Ancient era Physical fitness was prized in traditional
Hindu thought, with cultivation of the body (
dehvada) seen as one path to full self-realization.
Buddhist universities such as
Nalanda taught various forms of physical culture, such as swimming and archery, with
Buddha himself having been well-acquainted with martial activities prior to his enlightenment.
Gurukulas focused significantly on physical education alongside academics, with
Hindu epics such as the
Ramayana often depicting kings marrying off their daughters to men who excelled in athletic events. A variety of ball games and war-training activities were present in ancient India, with both men and women participating.
Ayurvedic medical treatises such as the
Charaka Samhita and the
Sushruta Samhita emphasized exercise as a way of avoiding conditions such as diabetes, and prescribed exercise in accordance with the seasons. Some specialist communities were known for their
acrobatic performances, such as dancing on bamboo. Hunting for recreation was common through Indian history, and was partaken in by royals; it was done for a variety of reasons, such as proving manliness, for religious purposes, or simply for thrill-seeking purposes. The emphasis on hunting coincided with an overall view of the forest as being an area to be conquered and used by the state, which resulted in conflict between kingdoms and forest-dwellers. Though
Hindu scriptures warned against excessive hunting of animals, Other exercises done with animals included provoking intoxicated elephants for the purpose of building strength by maneuvering around them and escaping their wrath.
Medieval era Wrestling was common in
Mughal India, with even the loser of a wrestling bout being awarded some money in order to avoid discouragement.
Pehlwani emerged as a fusion of Persian and native Indian wrestling traditions during this time.
Colonial era was a famous colonial-era strongman who helped counter British accusations of effeminacy among Indian men. During the colonial era, Indians felt emasculated by the British, who had disarmed and demilitarized Indian society throughout the 19th century. The poverty and starvation of the era reduced Indians' ability to participate in physical exercise. Bengalis became particularly involved in seeking to combat British stereotypes of effeteness by pursuing physical culture and
martial arts, with organizations such as the
Hindu Mela contributing. Influences from
Western physical culture became prevalent in India, as mediated through influences from groups such as the
YMCA, as Indians sought to benefit from the scientific nature and European nationalistic vigor present in Western schools of thought surrounding physical culture at the time. The British sought to impose their standards of physical discipline onto Indians, while discouraging
traditional Indian games and negatively depicting Indian physiques. The British also used hunting as a way to establish imperial dominance and protect Indians from attacks by wild animals. Indians used victory in sport as a method of proving themselves against the colonizer. Indians also sought to standardize and revitalize their native physical culture during this time period, with institutions such as the
akharas and
vyayamshalas playing a role.
Contemporary era Cricket, a British sport introduced into India during the colonial era, has emerged as a major aspect of modern-day India, with success in
World Cups and the emergence of the
Indian Premier League influencing society. In 2023, cricket star
MS Dhoni invested in a company called Tagda Raho (transl. "stay strong"), which is seeking to revive traditional Indian workouts and which has received significant interest from different groups in the cricket world. == Relationship with various movements ==