KALARIPAYATTU

        According to some historians, it was sangam age (BC 200-600 AD), during which kalarippayattu evolved and developed. Tamil literature and anthologies describe the warring tribes of that period. The word kalari is used for a battle field and an area for training in weaponry. The tribals (Men and Women) were trained in wielding weapons including the sword (val), spear (vel) Bow (Vil), and shield (Khedayam) and they were ferocious in battle.

        The period between the 7^th and 9^th centuries was the Brahminical age. The Brahmins established their supremacy and influenced every sphere of the society. They set up centres called salais for training in the Vedas and warfare.

         The cheras ruled southern part of india from 8^th century to the 11^th century. The cheras rulers patronized kalaris and established a fighting force with a core group of one thousand captains. And captain had ten well trained soldiers under his command.

         The cheran rule (8^th to 11^th century) overlapped a part of the brahminical age (7^th to 9^th century). During the cheran rule, salais continued imparting martial training to Brahmins students, while kalaris groomed soldiers belonging to the other castes and groups. By then the brahmas, having consolidated their domain, chose to remain as land lords, and priests. They ceased training themselves in martial arts, but the salai continued imparting vedic education. Eventually the salai, vanished from southern part. But the kalaris continued to function and teach kalaripayattu.

         The long rule of the cheras came to an end in the early years of the 12^th century. The emergence of a number of kings and chieftains wielding almost total control over southern part of India.    

        The political and administrative machinery in southern part of India had more (or) less collapsed under the constantly fighting kings and chieftains. For personal benefits, they maintained private armies and mercenaries thoroughly trained in the art of warfare.

          Overall it is to be assumed the kalaripayattu has emerged through a long process as a result of a synthesis of an indigenous physical culture with the marital systems, imparted through a brahminical institution called salais. The word kalari derived from Sanskrit, the world oldest written language 5,000 years is also seen repeatedly in early tamil anthologies.