मल्लपुराण (ज्येष्ठिमल्ल - प्राचीन भारतीय मल्लविद्या, अखाड़ा व्यायाम व कुश्ती महाग्रन्थ)

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On the day of wrestling their head is shaved clean, except for a small tuft
of hair on the top. They take bath of cold water. Red ochre is applied on
the head and Neem leaves are tied to the tuft of hair. The whole body is then
besmeared with red ochre and gorochan. This application according to their
belief is cooling. The vertical tilaka like marks are drawn on various parts of
their body. They are drawn on the forehead, hands, chest, sides, belly and legs.
Alongwith this preparations they look to good omens, consult the astro-
loger and worship their family deity, the Goddess Limbajā.
For this worship, in the akhāḍā a square platform of one and a quarter
cubit is made. In the centre of the cubit a heap about ½ cubit is raised in the
form of a Śivalinga. On it they plant a branch of Neem tree (Fig. 1). This is the
temporary abode of the Goddess. To the east of this, there is a small platform.
Here the dress and the weapons of the wrestlers are placed. The Brāhmin
priest worships the Goddess by means of incantations, lamp, offerings and in-
cense burning. Near this place two pots of water are also placed.
The wrestlers take their seat in front of this arena, but they face the con-
stellation of cancer. Here their bodies are besmeared with red ochre and
gorochan as already noted. They are given the trunks used for wrestling, before
besmearing their legs. After besmearing work is over they are given flower
garlands which are tied on their wrists and a large garland is put around the
neck. On the wrist red thread known as Rākhaḍī (protector) is tied.
They are then given three clothes to wear. One of them is the loin cloth
that is wound round their loin. The other is thrown over the left shoulder and
passes below right arm in Uttariya fashion. The third is the head wear. It is
adorned by floral bouquet, and finally the Vajramuṣṭi is given.
After this lamp is woven and praise of the Goddess is sung, the assembly
shouts the victory to the Goddess Limbajā and Govinda. Then the wrestlers
circumambulate the Goddess, they are given prasāda of rice and curds and leave
the Gymnesium with the accompaniment of music.
While leaving the gymnasium they see good omen. For this purpose young
maidens with water pots come in front (Fig. 2). They then break cocoanut
near the temple of Limbajā near the Gymnasium and go for public wrestling.
When they reach the place of wrestling, they rest there. When they are
asked to wrestle, they are taken to the area by a good wrestler. They do not
walk but go there jumping. Their movement is zig zag. The leader leaves them
at a distance of some 10 meters from the akhāḍā. The wrestler breaks a cocoanut
near the akhāḍā on a stone previously placed there. He removes his clothes and
wrestles with his competitor (Figs. 3, 4, 5).