Mani, Veena and Najeeb, V R and Sandesh, E P A and Binoy, V V
(2025)
Bowing to surrender or to fight?: Interpretations of diversities in a Kalaripayattu salutation.
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| Abstract: |
Salutation in martial arts overlaps with religious and spiritual modes of paying respect to different deities. This study documents and interprets different modes of a salutation, namely 'poothara (also puttara) thozhal / vandanam' , across various styles of kalaripayattu to learn the variations in and through this indigenous martial arts from the southern regions of India. Using YouTube videos, translations and fieldwork data, we not only map the variations across different styles but also bring out the variations within the same style. We study arappakai and pillathangi styles and argue that the variations between and within these styles show diversity and multiplicity of contemporary kalaripayattu practices, even when this martial tradition is increasingly becoming institutionalized and modernized. We also observed that in certain cases, even when oral commands (vaythari) are different, the actions followed are similar or the same. Through interpretations of customary beliefs, we demonstrate how the poothara salutations have devotional as well as combat training, healing and spiritual dimensions. Lastly, we reflect on the need for documenting and preserving the diversities within kalaripayattu practices. |
| Item Type: |
Journal Paper
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| Subjects: |
School of Natural and Engineering Sciences > Science, Technology, Society |
| Divisions: |
Schools > Natural Sciences and Engineering |
| Date Deposited: |
06 May 2025 10:07 |
| Last Modified: |
06 May 2025 10:07 |
| Official URL: |
https://advance.sagepub.com/users/98398/articles/1... |
| Related URLs: |
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| Funders: |
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| Projects: |
* |
| DOI: |
10.31124/advance.174524960.00203874/v1 |
| URI: |
http://eprints.nias.res.in/id/eprint/2916 |
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