Kusti or Malla-Yuddha.

History of wrestling in India is amongst the most ancient games in the country and the Hindu epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana contain numerous references about it.

Wrestling is referred to as "Malla-Yudhha", wrestling in India is believed to have been practised even prior to the advent of the Aryans in India. Usually It is practiced in a place called Akhada, and is popularly known as ‘Garadi Mane’.

The Garadi Manes are closely associated from the time of Wodeyars, Kempe Gowda, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Many soldiers in their armies were excellent wrestlers.

The soil in these garadi pits are the special ‘sea sand’ mixed with ayurvedic oils, ghee, milk, kumkum, and gheru. Only after worshipping the soil can the wrestler step into the pit.

It is believed that the word Garadi comes from Garuda, who is the vehicle of Vishnu and had enormous physical strength. Westling traces its roots to the Vedic age.

According to Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana have great wrestlers such as Bhima, Jarasandha, Duryodhana, Karna, and Hanuman, respectively.

It is said even Hyder Ali fine tuned his wrestling skills in garadi mane in Bengaluru and also toned up his muscles.

The Maharaja of Mysore Ranadheera Kantheerava Narasaraja Wodeyar wanted his men in his kingdom to be strong and agile. He took a keen interest in the training of young boys to become pehalwans. Eventually, these wrestlers were included in his Royal Guards.

The Garadis started declining in popularity in Mysore State with the establishment of British rule and with the encouragement of non Indian physical activities.

However there are still left with a handful of wrestling schools in Bengaluru.

During the British Raj in India, wrestling was encouraged and the British officials inducted wrestlers into the military. 

The Indian soldiers and the British armies took a fancy to the activity of wrestling to a great extent. 

Wrestling, therefore, continued thriving as a popular game in the nation and India was ranked as one amongst the top 10 countries in the field of wrestling. 

This scenario remained unchanged till the 1960s. During 1967, the World Wrestling Championship was conducted by Indian wrestling association in New Delhi.

India has a long history in the modern Olympic Games with debut of Indian contingent in 2nd Olympic Games organized at Paris in 1900.

After a gap, India has registered its continuous presence in the games since 1920 Olympics, and Indian Wrestling Team also has remained important part of the nation’s Olympic delegation. 

Till now, India as a nation has 26 medals at the Olympics to its credit, majority being in team event of Field Hockey with 11 different medals, leading the whole world in wrestling.

However, when it comes to individual events, it is the Wrestling Team of India which has set many records in Olympic History of the nation. 

K. D. Jadhav made history by becoming first Indian individual to win a individual medal at the 1952 Olympics.

The exploits of the Indian Wrestling Team at the various Olympics are worth analysis to understand the current direction of Sports in the nation and also to the future of the sport.

Professor N.C. Parappa my late father needs to be mentioned in this regard for his achievements in wrestling .He learned the skills of wrestling at Kodanda Gymnasium, Sanjeevappa lane, Avenue Road Cross, Bengaluru.

He went to win all India inter University championship 1948 in wrestling in bantamweight category representing Mysore University. 

His was certification as a wrestling coach from National institute of Sports Patiala Punjab. In the 1960s he was inducted as a instructor of Malabar Special Police Kerala.

Subsequently he was appointed as Principal, Government College of Physical Education Bengaluru at present it's University College of Physical Education, Bangalore University Bengaluru, and Prof N C Parappa is acknowledged as one of the well known sports administrators in the country.

Nada Kusti is a seven-day wrestling tournament that happens during the Dasara festival in Mysuru every year.

Around 100 wrestlers from Mysuru alone participate in this tournament and it even draws many audiences to the wrestling ground as spectators.

"In wrestling, you can be both a team player and an individual victor."

Gavi's Touch Of Health and Fitness:
https://www.facebook.com/2061GaviRangappa/?ti=as
https://t.me/joinchat/V97BioW-aSl5qTNO
https://www.facebook.com/groups/355112542458490/

#828

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bengaluru_ Devanga Sangha's Centenary Year

Image
.On behalf of the members of Devanga Sangha, Devanga Hostel Road Bengaluru, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our founding members for devoting their time and resources for establishing Devanga Sangha Bengaluru in the year 1923/24. On 12th February 1924 Government of then Mysore officially recognized Devanga Sangha. For the past hundred years many members and donors have contributed immensely for Sangha's development and progress. With great reverence I salute each one of them. Since the beginning, Devanga Sangha has been a centre for education, religious and social enrichment for successive generations of members, and I hope it would continue for another hundred years. It's my sincere appeal to it's management committee to declare 12th of February every year as Devanga Sangha's founders day and install their portraits for member's appreciation. If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, te...
Read more

Exploring the Lives of Sri Devala Maharishi and Sri Devara Dasimayya: Differences and Similarities.

Image
Sri Devala Maharishi and Sri Devara Dasimayya are revered figures in Sanatan spirituality and literature, known for their contributions to the devotional and philosophical traditions of the country. While both individuals lived during different historical periods and hailed from distinct cultural backgrounds, their teachings and legacies continue to inspire millions of devangas and weavers to this day.  In this article, I would like to delve into the lives of Sri Devala Maharishi and Sri Devara Dasimayya, highlighting their differences and similarities. 1. Historical Background: 1.Sri Devala Maharishi is an ancient sage mentioned in Hindu scriptures such as the Rigveda and the Mahabharata.  His origin is attributed to the creation of Devanga community, and he is considered one of the revered sages of ancient India and is believed to have contributed to the compilation and transmission of Vedic knowledge. 2.Sri Devara Dasimayya was a 10th-century saint and poet who ...
Read more

Basketball's Rise in Cubbonpet Bengaluru.

Image
The founder of basketball was late Dr. James Naismith, an Canadian physical education instructor. He invented the game in 1891 while working at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Naismith was tasked with creating a new indoor game to keep his students physically active during the winter months. He developed the basic rules of basketball and used a soccer ball and two peach baskets as goals. The first official game of basketball was played on December 21, 1891, and it quickly gained popularity, eventually evolving into the global sport we know today. Basketball, a dynamic and fast-paced sport, was introduced to India in the early 20th century, and its journey in the country reflects a blend of cultural adaptation, steady progress, and growing popularity. Over the decades, the sport has evolved from a recreational activity to a competitive discipline with a promising future.  This article explores the history, growth, and challenges o...
Read more