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The word Kalari means "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam. Training for Kalaripayattu, a martial art of Kerala is traditionally done inside the Kalari. Also the past village schools of Kerala, run by the traditional astrologers families were known by the name Kalari or Ezhuthu Kalari. Every Kalari has a ''Puttara'' (meaning "platform where flowers are kept" in Malayalam). The Puttara is a seven tiered platform placed in the south-west corner and houses the guardian deity of the Kalari. The seven tiers symbolise the seven abilities that each person must possess: Vignesva (strength), Channiga (patience), Vishnu (power to command), Vadugashcha (the posture), Tadaguru (training), Kali (the expression) and Vakasta - purushu (sound). Other deities, most of them incarnations of the Bhagavathi or Shiva, are installed in the corners. Flowers, incense and water are offered to the deity every day. Before starting the day's practice, it is the norm for practitioners to pray to the deity. Not only is the Kalari a temple of learning, but it is also a temple of religious worship with a cult and ritual of its own. There is also a ''Guruthara'' inside all ''kalaris''. ''Guruttara'' means "the place where a lamp is kept burning in reverence to all the gurus (masters) of the kalari". ''Kalari'' also meant to be the pre-school in Kerala. At the age of three children used to be placed in Kalaris during 20th century. It is still in practice at some villages in Kerala. ==Kalari teachers== The teacher in Kalari is called Guru or Asan. Teachers of Ezhuthu Kalari or Ezhuthu Palli too were known as Asan or ''Ezhuthassan''.The traditional astrologer caste Ganaka or Kaniyar were the Preceptors of fencing techniques〔L. Krishna Anantha Krishna Iyer (Diwan Bahadur); The Cochin tribes and castes; 1909〕 They are still addressed by the title Panickar in certain regions of Kerala.〔Edgar Thurston, K. Rangachari : Castes and tribes of Southern India: Volume 1 :2001 :Page 178〕 It is believed that the duty of training martial arts was assigned to this sect by Parashurama in Keralolpathy.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「kalari」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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