I love a lot to cruise with the Marshal through Indian cities. This here is Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, one of the oldest cities of South India and one of the seven most holy places of the Hindus, birthplace of Bodhidharma and many other famous people in history. Crossing the whole city from Northwest to Southeast is always a must for us, but also fun, since the rush hour traffic there at 10 am is quite relaxed compared to what we are used from Bangalore. Kanchi is known as famous spot of silk industry, and of course as the city of 1000 temples, one of the seven holy places where Moksha is obtained according to Garuda Purana, and also one of the Shakti Peethas. Buddhists may know Kanchi mainly because of people like Bodhidharma (who was born in Kanchi) or Buddhaghosa (this one seems to have stayed some while in Kanchi, maybe on his way to Sri Lanka). It is said that Bodhidharma was even a descendent from the local Pallava dynasty (some tell also he may have been from the Kallabhras, which were once conquered by the Pallavas), and common Kung Fu myths tell that he brought the South Indian style of martial arts (maybe the Tamilian Varma Adi or Southern Kalaripayattu) from here to China, such founding the Shaolinquan. Of course, according to historical sources the Shaolin monastery already existed before his arrival, and it seems also martial arts were trained there already long before he arrived - so let us say, he may have most probably something Indian added to the style ...

• published: 24 Apr 2011
• views: 1628
• author: bangalorebobbel