“Ramdas is not complete without Shivaji. To maintain justice and prevent the strong from despoiling, and the weak from being oppressed, is the function for which the Kshatriya was created”...Sri Aurobindo
Physical training has always been part of Hindu worship and spiritual practice since ancient times as seen through history with Hindu resistance via uncountable Hindu warriors to why Hinduism survived.
With Yoga mania across the world with its physical poses also has a spiritual focus bringing the balance of both. This is also the same with “Hindu” push-ups and squats or even swinging a mace known as the Gada has also connected with spiritual worship towards Hanuman not forgetting martial arts like Kalarippayattu’s spiritual background is also Tantra.
At the same time, we also have Hanuman Thai Boxing—Hanuman Muay Thai—based on Hanuman’s fighting skills. Indian monk Bodhidharma, who travelled to China with Buddhist teachings, also laid down the foundation of Kung Fu martial arts for Shaolin monks. The British Gurkha regiment mainly of Hindus who carry their Kukri-knife is also a religious weapon which proves again and again that along with the spiritual, the mental but also the physical is the full Hindu identity.
Unfortunately, most Hindus today are practising pot-belly intellectual Kshatriya online keyboard martial arts while suffering from all types of physical illnesses. But the good news is a temple in London has brought back martial arts with a fusion of Ryuu-Zen Mixed Martial Arts with Wing Chun as part of Hindu identity and worship especially in present times as Hinduphobia rises for all age groups for free at the VHP Hindu Centre, Ilford, East London. And all Hindu temples should be adding martial arts and other fitness training free for all Hindus.
