Sri Malabar P. Vasudevan gurukkal

A brief biography of Sri Malabar P. Vasudevan gurukkal

P. Vasudevan gurukkal pertains to the lineage of Unni Rarichan. He was born on February 18 -1932 to Sri Nanganadathu Pulparambil Kelukutty and Smt Parappurathu Cheriya Pennu. Young Vasudevan learned his elementary education from Janaki teacher and primary education at Paroppady Mappila School under Janab Hussain Sahib master. Vasudevan completed his high school education at Vellimadukunnu Higher Secondary School and went for further studies in Sanskrit.

At the age of nine he started his kalari training in under Sri Gopalan gurukkalin the kalari near Mannathu kandi temple. This kalari was built by Mannathu Kandy Chandukutty and it was inaugurated by Veera Shree CV Narayanan Nair (CVN). (this kalari happens to be the first of Pathriyil Gopalan gurukkal. Sri Pluparambil Chandappan gurukkal was a senior member of this kalari.

After that Sri Vasudevan gurukkal has worked as Master for several years in kalaris owned by Sri gopalan gurukkal and those owned by Sri Chandappan gurukkal. At that time the kalari team comprising of Chandappan gurukkal, P. Vasudevan gurukkal, and his sisters Shantha and Lakshmi etc were very famous in Kerala.

At the age of 21 Sri Vasudevan gurukkal started own kalari at Kodanchery in Thamarassery. This was in the year 1953. Sri Vasudevan gurukkal was a teacher of pure form of kalari and kalari chikitsa (kalari healing) and the popularisation of the both was his noble aim. The beginning of the new kalari was made by the advices as well as the whole hearted co operation of his masters.

Sri Vasudevan gurukkal has imparted kalari training to many disciples mainly

Kozhikode district

Thamarassery, Chethukadavu, REC, Mukkom, Kattangal, Agasthyn moozhi, Kalarikkandi, Nellippoil, Thiruvampady and Pulluran para

Kannur district

Kelakam, Adakka thodu, and Alakkode.

Kasaragode district

Ramanthali.

Wayanad district

Nadavayal, Surtan battery, Kalppatta.

Kottayam district

Vadayar, Kaduthuruthi, Njizhur, Ponkunnam.

(In October 1986 a five member team led by Vasudevan gurukkal was invited to visit Japan to perform stage shows there in connection with the inauguration of the “Little world museum of man” movement. They performed about 65 stage shows in various locations of that country during their one month tour program).

Among the numerous disciples he has trained about fifteen are now active in the field in the field by conducting kalaris and in imparting training and kalari chikitsa to students in various parts of India. There are many others who are trained in field but engaged in other employments. At present there are about fifty CVN kalaris functioning in Kerala which have close association with Yogacharya Vasudevan gurukkal.

In imparting all the open as well as secret techniques of the Kalari fighting as well as healing methods to his disciples Yogacharya Vasudevan gurukkal was always far ahead of his peers. He considered his students as his own children and did all help for those who completed training successfully to start their own kalaris.

It is interesting to mention there are numerous gurukkal (masters) in this field who cannot point out even a single disciple who has mastered all the 18 techniques and successfully conducting a kalari. Most of them never taught the real secret techniques to their disciples as they thought that their monopoly of the knowledge will come to an end as the disciples study the same.

Yogacharya Vasudevan gurukkal was different in his approach as he continued the spreading of kalaris as a lamp is used to lighten another. He was a real master and guru without comparison who loved his disciples as a father to his children.

It was on 23rd June the leading light to the martial art of kalari who poured out all he knew to his disciples and passed away leaving his blessings and entrusting them the duty of keeping the lamp of kalari lighted for generations to come.

His daughter Ushadevi is conducting a kalari and a kalari chikitsa centre at Vayanadu. His elder son Sri Harshakumar gurukkal also is in this field he conducts kalaripayttu, kalari chikitsa and yoga centre in Nehru stadium in Kottayam. Sri Vasudevan gurukkal’s younger son used to train students in “kanavu” at Vayanadu and at present conducting a kalaripayattu, kalari chikitsa and yoga at Puliyathu mukku in Kollam. (email.kollamcvn@india.com)