Akalari (Malayalam:[kɐɭɐɾi]) is a gymnasium or training space primarily associated with the martial art ofKalaripayattu. The wordkalari comes fromMalayalam. In the past, village schools inkerala, typically run by the traditional astrologer families, were known by the namekalari. Later schools for teaching language and grammar started calling in the nameEzhuthu Kalari.[1][2]
The teacher of a kalari is called aGurukkal orAsan. Teachers ofEzhuthu Kalari or Ezhuthu Palli[3] were referred to asAsan orEzhuthassan.[4][5][6]
Traditionally, the kalari is constructed by digging a hollow in the ground, forming a sunken area four feet in depth, forty-two feet in length and twenty-one feet in breadth. This is usually calledkuzhikalari. Kuzhi means "portions formed by caving in the earth" inMalayalam. The entrance to the Kalari is in the east, to let in the morning sunlight, and leads into the 42-foot leg running east–west while the 21-foot leg runs north–south. Another consideration taken when constructing the kalari is that it is built in the south-west side of the main plot. The floor of the kalari is leveled using mud. In southern and centralKerala, some kalaris were constructed in a circular form, with weapons and other instruments being placed on one end, and students sitting outside the circular arc to watch the training.[citation needed]
Ankathattu is a 4 to 6 foot high platform constructed temporarily for the purpose of fighting duels.Ankam means war inMalayalam. This platform is constructed as per tradition and is in the center of the ground from where people can watch the fight. The entire arrangement is called ankakalar. Historically, inKerala, quarrels between local rulers were resolved by fixing anankam, a duel to the death, between twoankachekavars, each ruler being represented by oneankachekavar. The ruler represented by the survivingankachekavar was considered the winner.[citation needed]
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