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Kalari Building and the Deities
Kalari Building and the Deities
06 - Kalari Building and the Deities.mp3👈 മലയാളത്തിലുള്ള ശബ്ദരേഖ
👈 മലയാളത്തിലുള്ള ശബ്ദരേഖ
👈 Commentary in Malayalam
👈 Commentary in Malayalam
The Kalari we see today at Venkitangu appears to be a Kalari originally meant for imparting training in combat as it is of a ‘Nalpatteerati’ (42’) type which is used only for martial art and warfare training. Later when the Ullanat Panicker-s shifted their focus to the administration of landed property, which was huge, the Kalari might have become more of a place of worship of tutelary deities.
The Kalari we see today at Venkitangu appears to be a Kalari originally meant for imparting training in combat as it is of a ‘Nalpatteerati’ (42’) type which is used only for martial art and warfare training. Later when the Ullanat Panicker-s shifted their focus to the administration of landed property, which was huge, the Kalari might have become more of a place of worship of tutelary deities.
An Ashtamangalya Prasnam conducted at the Kalari precinct during May 2002 revealed that originally it was the Karanavar-s who were conducting the ritualistic worship of the deities and it is only later that the Tantric ritualistic worship was introduced. Namboothiri Brahmins of Chennaas Mana alone know the traditional Tantric rites of the deities of this Kalari. (The administration of Guruvayur temple came to Ullanat Panicker-s during the last quarter of 18th Century AD when their political influence and opulence were also at a peak level. The Aryanization of worship at Ullanat Kalari (in brahmanical Tantric form) should have been introduced during this time as the Namboothiri-s of Chennas Mana were also the hereditary Tantri-s of Guruvayur temple.)
An Ashtamangalya Prasnam conducted at the Kalari precinct during May 2002 revealed that originally it was the Karanavar-s who were conducting the ritualistic worship of the deities and it is only later that the Tantric ritualistic worship was introduced. Namboothiri Brahmins of Chennaas Mana alone know the traditional Tantric rites of the deities of this Kalari. (The administration of Guruvayur temple came to Ullanat Panicker-s during the last quarter of 18th Century AD when their political influence and opulence were also at a peak level. The Aryanization of worship at Ullanat Kalari (in brahmanical Tantric form) should have been introduced during this time as the Namboothiri-s of Chennas Mana were also the hereditary Tantri-s of Guruvayur temple.)
The old building that housed the Kalari was extensively damaged by the devastating storm of the year 1938. The Kalari was repaired and renovated by the Karanavar Raman Mootha Panicker later. Name of this Mootha Panicker is inscribed in the stone plaque at the entrance of the Kalari.
The old building that housed the Kalari was extensively damaged by the devastating storm of the year 1938. The Kalari was repaired and renovated by the Karanavar Raman Mootha Panicker later. Name of this Mootha Panicker is inscribed in the stone plaque at the entrance of the Kalari.
There are eight tutelary deities inside the Kalari temple (see the Kalari diagram) and they are known as ‘Kalariparadaivangal’. Outside the Kalari building, on the northern side is the Kodungallur Bhagavathi and on the eastern side is the Vazhappalli Bhagavathi. These are universal deities and we have two special deities who are exclusive to the Ullanat Tharavad. They are “Ammavan” and “Kurathi Bhagavathi”.
There are eight tutelary deities inside the Kalari temple (see the Kalari diagram) and they are known as ‘Kalariparadaivangal’. Outside the Kalari building, on the northern side is the Kodungallur Bhagavathi and on the eastern side is the Vazhappalli Bhagavathi. These are universal deities and we have two special deities who are exclusive to the Ullanat Tharavad. They are “Ammavan” and “Kurathi Bhagavathi”.
Prasnanushtana Paddhati (പ്രശ്നാനുഷ്ഠാനപദ്ധതി) is an ancient text on Astrology based on Varaha Hora. It is believed that this text would have had its origin in northern Kerala or in the Tulu country of today’s Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. There are two verses given in this text regarding the order of deities to be installed in a Kalari. It is mentioned that this is the order of installation of deities in Tulunadan Kalari. The first one is:-
Prasnanushtana Paddhati (പ്രശ്നാനുഷ്ഠാനപദ്ധതി) is an ancient text on Astrology based on Varaha Hora. It is believed that this text would have had its origin in northern Kerala or in the Tulu country of today’s Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. There are two verses given in this text regarding the order of deities to be installed in a Kalari. It is mentioned that this is the order of installation of deities in Tulunadan Kalari. The first one is:-
വിഘ്നേശം ചണ്ഡികാം വിഷ്ണും വടുകം ച ഗുരൂൻ തഥാ |കാളീം ച വാസ്തുപുരുഷംകിരാതം പരദേവതാം ||
And the second one is:-
And the second one is:-
സൗമ്യദ്വാരസ്യ പശ്ചാദ് ധനദദിശി ഗുരൂൻ ദക്ഷിണേ വിഘ്നരാജംനൈരുത്യാം ചണ്ഡികാഖ്യാം വരുണദിശി തഥാ നാരസിംഹം ച തദ്വത് |വായവ്യാം ഭൈരവാഖ്യാം വടുകപദയുതാം ചോത്തരേ ഭദ്രകാളീംഐശാന്യാം വാസ്തുനാഥം ത്വഭിതമുദരേ ദൈവതം തദ്ഖളൂര്യാം ||
The collective meaning of these two verses goes like this:-
The collective meaning of these two verses goes like this:-
“On the northern side Guru (Dakshinamurthi), on the southern side Ganapathi, on the southwest side Chandika, on the western side Narasimhamurthi, on the northwest side Vatuka Bhairava, on northeast side Vastu Deva, on the northern side Bhadrakali and on the eastern side Kiratamurthi should be installed in the Kalari.”
The only difference that is observed in this order in the Ullanat Kalari is that Vastu Deva is situated along with Guru (Dakshinamurthi) on the northern side and Sri Bhadra who is not mentioned in these verses is installed by the side of Ganapathi on the southern side. And Bhadrakali is located on the northern side only as mentioned in these verses but outside the main Kalari precinct as there is ritual called Kuruthi (a substitute for Bali of olden days) to be offered to this deity. These nine deities are known as Kalariparadaivangal.
The only difference that is observed in this order in the Ullanat Kalari is that Vastu Deva is situated along with Guru (Dakshinamurthi) on the northern side and Sri Bhadra who is not mentioned in these verses is installed by the side of Ganapathi on the southern side. And Bhadrakali is located on the northern side only as mentioned in these verses but outside the main Kalari precinct as there is ritual called Kuruthi (a substitute for Bali of olden days) to be offered to this deity. These nine deities are known as Kalariparadaivangal.
So this is a further confirmation about the possibility of Ullanat Tharavad’s origin in the Tulu region.
So this is a further confirmation about the possibility of Ullanat Tharavad’s origin in the Tulu region.
A View inside the Kalari precinct
A View inside the Kalari precinct
(Click to view video)
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