Ancient origins

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.

Classical Period (3rd to 10th centuries CE)

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.

Medieval Period (11th to 15th centuries CE)

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.

Mughal Era (1526–1857 CE)

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.

Maratha dynasty (1674–1859 CE)

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.

Modern period (1857–present)

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.