UNNIYARCHA: THE KADATHANADAN KALARIPAYATTU WOMAN WARRIOR

 #Kalari 106

UNNIYARCHA: THE KADATHANADAN KALARIPAYATTU WOMAN WARRIOR

(Kalidas J Sreenivas)

A fabled warrior and heroine named Unniyarcha is referenced in the Vadakkan Pattukal, a collection of songs from Kerala, a region in southwest India. She came from the Puthooram Veed family of Thiyyars in Kadathanad. Kannappa Chekavar was the name of her father. She is said to have resided in Kerala's northern region in the sixteenth century. She is a well-known figure in Keralan mythology and is renowned for her bravery and expertise in Kalaripayattu, the state's traditional martial art. Legend has it that Unniyarcha was most known for her lethal proficiency with the unusual, local to Kerala, whip-like Urumi sword. She started attending kalari at the age of seven, much like the majority of traditional Kalaripayattu practitioners.

Their father, Kannappa Chekavar, was a highly esteemed Kalari teacher and their brother Aromal Chekavar was a renowned fierce fighter whose name struck dread into the heart of every man who heard it. Unniyarcha, along with her brother and cousin Chandu, began receiving training in the art of Kalaripayattu at a very young age. She possessed all the qualities of a great fighter even as a young kid, and by the time she was seven, she had mastered the use of every weapon at her disposal. When clutched in her little hands, everything from the tiny knife to the large sword became lethal extensions of her body. She had no fears and never hesitated to address people who she disagreed with. nobody, and she never shied away from confronting people with whom she disagreed, exposing corruption and injustice wherever she found it.

Unniyarcha adored her husband and delighted in being his wife, but she yearned for more excitement, action, and adventure because, as a warrior, she needed more from marriage to satisfy her warrior heart. Unniyarcha believed a Koothu (dancing show) being presented at a desert temple a few miles down the road may be exactly the thing to liven up her monotonous life when she overheard some women discussing it.

Unniyarcha got ready for the dance early that morning, taking a bath and donning her finest attire before accessorizing with the most costly jewelry in her collection—bangles, earrings, and necklaces made of glistening silver and gold. Then, she went to her father-in-law, the man in charge of the home, to ask for his consent to arrive at the Koothu.

Although her father-in-law first appeared reticent, years of disagreements with his son's independent wife had reduced his determination to a fine dust. He consented to let her leave,

As she turned to go, he said, "But only if someone else travels with you; the road to the temple is infested with crooks and creeps, it isn't safe for a woman to walk there alone."Kunjiraman will be with her, Unniyarcha swiftly told him.

Unniyarcha had long held the suspicion that her husband's timidity came from his mother. Unniyarcha responded, "That's OK with me. I am Puthuram, the daughter of the famous Kannappa Chekvar, and I fear no one and nothing. If necessary, I will traverse the route by myself.

The idea of this made Kunjiraman's parents sick to their stomach, so they reluctantly brought him in to inform him that he had to accompany Unniyarcha to the Koothu. Kunjiraman agreed with even greater reluctance, and a little while later the two were on their way to the temple.

They did not have to wait long to encounter difficulties. A few kilometers into their journey, the two noticed a threatening gathering of guys beside the road that could only have been the dreaded Jonoker gang—famous in the region for stealing everyone they encountered—as if Kunjiraman's words had cursed them. The Jonoker gang stole from everyone, including little children, elderly ladies, and everyone in between. If Unniyarcha hadn't been there, Kunjiraman would have turned and fled the moment he started to noticeably tremble. She didn't flinch as she marched forward; if anything, her step was quicker now that she recognised the criminals.

To observe how her husband would react to this fresh proposition, Unniyarcha glanced to him. He appeared to have a defense strategy that involved becoming completely white, mumbling some phrases that were unclear, and swinging erratically like a banana leaf in the wind. Although she wasn't really shocked, she couldn't help but feel a bit let down. She sighed in frustration as she started taking off her jewelry. All of the jewelry—earrings, necklaces, and bracelets—was removed and laid at the assailants' feet.

The Puthuram I am! The renowned Aromal Chekavar is my brother! Who among you has the guts to take on me? I'll fight you all. The surviving Jonokers were terrified after hearing this. They immediately dropped their weapons, turned around, and fled back to their commander, carrying only tales of the fierce warrior woman who had promised to wipe them all off. The Jonoker chieftain became increasingly terrified as he listened to the tales; he believed that this enigmatic she-devil would one day come after him. She needed to be dealt with immediately, though. He saddled up his horse without any hesitation, and they started off on the road.

Unniyarcha had just rescued her spouse from his terrifying state of terror when he came upon her. When he noticed the leader of the Jonokers racing in the direction of him and his wife, any color that had returned to his cheeks went instantaneously. He started gurgling and swaying again, this time with greater vigor and eagerness. Unniyarcha spun around with her palm on the hilt of her urumi, bracing for conflict. However, as soon as he was within striking distance, the thug sprang off his horse and knelt down at Unniyarcha's feet.