INTRODUCTION
Silambam is a popular variant of martial arts which
is performed with the aid of some specific weapons, primarily with bamboo
sticks. It is widely performed in the regions of Tamil Nadu (India)
which is also the birthplace of the game, where it emerged in around 1000 years
BCE. The Tamil Sangam literature has the early records
of Silambam.
It's an ancient weapon-based martial art. The word
Silambam etymologically means "staff from the hills" with the
word meaning of "Silam" being "hills" and "Kambu" being "staff
or sticks". The game is usually played on an even hard surface where the
players use a bamboo stick with its length equivalent to their heights.
Overall, there are 16 forms of footwork present in this martial art.
Some
of the most popular ways of Silambam Guru Vanakkam (an honourable act towards
the Gurus and the audience), mentioned as follows -
- Long Stick
Guru Vanakkam - Here, the fighters use one-inch width bamboo stick as
a weapon with a height up to their eyebrow level.
- Double
Short Stick - In this form, two different short sticks, each being 3
feet are used to hit or block the opponent.
- Chopper
Knife - The fighters in this form defend themselves with the aid of a
chopper knife.
OBJECTIVE
·
The primary focus of the fighters is to use the bamboo stick as a weapon
to defeat the opponents. The length of the weapon stick depends on the height
of the fighters. In the battle, the fighter holds the weapon by stretching the
arms around 3-quarters full.
·
From this position, the fighters can initiate all the attacks by moving
their wrist. The attacker may bluff by disguising any attacking move with
another move.
HISTORY OF SILAMBAM
About
5000 years age, Sieges age shier, a great devotee of lord Muruga, the Tamil
god, lived in the hills of Pothigai in Thirunelveli District, which is situated
in Tamilnadu in south India. It is said that it was Agasthiar who invented this
art of Silambam. Later on the chera, Chozha and Pandiya kings introduced this
art in their warfare and made it compulsory for all the soldiers in the five
wings of their military.
In
the recent past, at the time of Pulidevan and Veera Pandiya Kattabomman (1760–
1799) this art was resurrected and was used in the fights against the British.
So the British passed orders not to practice Silambam.
As
for the Tamils, Silambam is not only a weapon but also a traditional Martial
art. So they practiced it for the sake of physical fitness. From the south
India, Silamabm spread over the rest of India and it called in different name
in different part of the country. Silambam is called as Nedu Vadi in Kerala;
karra saamu in Andhra Pradesh; Dhanta Varisai in Karnataka, Lathi in Uttar
Pradesh; Marithani in Maharashtra; Dhal Lakadi in Gujarat; Patta Pachi in
Punjab & Haryana; Kathga in Jharkhand and Bihar depending upon their
language spocken in their area. Nowdays, Silambam is played in festivals like
Moharram, Ram Navami, etc.
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ART
AT THE TIME OF SIEGES AND KINGS:
About
5000 years age, Sieges age shier, a great devotee of lord Muruga, the Tamil
god, lived in the hills of Pothigai in Thirunelveli District, which is situated
in Tamilnadu in south India. It is said that it was Agasthiar who invented this
art of Silambam.
Later
on the Chera, Chozha and Pandiya kings introduced this art in their warfare and
made it compulsory for all the soldiers in the five wings of their military. In
the recent past, at the time of Pulidevan and Veera Pandiya Kattabomman (1760–
1799) this art was resurrected and was used in the fights against the British.
So
the British passed orders not to practice Silambam. As for the Tamils, Silambam
is not only a weapon but also a traditional Martial art. So they practiced it
for the sake of physical fitness. From the south India, Silamabm spread over
the rest of India and it called in different name in different part of the
country.
Silambam
is called as Nedu Vadi in Kerala; karra saamu in Andhra Pradesh; Dhanta Varisai
in Karnataka, Lathi in Uttar Pradesh; Marithani in Maharashtra; Dhal Lakadi in
Gujarat; Patta Pachi in Punjab & Haryana; Kathga in Jharkhand and Bihar depending
upon their language spocken in their area. Nowdays, Silambam is played in
festivals like Moharram, Ram Navami, etc.
In 2004, All India Silambam Federation was duly
registered in the Government of Tamil Nadu.
On
20th March 2009, the executive meeting of silambam was held and concluded to
form the Asian Silambam Federation. Later, on 17th August 2010, another
executive committee meeting held in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu where the decision of
the formation of the World Silambam Federation in India was taken.
BENEFITS OF SILAMBAM
1. Silambam is a
beneficial cardio exercise that enhances heart health and blood circulation.
2.
Calorie burning
aids in weight loss and body contouring.
3.
Relieves
weariness, lethargy, and mental stress.
4.
Enhances reflexive
joint and muscle mobility and body flexibility.
GOD OF SILAMBAM
According
to oral tradition, silambam dates back many thousand years to the enlightened
sage Agastya, a siddha. Agastya spoke with an elderly man who he encountered on
the road to Vellimalai and who he believed to be the Lord Murugan in disguise
about Hindu philosophy.
STYLES
There are about 18 different styles of silambam practiced today. They are:
1. Karnatakan (Practiced mainly in southern Karnataka)
2. Kuravanji (Practiced mainly in Kerala)
3. Kuthu Kuravanji
4. Komberi Mookan
5. Paniyeri Mallan
6. Minnal Veeran
7. Minnal Vettu
8. Nagam-16
9. Naga Pasanam
10. Kalla-Pathu
11. Thuluk Kanam
12. Markanam
13. Kida Muttu
14. Kalyana Varisai
15. Tomman Kuthu
16. Paarvai Vilayaatu
17. Kallagam
18. Nillai Kalakki (The most popular style outside India, practiced mainly in Malaysia and Singapore)
SILAMBAM WEAPONS
Bamboo
staff is considered as primary weapon in Silambam and various other weapons are
also used like:
a)
Maduvu/Maan Kombu
( deer horn )
b)
Vel Kambu ( spear
)
c)
Kathi ( Knife )
d)
Kattari/Kuthuval (
Dagger )
e)
Vaal & Kedayam
( Sword & Shield )
f)
Kuthu Kattai (
Knuckle Duster )
g)
Surul Vaal (
Flexible Blades )
h)
Savukku ( Whip )
i)
Eer Vaal ( Saber
Sword )
j)
Koppattan / Kai
Urai Vaal ( Haunlet-sword )
k)
Aruval ( Sickle )
l)
Valari/Valai Thadi
( Boomerang )
m)
Changili Kattai (
Wood + Chain )
n)
Thuni ( Towel )
o)
Kal Thuni ( Towel
with a stone tied at one end )
p) Rope / Rope Ball
THE END
Although Silambam has been recognised as a sport in Tamil Nadu, only a few private schools and universities teach it to students regularly. To learn this art, individuals enroll in private institutes themselves. It's great that people are interested in this historic art form and working to keep it alive. Shortly, perhaps, art will be more appreciated and helpful.