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The cave painting in

Mount Sung of Bodhi

Dharma

Bodhi Dharma

There is a huge confusion amongst people about Bodhi Dharma, Is hefrom Kerala, was he a Kalarippayattu master and was he thefounder ofShaolin Temple

Bodhi Dharma ( Ta Mo by the Chinese, Dat Mor in Cantonese, Da Mo

in Mandarin, later called Daruma Taishi in Japanese) , one of the

outstanding Buddhist monks in the history of Chinese Buddhism, wasmostly known for bringing the (Chan is the Chinese translation for theSanskrit word "dhyana" meaning Yogic concentration, also known as

Zen in Japanese when it was introduced from China.) even though he

had few disciples in his lifetime, and is honored as the founder of Kungfu. He is also credited with bringing tea to China . He is said to have

cut off his eyelids to stay awake in meditation, and so is usually

depicted with bulging eyes. In this issue, we look at the mysterious lifeand legends surrounding this great Buddhist monk, whose legacy

influenced many generations to come.

Bodhi Dharma was born in Kanchiin the Southern

Indian kingdom (todays Tamil Nadu State )

ofPallava around year 440. Bodhi Dharma was theyoungest of three brothers in the royal family of thesouthernIndian kingdom of Pallava king

Sugandan. His father, the king Sugandan, also

known as Simhavarman was a devoted Buddhist andmanaged state affairs according to the Buddha's

teachings. At birth Bodhi Dharma was born with abreathing disorder. He was adopted and trained at

birth in breathing exercises and combat, namely in

the arts of Dravidian warfare arts of Southern Indiaand self-defense techniques such Kuttu Varisai and

Pidi Varesai (Punches Series- hand to hand combatwith animal styles and locking techniques Similar to

Kung Fu and Karate), Malyutham (grappling), VarmaKalai (Secret or Vital Art, Pressure point attacks, In

healing and Self-defense similar to Tai Chi or DimMak), Silambam (staff fighting), Eretthai or

Saydekuche (double stick fighting), Madhu or Madi

(deer horn weapon fighting), Surul Pattai or Surulwall (steel blade whip), Val Vitchi (single sword), and

Eretthai Val (double short sword) fighting.Bodhidarma also studied Dhyana Buddhism and

became the 28th patriarch of that religion.

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The Eighteen Lohan Shou (Lohan meaningenlightened and Shou meaning

Hands/Exercises)

Bodhi Dharma countered this weakness by teaching

them moving exercises, designed to bothenhance Chiflowand build strength. These sets,modified from Indian yogas (mainly Hatha Yoga,and

Raja Yoga which was learnt by Bodhi Dharma in

childhood to cure the breathing disorder,t his style ofYoga was mainly followed by royal famalys),This gave

raise to the legandary art of Kung Fu, this art was

based on the movements of the 18 main animals inIndo-Chinese iconography (e.g., tiger, deer, leopard,cobra, snake, dragon, etc.).

It is hard to say just when the exercises became

"martial arts". The Shaolin temple was in a secluded

area where bandits would have traveled and wildanimals were an occasional problem, so the martial

side of the temple probably started out to fulfill self-

defense needs. After a while, these movements werecodified into a system of self-defense.

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In India the concept of Chakras in human body,the concept of Kundalini and Prana, is the main

theory behind it. In India people even today

practice acupuncture in the form of worship andritual to god, Piercing of gold, silver, copper,

needles, Which is made in all size. Many should

have come across this ritual in India, if u seeTamil people they do it more then others all

over the world to there god Lord Murugan (sonof Lord Shiva). The concept of fire walking inIndia is also very popular, these rituals have

become a controversial issue to the rationalistsin India who protest against such rituals. These

rituals have strong meaning in it. The Piercingwas made a ritual because of its secrets and

dangers.

The Siddhars made the practice of Piercing, this was thought to important peoples, like saints,

vidhyas(physicians), martial artists, and royal familys, to common people it was shown as a ritual tobe offered to god when they have some health problem. God has blessed people and the problemshave solved when they offer the ritual to god. It is a hidden way of practicing meditation to there

problems. The person who pearsess well known about the problems and the offerrer and pearse on

the body for its remides. Today its changed only a blank offering is made to god without knowing thereason what they are doing because it has become a ritual.

Silambam is a popular art in Tamil Nadu and the credit goes to the people of Tamil Nadu who havekept this art alive for over 5,000 years with its secrets in it.

One big reason for the survival of this art in Tamil Nadu is the Huts built out of Bamboo and coconut

leafs. This was a big source of getting their weapon. And the use of bamboo is common all over TamilNadu and south India.

The art of Silambam not only teaches how to use Staff, it also teaches other form of self defense likeVarmakalai, and Kutthu Varasai

Silambam is an Indian style of staff fighting. There are a large number of pre-arranged exercises and

two man sets. It teaches a progressive series of attack patterns and counters along with evasive

stepping patterns. It is readily learned through this method, and is beautiful to see when it isperformed by a skilled players. It is valid both as a sport and self-defense art. It has given good

health to the practicers and a strong mental power to concentrate on any work. It is said that those

how practice this art will get the power of youth, keeping them look young and fit. Silambam is an

art, which gives full body exercise, if all the 36 lessons are practiced every day. The pearse is nowvery much related to martial arts, since today the people who Pierce, are martial artists. The martialartists are keeping the tradition of vidhya shastra knowing the secrets of human body. Similarly the

use of foot moments in martial arts and the use of animal forms in martial is also from India if u cometo South India you can see the most popular tiger style of foot moments in the form of dance, which

is very common, but there are many other styles other then it.