In southern styles of kalarippayattu (practised mainly in old Travancore including the present Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu) , practice and fighting techniques emphasize empty hands and application from the first lesson. In the southern styles the stages of training are Chuvatu (solo forms), Jodi (partner training/sparring), Kurunthadi (short stick), Neduvadi, Katthi, Katara, valum parichayum, Chuttuval, double sword and Marmma and kalari grappling. The southern styles of kalarippayattu have been practised primarily by a section of Nairs and Ezhavas of Kerala and a small section of Nadars, Kallars and Maravars, of erstwhile Travancore areas.
Zarrilli refers to southern kalarippayattu as ati mura (the 'law of hitting') or marma ati (hitting the vital spots) or Varma ati or Varma Kalari . The preliminary empty-hand techniques of ati mura are known as Adithada (hit/defend). Varma ati refers specifically to the application of these techniques to vital spots. Weapons may include Chilambam(long staffs), short sticks, and double deer horns. Southern styles of kalarippayattu are not practised in special roofed pits but rather in the open air, or in an unroofed enclosure of palm branches. Masters are known as asan rather than gurukkal. The founder and patron saint is believed to be the rishi Agasthya rather than Parasurama.
Medical treatment in southern styles of kalarippayattu — which does include massage — is identified with Dravidian Siddha medicine, which is regarded as being as sophisticated as — though distinct from — Ayurveda. The Dravidian Siddha medical system is also known as Siddha Vaidyam and, like ati mura, is attributed to the rishi Agasthya. The active suppression of Nairs in southern Kerala led to the virtual extinction of their southern dronamballi sampradayam by the mid-1950s.
Zarrilli refers to southern kalarippayattu as ati mura (the 'law of hitting') or marma ati (hitting the vital spots) or Varma ati or Varma Kalari . The preliminary empty-hand techniques of ati mura are known as Adithada (hit/defend). Varma ati refers specifically to the application of these techniques to vital spots. Weapons may include Chilambam(long staffs), short sticks, and double deer horns. Southern styles of kalarippayattu are not practised in special roofed pits but rather in the open air, or in an unroofed enclosure of palm branches. Masters are known as asan rather than gurukkal. The founder and patron saint is believed to be the rishi Agasthya rather than Parasurama.
Medical treatment in southern styles of kalarippayattu — which does include massage — is identified with Dravidian Siddha medicine, which is regarded as being as sophisticated as — though distinct from — Ayurveda. The Dravidian Siddha medical system is also known as Siddha Vaidyam and, like ati mura, is attributed to the rishi Agasthya. The active suppression of Nairs in southern Kerala led to the virtual extinction of their southern dronamballi sampradayam by the mid-1950s.
