Origins: Oral folklore traces silambam back several thousand years to the siddhar (enlightened sage) Agastya. While on his way to Vellimalai, Agastya discussed Hindu philosophy with an old man he met who said to be the god Murugan in disguise. The old man taught him of kundalini yoga and how to focus prana through the body's nadi (channels). Agastya practiced this method of meditation and eventually compiled three texts on palm leaves based on the god's teachings. One of these texts was the Kampu Sutra (Staff Classic) which was said to record advanced fighting theories in verse. These poems and the art they described were allegedly passed on to other siddha of the Agastmuniakhara (Agastya school) and eventually formed the basis of silambam, siddha medicine, and the southern style of kalaripayat. References in the Silappadikkaram and other works of Sangam literature show that silambam has been practiced as far back as the 2nd century BC. The bamboo staff - along with sword
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