Kalaripayattu also known simply as Kalari is an Indian martial art that originated in Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India during the 11th–12th century CE.
Kalaripayattu is a martial art which developed out of combat-techniques of the 11th-12th century battlefield, with weapons and combative techniques that are unique to Kerala. The word Kalaripayattu is a combination of two Malayalam words - kalari (training ground or battleground) and payattu (training of martial arts), which is roughly translated as "practice in the arts of the battlefield". The name 'Kalari' may also be derived from the Malayalam or Sanskrit term 'Khaloorika,' which is the name of a goddess associated with Shaktism who is worshipped in Kalaripayattu. Also The 5th century CE South Indian ancient text on Shaiva Siddhanta, known as the 'Kamika Agama,' discusses the construction of the 'Khaloorika', a place for military exercise.
