Gurukkal Blogs

 THE LAMP IN THE CAVE : A STORY OF THE  GURU Author Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh    – The Warrior Monk   Indian Martial Arts Guru | Spiritual Visionary | Founder, Agasthyam Foundation | Author & Filmmaker   Long ago, in a vast and ancient forest, there lived a boy named Sivayogi. From childhood, he had one deep question that haunted his heart: “Who am I… really?” People around him spoke of gods, heaven, rebirth, rituals… but none of it touched that raw yearning within him. He wasn’t looking for belief. He was looking for truth. One day, while walking through the forest, Sivayogi came upon a dark cave. Something pulled him in. As he stepped inside, the world outside faded, and only darkness surrounded him. He walked deeper and deeper… but no light. No sound. Only stillness. Suddenly, panic rose in his chest. He couldn’t see. He didn’t know the way. The cave became a symbol of his own mind  filled with questions, doubts, and ignorance. He sat dow...

 GURU PARAMPARA    Author Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh    – The Warrior Monk   Indian Martial Arts Guru | Spiritual Visionary | Founder, Agasthyam Foundation | Author & Filmmaker You know, in our tradition, the Guru is not just someone who teaches the Guru is the one who removes the veil . The Sanskrit verse says: "ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ" It means: To the Guru, I offer my salutations the one who, hold the  stick of knowledge, opens the eyes of the one blinded by the darkness of ignorance. That’s what a Guru does removes ajñāna , the blindness of the inner eye. Not just by speaking, but by being. By living it. By making you see who you really are. And when we talk about Guru Parampara , we’re speaking of something eternal a chain of awakened beings, who pass on not just techniques, but consciousness . A living wisdom that flows from heart to heart, soul to soul. In Kalaripayattu , ...

 Shanthi mantra    Author Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh    – The Warrior Monk   Indian Martial Arts Guru | Spiritual Visionary | Founder, Agasthyam Foundation | Author & Filmmaker "We often chant…  Sarvesham Swastir Bhavatu ." "It means: May there be well-being for all. May there be peace, fullness, and health for everyone." "But have you ever paused and thought—why are we praying for  everyone ? What does  their  peace have to do with  my  wellness?" "Here’s the secret: when you genuinely wish peace for others… you create peace within yourself." "That vibration, that intention—it doesn’t just go outward. It cleanses  you . It heals  you ." "In fact, most of our stress, pain, and imbalance come from separation… ego… the illusion that ‘I’ am different from ‘you.’" "But when I say,  'May all be well' … I am dissolving that wall. I am aligning with the universe." "Wellness, then, is not just about what I eat, o...

Sports and the Warrior Instinct   Author Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh    – The Warrior Monk Indian Martial Arts Guru | Spiritual Visionary | Founder, Agasthyam Foundation | Author & Filmmaker            We, the Homo sapiens, are the children of hunters. For nearly 200,000 years, we lived as hunter-gatherers. The longest part of our evolutionary journey was not spent in cities, but in forests, caves, and open landscapes—tracking prey, protecting kin, surviving against all odds. That legacy is etched deep into our DNA. There’s a warrior buried within each of us—not necessarily one who wields weapons, but one driven by instinct: to move, to fight, to endure, to survive. This ancient instinct hasn’t disappeared. It has simply evolved—finding its expression in what we now call  sport . From Spears to Javelins: The Evolution of Play When I think of our ancestors, I imagine a world where the ability to run fast, jump high, throw accurately, or wre...