page_title: Silambam
section_title: Origins
hierarchical_section_title: Silambam / Origins
caption_attribution_description: English: Varitations of a traditional Indian weapon made from horns. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maduvu
context_page_description: Silambam is a weapon-based Indian martial art originating in modern-day Tamil Nadu in the Indian subcontinent. This style is mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature 400 BCE.
context_section_description: References in the Silappadikkaram and other works of Sangam literature shows that silambam has been practiced as far back as the 4th century BC. The bamboo staff - along with swords, pearls and armor - was in great demand with foreign traders. 
  The soldiers of Kings Puli Thevar, Dheeran Chinnamalai had Silambam army named 
  "thadii pattalam", Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Chinna Maruthu and Periya Maruthu (1760–1799) relied mainly on their Silambam prowess in their warfare against the British Army. Indian martial arts suffered a decline after the British colonists banned Silambam along with various other systems. They also introduced modern western military training which favoured fire-arms over traditional weaponry. During this time, Silambam became more common in Southeast Asia than its native India where it was banned by the British rulers.
caption: Maru, Weapon used in Silambam
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