BOGAR SCHOOL OF VARMA KALAI: THE ORIGIN OF KATHINA YOGA KALARI AND MADHYA KERALA KALARI PAYAT

Well, I just wanted to write about this article for information purpose.

INFORMATION WHICH ARE PURPOSELY SUPPRESSED WILL BE COMING TO LIGHT THROUGH MY BLOGS.

THESE ARTICLES ARE NOT TO HURT ANYONE'S BELIEF - BUT, WHATEVER I HAVE FOUND TO BE PRACTICAL AND TRUE WILL SURELY BE EXPOSED THROUGH MY BLOGS.

AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS CANNOT BECOME HATE SPEECH -- SO, BEWARE...!!!!

A few days back, while I was studying about Kalaripayattu, The Martial Art form of Kerala, I happened to see some similarities that I would like to share with you in this blog article.


There are many different types of Kalaripayattu. They are:

1. Northern Style Kalaripayattu
2. Southern Style Kalari
3. Madhya Kerala Kalari
4. Kadathanadan Kalari and 
5. Thulunadan Kalari 
6. Kathina Yoga Kalari

Out of which the Madhya Kerala, Kadathanadan and Thulunadan styles are categorized with the Northern system of Kalaripayattu.

In Tamil Nadu, there is an art of Healing and Killing practiced, which is called Varma Kalai, which was developed by the 18 Tamil Siddhars.

As per a stanza from a popular Varma Kalai palm leaf manuscript, Varma Kalai grew independently under 3 different School of Thoughts. They are:

1. Agathiyar School 
2. Bogar School and 
3. Ramadevar School

Out of which the Agathiyar School of Varma Kalai is the most commonly practiced School in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

WE HARDLY FIND FEW TEACHERS TEACHING THE BOGAR SCHOOL OF VARMA KALAI

ON THE OTHER HAND, PEOPLE SAY THAT THE RAMADEVAR SCHOOL OF VARMA KALAI IS ALMOST EXTINCT.

I WILL DEAL WITH THE RAMADEVAR SCHOOL OF VARMA KALAI IN ANOTHER POST.

COMING TO THE POINT,

Bogar School of Varma Kalai as I had seen IS still practiced in Kerala in different names.

Or rather should I say that the Original Bogar School of Varma Kalai has been divided into 2 different parts and is practiced in Kerala. They are:

1. Kathina Yoga Kalari and
2. Madhya Kerala Kalari

BOGAR VARMA KALAI: THE ORIGIN OF KATHINA YOGA KALARI:

The reason I am convinced that Bogar School of Varma Kalai gave birth to Kathina Yoga Kalari is because,

BOGAR SCHOOL OF VARMA KALAI, HAS GOT A VERY PRONOUNCED YOGA COMPONENT, WHICH MAKES THE STUDENT FIT, AND ALSO HEALS THE BODY AND THE AFFECTED VARMAM'S IN THE BODY NATURALLY.

Kumaran Asan, Kathina Yoga Master

Similarly, the name Kathina Yoga itself means, HARD YOGA, which is one of the reasons why I am convinced that Kathina Yoga is from Bogar School of Varma Kalai.

SECONDLY, MASTERS OF KATHINA YOGA ARE KNOWN AS AHSANS, AND NOT GURUKKALS AS IN OTHER NORTHERN SYSTEMS OF KALARI.

THIRDLY, KATHINA YOGA IS PRACTICED ONLY IN TRIVANDRUM DISTRICT OF KERALA, AND NOT IN ANY OTHER PORTION OF KERALA.

This shows that the Agathiyar School and Bogar School of Varma Kalai from Tamil Nadu is still practiced in Trivandrum district of Tamil Nadu.

BOGAR VARMA KALAI: THE ORIGIN OF MADHYA KERALA KALARI:

Coming to know about the more obscure style of Kalaripayattu - The Madhya Kerala Kalari

It is evident that this style uses empty hand system of Thekkan Style (Adi Murai) and weaponry system of the Vadakkan Style, but also distinguishes itself by its importance for lower body strength.

In Bogar School of Varma Kalai, it is evident that importance is given for Lower Body Strength.

BUT -- ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IN MADHYA KERALA KALARI IS THE IMPORTANCE GIVEN FOR THE CHUVADU MURAI (FOOTWORK METHODS)

Footwork is of primary importance in both Agathiyar School of Varma Kalai and Bogar School of Varma Kalai.

BUT -- IT IS ALSO INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT SAME IMPORTANCE IS GIVEN IN MADHYA KERALA KALARI (CENTRAL STYLE KALARI) FOR THE FOOTWORK SYSTEM.

SINCE THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTATION OF THE BOGAR SCHOOL OF VARMA KALAI AVAILABLE ON THE NET, EXCEPTING FOR DR. KANNAN AASAAN DEMONSTRATING VARMA ATI METHOD OF BOGAR SCHOOL,

Late. Dr. Kannan Aasaan demonstrating a joint lock (Bogar Varma Kalai)

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MADHYA KERALA STYLE KALARI DOCUMENTARY IN THIS POST:

Madhya Kerala Style (Kalari Footwork)

Those who know Kuthu Varisai Martial Art would know how this Footwork System was developed.

NOT ONLY THAT, UNLIKE NORTHERN STYLE KALARIPAYATTU, WHICH TEACHES ONLY ONE TO ONE FIGHT, MADHYA KERALA STYLE RESEMBLES MORE OF THEKKAN STYLE (ADI MURAI) IN FIGHTING MULTIPLE ARMED AND UNARMED OPPONENTS AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS CONCEPT IS VERY CLOSELY RELATED TO THE PADAI VEECHU IN KUTHU VARISAI AND ADI MURAI.

IT WAS DURING THE SIVAKASI RIOTS OF 1899, WHERE THERE WAS A MARAVAR-NADAR RIOT, THAT PEOPLE FROM BOTH THESE COMMUNITIES CONVERTED TO ISLAM AND MIGRATED TO KERALA -- PROBABLY WHICH COULD HAVE LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF THE MADHYA KERALA KALARI STYLE.

THUS, IT IS CLEAR AND EVIDENT THAT BOTH KATHINA YOGA KALARI AND MADHYA KERALA KALARI DEVELOPED FROM BOGAR SCHOOL OF VARMA KALAI

KINDLY KEEP READING ON... 

MY NEXT ARTICLES WILL BE ON THULUNADAN KALARI AND KADATHANADAN KALARI...

KINDLY READ, UNDERSTAND OUR ANCIENT HISTORY AND SHARE THIS SUPPRESSED HISTORY TO BRING OUT THE REAL HISTORY AGAINST THE DISTORTED HISTORY OF THE TAMILS....

REGARDS.