Gurukkal Blogs

 Kalaripayattu: The Ancient Path to Holistic Wellness   Author Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh    – The Warrior Monk   Indian Martial Arts Guru | Spiritual Visionary | Founder, Agasthyam Foundation | Author & Filmmaker Q Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak with you, could you provide  an overview of your family’s engagement with Kalarippayattu and the history of  Agasthyam Foundation? Gurukkal S. Mahesh:You know, my journey into Kalaripayattu didn’t start from a  decision — it was something I was born into. My father, Sanalji Gurukkal, was my  biggest inspiration. He wasn’t just a teacher to me, he was a living example of what it  meant to live this path — fully, completely.  Our family carries a legacy that goes back more than 150 years, starting from a small  village called Vedanthara, before settling in Nemom. This tradition began with my  ancestor Ashan Vaidyar and his wife, Chakki. Ashan Vaidyar was a yogi, a d...

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...