a part of mys- A.D. contact with Indian Buddhism and gave rise to in the tery. Teaching has been done by guru, beginning from sa- sixth century to the concept of Zen derived from Indian cred verses of Holy Vedas to end on mysteries of astrology, monk Bodhidharma [3]. mathematics or logic. There were other reasons. Some way- ward sects like Thugs, the killers in the name of Goddess The most spectacular evidence of sacred roots of kushti has Kali made the learning of self-defence a part of their initi- been Hanuman wrestling taught nowadays by some priests ation system. The secret of the most effective strangulation of Hanuman temples nearby Ganga river. The wrestling is a has been a part of the initiation in their religions society. part of Hanuman cult there. The style is called ‘Hanumanti’ The performing arts revoke that historical episode in many being distinguished from Jarasandh and Bheemasemi styles. fi lms and folkloric dances. In fact. Legendary hero Bhima was a coach of martial arts in ancient Mahabharata. Monkey god or hero Hanuman In feudal times wrestling matches were sometimes fought known for his fi ghting skill in old epic Ramayana has been to death. The most dangerous among them have been dif- considered the founder of Hanuman wrestling style, and ferent styles of vajra mushti, a kind of wrestling combined ‘hanumanti’ literally means to be tricky’, or ‘to be trickster, with Indian boxing and kicking based on the knowledge clown and magician at the same time’. of vital points of the body (marman) and not rarely on the usage iron punching gloves to strengthen the deadly fi st The ancient roots of the Indian wrestling have been strong- blows, such as knuckle dusters (vajra). The medieval form ly grounded not only in Muslim and Hinduism. We can - - - - - 66 Tokarski S – Indian wrestling trace the elements of Indian wrestling in ancient practic- the warrior caste. They were the core of the Indian armed es of Buddhism. It is proved that Indian wrestling has been forces since the times of great emperor Asoka and became known to Buddhist monks. As the eminent member of the a case during the period of British rules. In his account of noble kshatriya clans. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, British Raj, the book entitled Indian Army, Its Contribution for must have been acquainted with the secrets of warrior train- Development of a Nation Stephen Cohen even mentioned about ing in his youth, as well as with the anatomy of yoga, The “the martial races and castes in army” [8]. That was a result knowledge of cakra has been combined with learning the of renaissance of war performing arts brought to India by marmans, the vital points being the aim for dangerous blows descendants of Genghis Khan The prestige of wrestling was [4], The word ‘marman’ rooted in mrityu; (death) has been enormous from the very beginning of their invasion. Its pop- found already in the sacred text of ancient Rigveda. The ex- ularity has been great even at the ages of decline of Mughal perience in this matter of Buddhist monks are evident to rules. Wrestling was an important part of the performing some scholars studying the Buddhist performing arts, es- arts uniting Muslim and Hindu champions especially when pecially Tibetan ritual dances. great emperor Akbar tried to create a synthesis of Islam and Hinduism as a religion for All-Indian Empire.