AGASTHIYA: A FOUNDER OF KALARIPAYATTU? DOES HE BELONG TO KERALA?

In this article we are going to see about one of the greatest Siddhars, Siddhar Agasthya.

His actual name is Agathiyar, also known as Agasthi in North India or Agasthiya in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In one of my other posts, there was a person who told me Agasthya is from Kerala and He is a founder of Kalaripayattu, a martial art form of Kerala.

I GENERALLY DO NOT APPROVE ANY COMMENTS FOR MY BLOG, UNLESS THEY ARE USEFUL AND COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE BENEFIT OF MY READERS, AS MY BLOGS ARE ONLY FOR INFORMATIVE PURPOSES OF THE INFORMATION WHICH ARE PURPOSELY SUPPRESSED BY THE MEDIAS AND OTHER TAMIL HATERS. 

Coming to the point, there are certain controversies surrounding this Great Sage Agathiyar.

Since Agathiyar is also present in the Vedas as the composer of Mantras, the North Indians have a completely different story about Agasthya.

Above all this, the so called researchers who come to India try to confuse the people saying Agasthiya of North Indian tradition is different and the Agathiyar of Tamil Tradition is different.

BUT--ON THE CONTRARY THERE IS ONLY ONE AGATHIYAR'S SAMADHI IN INDIA.

To get more clarity on the above said controversy, 

Punch into Google Search:

TAMIL - THE MOTHER OF ALL LANGUAGES ON EARTH BY BENJAMIN FURROWS.

I think the above article would have cleared most of your doubts.

Coming to the point again, Agasthiya was the Chiefest of ALL MAIN 18 SIDDHARS.

SIDDHARS WERE TAMIL SAINTS, WHO KNEW NO OTHER LANGUAGE EXCEPT TAMIL. 

SIDDHARS WERE FROM THE PANDIYAN KINGDOM.

SIDDHARS WERE EXPERTS IN MARTIAL ARTS, ALCHEMY, MEDICINE, ASTROLOGY, WISDOM (GNANAM), RASAVATHAM, TANTRA MANTRA YANTA, PHILOSOPHY AND YOGA.

There are 18 Main Siddhars. they are:

1. Agathiyar (Agasthya)
2. Thirumoolar 
3. Bogar
4. Kongannar 
5. Therayar 
6. Korakkar 
7. Karuvurar 
8. Edaikaddar 
9. Chattamuni 
10. Sundaranar 
11. Ramadevar 
12. Pambatti 
13. Machamuni 
14. Kudambai 
15. Azhuganni 
16. Agapai 
17. Nandhi Devar 
18. Kakapusundar 

Agathiyar who is the chief of them, was the Guru of Siddhar Bogar, Pulipani and Therayar.

Siddhar Bogar, in one of his writings describes Sage Agathiyar in this way.

"தென் பொதிகை நாதன் துணையால் பாடி வைத்தேன் முறை நண்றாமே" 

"Then pothigai nathan thunaiyaal padi vaithaen murai nanramae" 

In the above verse in one of his palm leaf manuscripts, Siddhar Bogar describes Sage Agasthya as a person from South Podhigai Hills. 

A stone in which Sage Agathiyar meditated is still present in Ambasmudhram of Kutrallam in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu

Agathiyar Meditation Stone

This is the stone where Sage Agathiyar sat down and meditated.

It is still believed that the Spirit of Sage Agathiyar is moving there to heal people who come there.

This Podhiga Hills is the place where Sage Agasthya was born. 

THIS PODHIGAI HILLS IS SITUATED IN COUTRALLAM (KUTRALLAM) IN TAMIL NADU

Kutrallam, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu

This is the original place of Birth and the place where Siddhar Agasthya had lived.

BUT -- In other Siddha Medical Literature there is a description of Sage Agasthya having attained SAMADHI in Ananthasayanam in Thiruvanathapuram district.

Keeping this as a point, people tend to say that Sage Agasthya was a Keralite.

BUT--ON THE CONTROVERSY, PEOPLE FORGET TO OBSERVE THAT AGASTHYA ATTAINED SAMADHI 2 MILLENNIUM YEARS BACK.

SO, GOING BACK 2,000 YEARS, WE SEE THAT THE WHOLE LAND OF TODAY'S TAMIL NADU AND KERALA WERE TAMIL KINGDOMS RULED BY THE PANDIYAN KINGS OF THE SOUTH.

TRIVANDRUM 2,000 YEARS BACK BELONGED TO THE PANDIYAS.

IT WAS ONLY 60 YEARS BACK, AFTER THE BRITISH HAD LEFT INDIA, WHEN THE STATES WERE DIVIDED IN THE SOUTH THAT THIS EVERGREEN CITY OF TRIVANDRUM WAS GIVEN TO KERALA AFTER MUCH PROTEST THAT IT MUST NOT BE GIVEN.

TILL THEN THE KOCHI - TRAVANCORE AREAS NEVER BELONGED TO KERALA, BUT STILL THEY ABODE AS A SEPARATE STATE.

IN ORDER TO GIVE MORE LAND AREA TO KERALA, THE TRIVANDRUM CITY WAS GIVEN TO KERALA IN 1956, AS PER THE STATES ACT.

IS AGASTHYA A FOUNDER OF KALARIPAYATTU, A MARTIAL ART OF KERALA?

When I was inquisitive to know more about the Agasthyas style of Kalaripayattu, I happened to come across certain articles over the net, which gave me some information about this. 

I would like to share them here with you.

Agasthya was a Great Sage, who was well versed in many of the Ancient Skills and has compiled many works on Yogam, Gnanam, Manthrikam, Tanthrikam, Yantra Science, Martial Arts, Siddha Medicine, Varmam Medicine, Rasavatham, Alchemy etc.

Coming to the Martial Arts part, where people say that he is the founder of Thekkan Kalari or Southern Style Kalaripayattu which is practiced in the Southern Districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

BY CLOSE OBSERVATION, YOU CAN CLEARLY MAKE OUT THAT THEKKAN KALARI IS A COMBINATION OF SILAMBAM, MALYUTHAM AND ADIMURAI.

While collecting information on Agasthiya's Martial Art forms, Master Arunachalam Mani who teaches ALL - Silambam, Adimurai, Malyutham, Yoga etc. points out to the fact that

THOUGH THERE ARE SO MANY PALM LEAVES IN THE NAME OF AGASTHYA, WHICH SPEAK OF

1. SILAMBAM
2. ADIMURAI
3. MALYUTHAM AND GUSTHI 
4. SIDDHA MEDICINE 
5. VARMAM 

IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT THE WORD KALARI IS NOT PRESENT EVEN IN ONE OF HIS PALM LEAVES.

He also points out to the fact that, 

During the formation of Kerala Kalaripayattu Association in the year 1956, in order to promote Traditional Martial Arts, KKA declared that the 

ORIGINAL MARTIAL ART OF KALARIPAYATTU WILL BE CALLED AS "NORTHERN OR VADAKKAN" KALARI AND THE TAMIL FIGHTING STYLES COLLECTIVELY WILL BE CALLED "SOUTHERN OR THEKKAN" KALARI

THEKKAN KALARI INCLUDES SILAMBAM, VAAL VEECHU, KUTHU VARISAI, VARMA ADI (ADIMURAI), MALYUTHAM AND GUSTHI, SIDDHA AND VARMAM MEDICINE.

All these arts are COLLECTIVELY being trained under one roof in the name of Thekkan Kalari or Southern Style Kalari in Trivandrum and Kollam districts of Kerala,

WHILE, all these arts are practiced separately and uniquely in Tamil Nadu.

THUS, THE VARIOUS UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT MARTIAL ARTS ATTRIBUTED TO SAGE AGASTHYA IS TAUGHT UNDER ONE ROOF IN THE NAME OF THEKKAN KALARI IN SOUTH KERALA.

Some of the videos to see on Silambam, Adimurai and Malyutham. 

Silambam Documentary

 

Adimurai (Varma Ati) 

Malyutham (Wrestling Sports of Tamil Nadu)

Videos of  Thekkan Kalari (Southern Style Kalari)

 

Buddha Kalari (Thekkan or Southern Style)

I THINK MY READERS WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THIS ARTICLE AFTER SEEING THESE VIDEOS AT LEAST.

THANK YOU,


BENJAMIN FURROWS.