Vandanam or Kalari Thozhuth

                                                                    कळरि वंदना

"Start your day by invoking the God within you and around you" a favorite saying of my great grand father, an astrologer and a learned man of his time in the remote hills of Kumaon.  He instilled within his next generations the value of disciplines or niyams, most of them getting skipped with every next generation. I barely lit a Deepam near Tulsi any day and here I am learning the basics of Vandanam again

Kalari Vandanam or as my trainer says Kalari Thozhuth  (zh is ल with a twist) is an integral part before we can start practice. Its a sequence of movements paired with breathing techniques in front of Poothara and Guruthara. 

1. While we enter with right foot, then long lunge left foot, with right hand touch the floor, then head and then heart. 

Does it really mean that we pay our gratitude or every motion signifies a deeper meaning...

  • Touching the floor with right hand means showing respect to Mother earth/ Kalari area on whom we will jump, stamp, hit in order to strengthen our selves and also asking for forgiveness
  • The hand touches the forehead between the eyebrows , also the placeholder of Agyachakra
    • The two nadis Ida and Pingala are called Varana and Asi here, combined as Varanasi. Seems the Ida and Pingala nadi of earth comes the agya chakra of earth at Varanasi, abode of Shankar himself along with Ganga 


  • Now the hand touches the heart, also the placeholder of Anahat chakra. 
    • I used to think that we have to feel the gratitude from heart too hence touching it from heart. the sloka below highlights the importance of Anahat chakra
    • You can literally enhance your vision and listening power beyond the normal human limits, outsmart gravity - Sounds like the goal of Kalari vidya
  •  



Back to the first day, the simpler version was taught with few steps, and the steps kept on increasing with days until I learned Kalari Thozhuth and then I have to keep practicing it until the time I get promoted and eligible to learn Thekkan Thozhuth. 

Thozhuth...

Stand straight >> Fold hand in prayer> bow 90deg> stand straight > take both folded hands front, swim back while taking left leg long lounge> place folded hands in front of face, with index fingers at agya chakra

Stamp with right foot ahead -short lounge> [Tozhuthamal] lift left leg up with knees touching chest> left hand touching inside of the left foot> right hand saluting> place left leg down, join both hands near naval, with middle fingers touching each others tip> move both hands up while bending backwards> both hands reach top of forehead, join palms in namaskar posture> now bring down the joined palms and joined lower arm (elbows should touch each other) following the curvature of the body , bending forwards> > sqaut and fold the palms , while two touching palms rest in front of your face> with index fingers near Agya chakra []> [] Hit the floor with both hands bending forward> Tilt your head towards left and move your upper body close to ground and up like a snake> Stand and repeat  { join both hands near naval, with middle fingers touching each others tip> move both hands up while bending backwards> both hands reach top of forehead, join palms in namaskar posture> now bring down the joined palms and joined lower arm (elbows should touch each other) following the curvature of the body , bending forwards>  sqaut and fold the palms , while two touching palms rest in front of your face}> Stand straight> Kick from right leg > turn 180 deg> stamp the right leg down and repeat the whole Tozhuthamal untill kicking from right leg and turn 180 deg > stamp the right leg down and repeat  { join both hands near naval, with middle fingers touching each others tip> move both hands up while bending backwards> both hands reach top of forehead, join palms in namaskar posture> now bring down the joined palms and joined lower arm (elbows should touch each other) following the curvature of the body , bending forwards>  sqaut and fold the palms , while two touching palms rest in front of your face}> While squating, take your leg leg forward, turning towards right , left hand straight in front palm open, right hand on top of left hand in front as fist> while squating , take your right leg forward, turning towards left, left hand streched in front, palms open towards top and left hand folded, with both elbows touching and left fist touching left shoulder> Take right leg back as in long left lounge, hands up> turn back, take left leg back in right lounge m both hands down> Turn 180 deg turn front towards Guruthra, hands up in long left lounge> Stamp with right foot down and repeat { join both hands near naval, with middle fingers touching each others tip> move both hands up while bending backwards> both hands reach top of forehead, join palms in namaskar posture> now bring down the joined palms and joined lower arm (elbows should touch each other) following the curvature of the body , bending forwards>  sqaut and fold the palms , while two touching palms rest in front of your face}> Touch floor, forehead and heart with right hand> Walk towards Poothara, touch with right hand, Poothara , forehead and heart> Walk towards Guruthara, touch with right hand, Guruthara, forehead and heart


And the Senior Prayer or Thekkan Thozhuth




A 11 year old kid Vardha who is a Kalari student for almost 6 years now showed me how to do my prayer correctly and corrected me many times. She proudly says she is a favorite of Shreyas, No doubt she got her traits and tricks from her master. When she is mood, its spectacular to watch her perform Kalari and when she isnt its again a mess that cant be described in words. She is an extrovert, talkative and very jovial kid. My classes are more entertaining when she is around, she brings life in the place she exists. Sometimes during break she pulls my braid reminding me of my school days when I used to tease girls with braids.

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