German Drona teaches how to focus

PUDUCHERRY: A German whose fascination for classical Indian archery lead him to become a proponent of it is now imparting his knowledge at a workshop in Auroville, Puducherry.Munich-based Hendrik Wiethase, whose interest in hunting prompted him to take up the bow and arrow, has been practising archery for over 30 years, seven of which he devoted to Indian classical archery as described in the Dhanur Veda. He was introduced to Indian martial arts by a Kalaripayattu (a martial art of Kerala) guru on one of his visits to India. The 60-year-old bow master has also deeply studied the four secondary vedas — Ayur Veda (knowledge of life), Dhanur Veda (war), Gandharva Veda (dance and music) and Sthapatya Veda (architecture).Asked why one should learn archery when it is neither used in modern warfare nor has any other applications now, the German Dronacharya said the martial art was not only a mode of physical training but helped develop social consciousness, self-respect and concentration. “During Dhanurvidya, we learn to clean our mind from disturbing thoughts until it is empty. And if there is nothing but awareness, purification will happen,” Wiethase elucidates.A person who learns which bows and arrows to use in an optimum manner, will use his thoughts and words appropriately, he says. “He will find the right words to be underst­ood. Words, thoughts and emotions are arrows we shoot at someone. Using them wro­ngly will lead to failure and destruction,” he explains.