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Ancient origins
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The Dhanurveda section of the Yajurveda contains references to martial arts.
- Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana describe detailed accounts of armed and unarmed combat, involving various weapons and fighting techniques.
- The earliest organised unarmed fighting art was malla-yuddha (combat-wrestling), codified into four forms during the Vedic Period.
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Classical Period (3rd to 10th centuries CE)
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Elements from Yoga Sutras and dance forms were incorporated into martial arts during the 3rd century CE.
- The Sushruta Samhita(4th century CE) identified 108 vital points on the human body, 64 being lethal if struck properly.
- Around 630 CE, the Pallava dynasty commissioned sculptures depicting unarmed fighters disarming armed opponents.
- Martial arts were taught at educational institutions, not limited to the warrior class.
- The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty (7th–10th centuries CE) commissioned texts on martial arts and practised these systems.
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Medieval Period (11th to 15th centuries CE)
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Kalaripayattu developed its present form by the 11th century during warfare between the Chera and Chola dynasties.
- The Malla Purana (c.13th century) is the earliest treatise discussing malla-yuddha techniques.
- The Vijayanagara Empire (14th–16th centuries CE) gave importance to physical culture, with wrestling being popular among royalty and commoners.
- Accounts describe specialised weapons training, fencing, and wrestling among the nobility of Vijayanagara.
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Mughal Era (1526–1857 CE)
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The Mughals patronised India’s native martial arts, recruiting Rajput fighters and practising these systems.
- The Ain-i-Akbari mentions various fighting styles like wrestling, boxing, sword-fighting, and archery being demonstrated at the Mughal court.
- The pehlwani wrestling style was developed by combining malla-yuddha with Persian varzesh-e bastani influences.
- The Naga warrior-ascetics practised armed martial arts to protect Hindus from Mughal rulers.
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Maratha dynasty (1674–1859 CE)
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The Marathas were known for their expertise in swords, spears, and guerilla tactics (Shiva sutra).
- Shivaji, the Maratha warrior-king, was a master swordsman and proficient in various weapons, including the native Mardani khela.
- The Maratha Light Infantry, tracing its origins to 1768, is one of the oldest regiments of the Indian Army.
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Modern period (1857–present)
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Indian martial arts underwent a decline during the British colonial rule due to the introduction of firearms and European modes of warfare.
- Certain styles like Kalaripayattu and Silambam were banned but later revived as part of the anti-colonial movement in the early 20th century.
- Martial communities like Sikhs were employed in the British armed forces, allowing them to practice their traditional boxing styles like loh-musti.
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