Kottackkal Kanaran Gurukkal information

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Kottackkal Kanaran Gurukkal (1850–1941), was a Kalaripayattu gurukkal, who contributed to the revival or Kalarippayattu from after British rule. The Kanaran Gurukkal were born in a Chekavar^[1] Tharavad, a large Landlord near Vadakara, Kozhikode.^[2][3] He belongs to a Thiyya caste.^[2]

Kalaripayattu, a martial art from Kerala, was banned by the British in the aftermath of the Cotiote War, and as a result, the Kalaris and institutions that existed far and wide in Kerala declined.^[2] His contributions to the preservation of Kalaripayattu has earned him the moniker, "Dronacharya of Kalaripayattu."^[4] Kanaran Gurukal was an important person among the Kalaripayattu gurus who played an early role in the revival of the martial art of Kalaripayattu which was destroyed by the British rule. Despite being a big land owner, at the age of forty he sold 160 acres of land to pay for the Kalari institution and so on. He learned Sambrathayams, Mantra Tantravidya and Dhyana Seva from the Gurus of yesteryear, Arapillakai, Otimurassery, Vattayanthiruppan, Pillatangi.^[4][2]

Later, after studying the gurus' training, he came to Thiruvangat in Thalassery at the age of 65 and established his own Kalari for the first time.^[2] It can be said that this bravery of the Kanaran gurus was at a time when people did not come forward for this, even though it was very difficult. Then CVN Kalari's founder C. V. Narayanan was a disciple of Nair Kanaran Gurus^[4]