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Cricket was introduced to India by the British. Now it is the country's most popular sport.
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In 2011, India hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix event.
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Indian martial artsEdit
Yoga originated in India.
Patañjali, in India's ancient books, suggests yoga's goal is to help one focus, reflect upon, know and express one's highest self.
[144][145] India's cultural journey with yoga is now popular in many parts of the world.
One of the best known forms of ancient Indian martial arts is the
Kalarippayattu from
Kerala. This ancient fighting style originated in southern India in the 12th century BCE and is regarded as one of the oldest surviving martial arts.
[146] In this form martial arts, various stages of physical training include
ayurvedic massage with
sesame oil to impart suppleness to the body (
uzichil); a series of sharp body movements so as to gain control over various parts of the body (
miapayattu); and, complex sword fighting techniques (
paliyankam).
[citation needed] Silambam, which was developed around 200 AD, traces its roots to the
Sangam period in southern India.
[147] Silambam is unique among Indian martial arts because it uses complex footwork techniques (
kaaladi), including a variety of spinning styles. A
bamboo staff is used as the main weapon.
[147] The ancient Tamil
Sangam literature mentions that between 400 BCE and 600 CE, soldiers from southern India received special martial arts training which revolved primarily around the use of
spear (
vel),
sword (
val) and
shield (
kedaham).
[148]
Among eastern states,
Paika akhada is a martial art found in
Odisha. Paika akhada, or paika akhara, roughly translates as "warrior gymnasium" or "warrior school".
[149] In ancient times, these were training schools of the peasant militia. Today's paika akhada teach physical exercises and martial arts in addition to the paika dance, a performance art with rhythmic movements and weapons being hit in time to the drum. It incorporates acrobatic maneuvres and use of the
khanda (straight sword),
patta (guantlet-sword), sticks, and other weapons.
In northern India, the
musti yuddha evolved in 1100 AD and focussed on mental, physical and spiritual training.
[150] In addition, the
Dhanur Veda tradition was an influential fighting arts style which considered the
bow and the
arrow to be the supreme weapons. The
Dhanur Veda was first described in the 5th-century BCE
Viṣṇu Purāṇa[146] and is also mentioned in both of the major ancient Indian epics, the
Rāmāyaṇa and
Mahābhārata. A distinctive factor of Indian martial arts is the heavy emphasis laid on meditation (
dhyāna) as a tool to remove fear, doubt and anxiety.
[151]
Indian martial arts techniques have had a profound impact on other martial arts styles across Asia. The 3rd-century BCE
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali taught how to meditate single-mindedly on points located inside one's body, which was later used in
martial arts, while various
mudra finger movements were taught in
Yogacara Buddhism. These elements of
yoga, as well as finger movements in the
nata dances, were later incorporated into various martial arts.
[152] According to some historical accounts, the South Indian Buddhist monk
Bodhidharma was one of the main founders of the
Shaolin Kungfu.
[153]
