Comparing Indian and Persian Exercise Traditions

November 26, 2008 – 9:01 amThe Zurkhaneh, or “House of Power”, was where the Pahlavani (which translates literally as “hero”) - the strongmen martial artists of ancient Persia - practiced their secret artform. Though its founders were Zoroastrian, it merged with other traditions to form “a unique institution having incorporated the spiritual richness of Sufism, traditional rituals of Mithraism, and heroism of Iranian nationalism.”However, the doors to the Zurkhaneh still remain predominantly closed to outsiders.
Historically, there is no clear-cut event which brought their art - Varesh-e Pahalvani - outside of the Zurkhaneh into the Indo-Pakistan territories to merge with Indian Hatha Yoga. However, there are two theories, although the likelihood of both being true is greater than either one individually:

1. Trade: either traders from India brought their exotic wares to ancient Persia and came into contact with the Zurkhaneh, or Persian traders carried their precious artifacts (now illegal to leave the country) to ancient India.
2. Wrestling: One of the indigenous style of wrestling centralized in Northern India - named Kushti - is also the name for the sacred belt worn by Zoroastrians. One of the Persian styles of wrestling is named Koshti.

The predominant style of Indian wrestling is named Pehlwani, a Sanskrit derviation of the Persian Pahlavani - which itself refers to literally - Parthia.
It is believed that the Mughals brought Persian wrestling from Southern Asia around 5 century B.C. Pehlwani is actual the mixture of Pahlavani with the indigenous style of Indian wrestling which predates exposure to the ancient Persians by several hundred years, called Malla-yuddha.
There are cultural differences between the Pahlavani and the Pehlwani which resulted from the inclusion of Hatha Yoga - the bodyweight gymnastics of ancient India originating approximately 10-11th century B.C. Having existed for several hundred years prior to the exposure to the Pahlavani, the cultural movements and beliefs intermingled.

Pahlavani

The Pahlavani are said to developed their martial art and strength conditioning as preparation for invaders.

The Zurkhaneh included a collection of combat specific strength conditioning tools:

• Meel - the Club - a pair of wooden clubs that evolved from ancient weapon.
• Kabadeh - the Bow - of heavy weight swung overhead and around the body, which influenced the creation of the Indian Sumtola or barbell.
• Sang - the Shield - which was used in a rolling floor press fashion, alternating the press of one and then the other with a combined twisting motion of the legs. The Sang came to influence the creation of the Indian Nal dumbbell.
• Takhteh Shena - the Bar, from which “Dands” or “Hindu pushups” derived. Performed on the bar, they were structurally sound - not like today’s commercial mutations - and included joint specific mobility exercises to compensate for their performance.