An Old Accident Story :)

Read the blog by my childhood friend Nithin and my side of the story in Comments:

http://nithinsudarsan.blogspot.com/2010/04/pappus-corner.html.

Indian Railways and God :)

Ever Imagined why Railways would give land to build temples in its place? Not just one but many along along a 307 km long stretch. Don't believe me, Take a look at the newspaper report.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/bLiquor-as-offering-and-divine-counselling-in-Kerala-temple-b/348439/. It says
"Interestingly, railway stations in north Malabar region have historical and deep rooted bonding with Lord Muthappan as there are over 20 "Railway Muthappan" temples dotted along the 307-KM long Shorannur-Mangalore stretch. "

For those of you who don't know Muthappan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muthappan_temple). Is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Siva. And as I have seen in Hindu mythology, Lord Siva gets associated with the poor and downtrodden. One can go back to Daksha Yaga where he came down with his asura gana in a fist of anger to the Chatan belief in Kerala.

The story goes like this (from what I have heard). Back during the British period, there were lot of robberies in the Railway yard. It continued Uncontrolled and unabated. The employees got a bit anxious. They decided to establish a Muthappan Temple at Kannur and that lead to decrease in thefts. Many of Railway employees believe Lord Muthappan is their savior. And so started the history of Railway Muthappan Temples in North Kerala. As the article says, there are close to 20 of them in the 307 Km stretch.

And so I decided to visit the temple last week. I just passed by the town on Thursday and thought may be I should go in. To me things happen like this "He calls I go and things happen." I went there and my typical offering is Anna Danam (Offering food for the hungry). Friday is an auspicious days for Lord Muthappan. Rituals are performed on that day at the temple. Every Friday afternoon after the ritual starts the anna danam is done.

I went back to the temple on Friday for Anna Danam. The person who has given the offering is also requested to join the Anna Danam. The queue was long & many people and come over for food. The typical people whom you will see are Beggers from all around Kannur Town, I saw one guy who sits at the Railway station and Bus stand at the place, wage workers , Porters, People who work at the shops for wages as low as 4000/- per month. At least on this day their family members don't have to pack food for them :) and a host lot of other people. So you take your plate and proceed towards the hall where food is served. There is a separation for Men and Women. Food that is typically served is Rice, Sambar and Pachadi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_pachadi). All served hot. The organizers request you not to waste food and that is so true. You have people starving for food why waste?

The hall is small, I took a glass of water and sat next to an old person. The summer months are pretty hot in Kannur and I can see this old person holding on to the umbrella (in his lap). I smile at him while I eat and he smiles back. The food tasted good. In fact very much like home food. After finishing lunch I proceeded downstairs where one has to also wash his /her own plate and glasses before keeping back. I bowed to Muthappan and was on my way.

To me this looked more like sathsang. Teaching all of us are equal. everyone stands in the same queue, eats the same food and no discrimination on caste, creed or religion. Universal Truth " All are equal in My eyes" .

Muthappa Sharanam! I was on my way back to home.

Sharanam Ayyappa

So what is it that brings people to God. Why do people believe in a force that they cannot comprehend or showcase. I guess God only has the answer.

And so it was on a Wednesday evening that we started for yet another Sabarimala trip. The trio of me, Deepak and Jithu. I had already put Mala while the others were on fast but were planning to put it at Eranakulam. We boarded the Kochuveli express from Bangalore. Our destination - Eranakulam. Starting time 5:15 pm. I made myself comfortable near the window seat. Deepak was describing about the adventurous North East trip Next Year. The train was full even though it was in the middle of a week. Deepak found "Inner Peace" in a siesta :).



We had dinner (idly & vada) at Salem station and went to bed at around 10 pm. We reached Eranakulam at around 5 am. The taxi (travera) we had booked was waiting for us at Eranakulam south railway station. We arrived at Chilvannur flat (Deepak's in-law's flat) at around 5:30 am. Took a small nap and got ready by 8 am. Our Kettu Nira was done at Palarivattom Ayyappan Temple (all thanks to Deepak's Father-in-law & his brother-in-law). And so we were on our way to Sabarimala at around 9 am. We stopped briefly for breakfast at Thrippunithura. Deepak suggested Udupi Hotel. And the food was really Yummy.


Distance from Eranakulam to Pampa = 165 Km. Average running hours = 4 hours. If you take stops, it might be around 4.5 hours. It is relatively hot in Kerala (considering temperatures in March). There were reports of people suffering from sun burn in many parts of the district(Pathanamthitta) and all through out Kerala. We were cautious and wanted to make sure sure we start the ascend in the evening. We advised Nikil (our driver) to take it easy so that we arrive by evening.

We saw Arattu (God/Goddess carried on procession) on the way. Rivers are plenty in this part of the world and most of them are perennial.

We arrived at Erumely (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erumely) temple by around 1pm. There is also a mosque near by. Kanni Ayyappa (people who visit Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala for the first time - http://www.indiavideo.org/kerala/festival/erumeli-petta-thullal-51.php) are supposed to visit the mosque and the temple and perform Petta Thullal ritual. And we thought Unity in Diversity only existed in Books :) (More to come).



We had lunch at a near by place (on our way to Pampa valley). 4 Meals 90 Rs. Jithu insisted on having Porridge.

By 2 we were at Pampa. Little do we realize with the broad roads that we are in the midst of Dense forest. The forest is part of Periyar Wild life sanctuary & Tiger Reserve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periyar_National_Park



Call it rush of blood or devout for the lord. We decided to start the ascend at 2:30pm. Bad decision!!!! 10 steps and our feet started to feel the Heat. Everywhere around Pampa concrete is laid and roads are tarred. We had to be cautions to land our feet in the shade. At pampa the water levels were low, we cleaned our feet and started the ascend. Till Pampa Ganapathi temple we were hopping between shade left by identification boards. Hop Hop and Hop.... We thought the worst was over, the climb would be in the shades even though there is concrete that is laid. Again wrong calculations. The first part of the steps was in the shade but from there till Marakootam there were only few patches which we could traverse on bare foot. Since we had enough time we decided to go slow and take as much of rest as possible.

First Break:




Second Break : This time I was chatting to Swami the guy who sells pineapple at Sabarimala. 4 pieces 10 Rs. His story : He is from Elapara Estate nearby. Was working as a plantation worker before quitting. He has 3 children all of whom are studying in school. What does he do for a living? During season, he sells Pine apple at Sabarimala, he does not cultivate; he gets it on lease from a source and sells it at premium. Carries few buckets of Pine apple all the way up. So how is this years season, I asked. "Pretty bad. Don't even think if I will get my principal back. I have kept 3 pineapples for my kid and I am off after I sell these few pieces. " While we were chatting, 3 other Swami's joined. I bought pineapple and shared with them. Swami was telling us about his feelings about the lord. "When i want to visit the lord, it just feels in my heart and I go and visit the lord. It takes me 1/2 hour to get there. I have bath in the pond and I go and see the Lord. On my way back I buy 2 Rs Ground nut and I munch them on my way back. "






By 5 we were at Sannidhanam. The First sight of the Temple complex was enthralling. We had made arrangements in a Guest house and it was a nice setup. One of the advantages of traveling during off season is that you get to avoid the crowd.




We had bath and went for the first darshan at around 6pm. We offered the Irumudi to the lord and prayed. Fortunately there was Padi pooja that was performed on that day.

We visited the adjoining temple of Malikapuuram and Vavaru Nada. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vavar . And think about Communal harmony... A muslim priest at Sannidhanam offering blessings to devotees of a Hindu Temple. And the lord insists that one who visits me has to also visit Vavar. God I love to take a snap of this and send it to Huji or Harkath or Let.

On our way back we Saw Narayanettan. Right under the electric lamp showering his anger on someone in the Dispensary near by. And so we asked a person (A person who carries Doli for the folks who cannot climb the mountain on their own). "Oh him, he is Narayanettan. He became like this because once a Police man shouted at him. During Summer he losses his temper. People at Sannidhanam and Pampa know him so no body complains." And believe me he was non violent.



We went back to our guest house. And guess who visited us. Yes a Wild Boar. In fact you could see a lot of them roaming around Sannidhanam. Do they hurt you. Well of course not. Call it grace of god or that they have got acclimatized to having people around. The care taker was also telling us the story about Bears visiting the area. They don't harm either !!! In this large jungle, the only inhabited place is Sannidhanam (and the narrow road that leads to Sannidhanam). In a sense human beings have occupied their space. So I asked Unnikrishnan the care taker of the Guest house. How does it feel to be away from the family. "It is tough, but it is also Luck. But many do not have the privilege of getting early in the morning and visiting the lord every day. It is a feeling of happiness" .




We had dinner and then went back for Harivarasanam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harivarasanam) . Narayanettan was still in his merry world!



Sung every night before the temple closes. During off seasons it is done at 10:00. During season, it is sung at 11:00. Ladies (Old ladies & young Malikappuram) are not allowed during this time at the Nada. And so I had the privilege of Singing Harivarasanam at Sannidhanam. Thoroughly an Experience of a life time. While we were staying at HAL, we used to visit Ayyappa temple in the evenings for Harivarasnam. So the experience helped.



Global warming has its semblance everywhere. Sabarimala is no different place. Hotel Annapoorna had so many lights lit up at the entrance just to attract the folks (well I guess the lights were so intense they were warding off a few customers.

We had darshanam in the morning as well (Nei Abhishekam). The crowd had started to build up steadily. We started our descend around 6am. I took time to snap of sannidhanam before we left.



By 7 we were at Pampa and the Sunrise just around the corner.





We boarded our vehicle and were on our way to Eranakulam.

All through the journey I was thinking the planning that we undertake for this once in a year visit to Sabarimala. And yet there are people around who are more lucky, who could visit the lord as soon as they would like to.

Dedicated to all the Devotees of Ayyappa and especially the thousands of public servants for their relentless and selfless service. From the care takes of the guest house to the Devaswom boards to the Police at Sabarimala and to the thousands of cleaning workers at Sannidhanam and Pampa. You are really Lucky!

Eight is Good Enough :)

Attendees : Ajay, Dilip, Jabir, Meeraj, Suresh MV, Shanavas, Vasu & Me

Who are we : SMS 93 batch mates

What do we do

Ajay : Dr. Ajay - Manusharude Ellu kondu jeevikkunnu

Meeraj : Kappalil Kayattu mathi..

Jabir : Cycle.... Shop

Shanavas : Paper Veno .... Paper....

Dilip & Suresh : Vakkilanmar..... Doctormarodum Ivanmarodum Orikkalum Sathyam parayaruthu....

Dileesh : Computeril Virus kayatti jeevikkunnu :)....

Place : Blue Nile restuarent, Opposite Sangitha Theater, Kannur

Date : Thursday 3rd of Sep 09.

Time : 7pm Onwards... Till the night was young !!!

And so it was on a Thursday that we decided to meet. We could finally manage I was trying to reach Jeevan, expecting him to join. So finally I caught hold of 7 others who could manage. Fairoz had to travel urgently to the Gulf and could not make it.

I picked up Meeraj and arrived at the restaurant aroun 7:15 pm. Sitting in the lobby was Dilip (Kokkare Kooo.. You guessed it... ) & Suresh (Mrithangam.... ) Both Vakils had come there on time. Reminded me of school Bell.. Nhim Nhim Nhim..... & Dilip in his usual sarcastic look, stared at me "Main ethrayayi :)" .

Just to explain you about this hotel, it is a new one in Kannur called Blue Nile... Fulll Jango.. I don't think may of us could relate to Kannur having this kind of facility in the Hotel. A 4floored apartment complex that got converted into a Hotel. It was obvious from the Lobby.... Lifts to each floor & Vasu had boooked a table for us by the side of the Pool on the 3rd Floor.. Yes Not joking... Pool on the 3rd Floor.. Suresh stared at me & wispered to Dilip, dai I know Meeraj who is that Goonda with him.. Unfortunately I had done a tonsure (Motta adi) from Thirupathi recently.... Sangathi pishakanu.... Njan vicharichu... Allengil thanne Keralthil Gundakulude Kalam :D.....

I informed Dilip that there is a table reserved for us in the Name of Vasu... And he Grinned... Vasu.. "I asked the person at the desk (Coatum suitum :) itta oral) reservation in the name of Vasu... He said no... Then I asked him Vasudeva Pai, Aalu Kulungiyilla"... I think Dilip was undestimating the Reach of Vasu... So finally everyone arrived. Shanavas in his new Fiat Linea, Vasu in his I10, Dilip in his Indica etc.....

From the Lobby we headed straight to the 3rd Floor, with Vasu leading us....

We sat around the Swimming pool with special provisions for Drinks ... :)... So in case someone got drunk it will be easy to push them to the pool... BTW: Poolil Muttolam vellam mathram... The lights were dim, Disco lights hanging from the top, High Volume Music... Typical Pub environment.... But with Family sitting around... The bearers dressed in white mundu and white Kurtha...

Dilip :"Dai Ithu oru Kallu shapu pratheethi.... Nammude naatil Chemmen Kulam, Kallu shappu pinne poricha meen.. hayi hayi.... ".

To tell you the truth none of us Drank that night... For the next 2 hours we sat and chatted about School and what each of us were doing.. How things have changed.. but yet somethings have not changed.... Like the Thadi of Vasu, the slimness of Shanavas, the mannerisms of haris KP etc... Topics came up on Upendran sir.. Murali sir... . Mathew sir.. his drills and how we used to wear two layers of dress if we had drill. The tips of sitting together.... The jokes of Fr Mathew... & a host of other paradooshanam....

Meeraj got a call in between and had to go back home for a while... I have decided that during our next get together I will take your mobile phones and keep it in a locker... This stuff is really taking our good moments away :)...

Ajay (Sorry Dr. Ajay Radhakrishanan) arrived late... I called him in the middle to confirm his availability, he was in the operation theater... We had sumptuous Dinner together... I liked the meen curry.. The Fruit salad was lousy... Could not make out in the dim light the quality of the Food .. Finally we dutched the amount...

While I am writing this I want to pen down each and everything we talked,laughed about but man... what you miss is what you miss... so make yourself available the next time :)...

IMPORTANT:

We decided, the best way to remember oru Teaches is to meet them in school. Arrange a Get together in SMS around 25th of Dec 09. Call all teachers & fellow SMS 93 batch mates. Present them with a gift & Importantly stake a claim to support one Poor Student from the school this year for his studies (around 15k). Let us make a difference to this World through the school that taught us the basics. In the evening we also could have a get together exclusively for Boys ;) ... We also decided to revive our association, have someone from Kannur be the president who could manage the show. I look forward to hearing from all of you... Voice out...

Kannur the Land of Ageless Charm

I had written this, long back. Thought it might be good to share.....

Kerala, God’s Own Country has many beautiful and exotic places. And Kannur is its Crown. Kannur is flanked by the lofty Western Ghats in the east and Lakshadweep Sea in the west. It has a long coastline interspersed with many rivers, coconut - fringed lagoons and beautiful backwaters.

The district is bounded by Kasargod in the north and Wayanad, Kozhikode and Mahe (PondicheryUnion Territory) in the south. The district is endowed with many rivers. Valapattanam River is the longest followed by Kuppam, Mahe, Anjarakandy, Thalassery, Ramapuram, Perumba. Apart from this there are numerous small rivers.

The district has a flourishing traditional handloom industry both in the rural and urban area. It was also a thriving center for hosiery industry but has subsequently declined due to various reasons. Kannur is also the center for production of cashew nut, copra (Dried Coconut used for making Coconut Oil), rice, tiles, electric bulb, hard board and plywood.

For long, local Rajas (Kings) held sway over the land. The Kolathiris (A Dynasty) were based at Chirakkal. The Pazhassi Raja (A famous King who fought the British) ruled from Kottayam in Tellicherry (Place where I was Born ;-) ) (Thalassery) taluk. The Beebi (Queen, Muslim name for Queen) of Arakkal, Kerala's only Muslim Royal family controlled parts of the coast and even the Laccadive (Lakshwadeep Islands in the Arabian Sea, 200 Kms off the shoreof Kerala) Islands.

The quest for spices lured several European powers to this land. The advent of the Portuguese (1498) marked the beginning. They were followed by the Dutch and the English. Forts at Tellicherry and Fort St. Angelo attest to their arrival. Solemn Churches surrounded by mildewed grave stones also silently speak of the European presence.

The march of time has left his its imprints. Ancient monuments, mosques, temples and churches offer the visitor eloquent testimony of a rich cultural heritage. The Sri Rama Temple at Tellicherry traces its legends back to millennium or more!!! As early as the 7th century Malik Bin Dinar built the first mosques at Madayi & Dharmapattanam (Dharmadam).

Kannur has always been a favorite destination of the intrepid foreign traveler. Europeans, Chinese and Arabs have visited our coasts. In his book of travels Marco Polo recounts his visit to the area circa 1250 A. D. Other visitors included Fahian, the Buddhist pilgrim and Ibn Batuta, writer and historian of Tangiers. The lure of the orient, the quest for spices or just the thirst for adventure attracted these distinguished visitors to Kannur. However, for the modern tourist, while these reasons may still hold good, there is also the added attraction of completely unwinding at some of the most scenic locations in the world.

Kannur Beckons Travelers, Old and New !

Tucked far away from madding crowd, lies Kannur, the most enchanting district of Northern Kerala. The scene is breath taking. The Lakshadweep Sea washes the sands of sugary beaches laced with rows of green coconut palms. Long rivers break into silvery spray and merge into the blue green waters of the sea. Obviously Kerala is the most beautiful of all Indian states and Kannur undoubtedly shows Kerala at its best!

Come to Kannur ! Nature's bounteous beauty beckons you!

Kannur is a land with a resonant past. Myths and legends abound. The ships of Solomon, they say: anchored along our coasts to collect timber for building the 'Temple of the Lord'. Kannur finds mention as NAURA in the 'Periplus of Erithrean Sea' a Greek work of great antiquity.

Come to Kannur ! Land marks !

Kannur is a major railway station on Shornur - Mangalore line. By road Kannur is 155 KMs south of Mangalore and 535 KMs north of Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest Airport is atCalicut that is 110 KMs south and Mangalore Airport is 170KMs north. There is a proposed Aiport in Kannur. Hopefully by the time ou read it is operational :).

Handloom, Spices & Cashew

Important spices like black pepper, ginger, turmeric & cinnamon grew in profusion in Kannur. Anjarakkandy has got the biggest cinnamon estate in Asia. Portuguese introduced cashew tree here. Today cashew nut is a major export earner for the State.

The Malabar coast has been famous for its Cotton handlooms since time immemorial. Along with spices they formed an important item of foreign trade. Kannur proudly maintains that tradition even today. Several weaving centers and handloom export houses flourish here.

General Information

Total Area		: 2997 Sq.KM
Population (1991)		: 22,51,727(As on January 2003)
Women (1991)		: 11,52,889
Men (1991)		: 10,98,838
Literacy Rate (1991)		: 79 .41%
Population Density		: 749 / Sq. KM
Population Growth Rate		: 16.27%
No. of Families (1991)		: 3,71,221
Municipalities:	Taluks:
Kannur Thalassery Taliparamba Payyannur Koothuparamba Mattannur	Taliparamba Kannur Thalassery

PLACES TO SEE IN KANNUR

Dharmadam Island

This small Island, which is situated in the sea like a green spot just 100 m away from shore, becomes a blissful experience to tourists. It was previously called Dharmapattanam because of Buddhist influence. This Island is full of coconut trees. There is only a well here as the symbol of human presence. One can reach this place by boat from southern part of MoithuBridge in the national highway. During ebb (Low Tide) time one can reach here by foot. From this Island one can see the rocks around and the beauty of Muzhuppilangad beach and the distant beauty of Thalassery town. When Dharmadam Island was an important trading center, this Island was in the possession of Chirakkal king. Later it passed into the hands of the English and now it is in the hands of private individuals.

Muzhuppilangad Beach

It has a length of 4.5 kms. The special feature of this beach is that the vehicles can be driven without getting stuck into the sea sand. This is why the beach is considered to be the only drive in beach in the State. This beach, which extends from Muzhuppilangad to Moithu Bridge, is considered as swimmers’ paradise since there are no waves in this part due to the rocks here and there and the sea is not deep. This beach is 15 kms away from Kannur in the south direction and 8 kms away from Thalassery in the north direction. A tourist can reach this beach through five panchayat roads starting from the National Highway.

Parassinikkadavu Temple

It is a famous temple in south India. It is situated 20 kms away from Kannur. This temple lies on the shore of Valapattanam River. The God at this temple is supposed to be very powerful. It is famous for its natural beauty. Boating facilities are available for tourists.

Payyambalam Beach

The Payyambalam beach located near the Kannur town is one of the beautiful beaches in the state of Kerala. This beautiful stretch of sand and surf is the best locale for a relaxed evening.

Meenkunnu Beach

Situated at Azhikode it’s hardly few kilometers from the town. The virgin beach is a tourist’s paradise with golden sand & surf.

Fort St. Angelo

Facing the sea, this is one of the most attractive centers in Kannur district. It is also known as Kannur Fort. This fort is 3 kms away from Kannur town in the western direction. The fort stands close by the Arabian Sea. This fort proclaims the strength and beauty of Portuguese architecture. The two sides of the fort facing the sea were built in a triangular shape. It was Don Francisco De Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy, who laid the foundation stone of this fort with the permission of Kolathiris in 23 October 1505.

The Dutch captured the fort in 1663 and sold it to the Ali Raja of Kannur in 1772 and in 1790-it came into the possession of the British. This fort is now under the control of Archaeological Survey of India.

The Arabian Sea, the dense coconut trees, the fishing boats and natural harbor moppila bay are the unforgettable sights, one can have from this fort. Arakkal kettu of historical importance can also be seen from this fort.

Thalassery Fort

The picturesque Thalassery fort stands on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. Built in 1708 the flourishing pepper trade was controlled from this fort.

Paithal Mala (Meaning Infant Hill in native language)

This hill on the Kerala-Karnataka border is 65 Kms north of Kannur. Ideal for trekking; it’s around 1,372 meters above sea level. A base reception center and a watchtower atop the cliff function for the benefit of tourists.

Aralam wild life sanctuary

It is the one and only wild life sanctuary in Kannur, covers an area of 55 sq.km. It is about 40 kms from Kannur town. This beautiful place is situated in the slopes of Western Ghats, covered with tropical evergreen forest. Elephants, bear, deer, monkey, wildcats and a large variety of birds are found here.

Madayi Mosque

Malic Iben Dinar, a Muslim preacher, originally built this beautiful ancient mosque in 1124 AD. A block of white marble in the mosque is believed to have been brought from Mecca by its founder, who came to India to spread the word of the prophet. Near by dilapidated fort believed to have been built by Tipu Sultan: the ruler of Mysore.

Pazhassi Gardens & Dam

37 kms. east of Kannur near Mattannur the Pazhassi dam & reservoir offers scenic vistas. One can cruise down the river in D.T.P.C. boats often crossing small islands inhabited only riverine birds. The recently built Gardens & Amusement park is an added attraction. The Buddha’s mountain at Pazhassi, sculpture of Pazhassi King is interesting places to visit.

Ezhimala

The Ezhimala Mountain and beach lie at the northern boundary of Kannur. Rare medical herbs (Ramayana) with mythological significance grow on the strange seven-peaked range that is Ezhimala around 50 Kms. From here. There is an old tower of great antiquity here: the MountDeli lighthouse. It’s maintained by the Navy and is a restricted area. The beach sand is of a different texture and the sea is bluer that in other areas. At the Ettikulam bay one could enjoy watching dolphins.

Arakkal Palace :

It is about 2 kms. from Kannur Town, steeped in History; it was the Beebi (Queen) of Arakkal, Kerala’s only Muslim Royal family that controlled parts of the coast and evenLakshadweep.

ARTFORMS IN KANNUR

Theyyam

The Theyyam or Theyyattam is a popular ritual dance of North Kerala, particularly now found in the traditional Kolathunadu, of the present Kannur and Kasargode districts. As a living cult with centuries old traditions, ritual and custom, it embraces almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion in this region. The term Theyyam is a corrupt form of daivam (means GOD in Malayalam).

Kalaripayattu

Kalari is the ancient martial art of the State. It is considered as the forerunner of all martial arts, Karate, Kunngfu.

The Kalari is treated as the temple of learning. Religious worship with its own rituals is also done inside the Kalari. The Gurukkal system wherein the teacher is respected and revered. Rigorous physical training besides training in self-discipline. The weapons used are the sword, shief, Dagger, short sticks and spears. The co-ordination of the body and mind is given maximum importance

Kannur is a land with a resonant past. Myths and legends abound. The ships of Solomon, they say: anchored along our coasts to collect timber for building the 'Temple of the Lord'. Kannur finds mention as NAURA in the 'Periplus of Erithrean Sea' a Greek work of great antiquity.