Aringodar Chekaver

Aringodar Chekaver is the main villain character of popular legendary folk songs of Kerala called Puthooram Pattukal. He was considered to be of " Ezhava or Thiyya " caste. He was said to have lived in northern Kerala, India, during the 16th century. The last part of his name ' Chekaver ' suggests that he was a great warrior. He was said to have fought and readily won seven " Ankam " or duel (duel unto death). Furthermore, ' Aringodar ' was said to have been notorious for having the ability to stop an elephant in its tracks and various other underhand tricks up his sleeve. Such activities would indeed have made him quite a formidable, if not unscrupulous warrior. In medieval Kerala (Malabar, and such areas in Kerala) ' ankam ' served as a way to settle various disputes between prevalent districts and the nobles. Each nobleman would have his own Chekaver in his pay. This would then, indicate that such ' chekaver ' were essentially mercenaries. They would have been bound in hereditary service to specific chieftains or warlords.

" Aringodar" is said to have taught martial arts or Kalaripayattu at his " Kalari " ( means "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam and Tamil).Kalari, as an institution ranked second to temples in old village hierarchy, usually attached to neighborhood of temples or joint family shrines. " Aringodar " maintained his kalari at some location in 'Tulunadu' which is a Tulu-speaking region spread over parts of present-day Karnataka and Kerala States of India. The erstwhile district of South Canara is the core of the Tulu speaking region. Tulunad is the homeland of the Tuluva ethnic people. Since " Aringodar " was the leading warrior in his " kalari" he would have held position or title of Gurukkal. He would then have been the chief and authority of the institution and enjoyed the respect of all the native folks and the rulers of the land.