katana
 

To remember the presence of a god ?
galvano

I have no idea :shrug: I wondered whether the swords were 'rattled' before a battle....several hundred warriors shaking their swords to make a noise could be possible...similar to the idea of 'banging' your weapon against a shield as you march into battle....to instil 'fear' into your enemies. Or perhaps to ward off 'evil' spirits....or attract a good omen, luck or 'protective' Gods.

Please, don’t think for a moment that the rattle of a few corns could, or would move anything in a battle, just like the tears of the inflicted in a blade would scare someone, nor that they could/would be used as a counter weight – it is outrageous to believe in this. The reason for using these things were only for protection of the owner of the sword, or for some other reason now quite known at the moment.

Hi Jens,
I was not suggesting that the sound of the 'rattle' would have been loud ....and in that sense 'frightening' ( :eek: ) to the enemy.
One of the possibilities I was suggesting is that the 'sound' itself had 'power' .....not the volume. For instance, the chant 'Om' is melodic and 'pleasing to the ear'.....and yet 'spiritually' 'Om' was the sound of creation...an 'explosion' of energy....a 'power' sound.
If it is a 'protective talisman' ......it would help 'tie down' which culture(s) hilted these swords. We have (on this forum) talked about the symbolism of the design and decoration of ethnographic weaponary. I feel there is a possibility that the sound made by these hilts has some cultural/religious reason which is symbolic, :shrug:

Kind Regards David

Hi Katana,

I one of the earlier discussions someone seriously suggested that the sound of ’the tears of the inflicted’ rolling in a blade could/would scare the enemy, and I was a bit worried that the discussion would take the same turn – I am relieved that I was wrong:).

I find it likely that you are right in your assumption about the meaning of these corns, or whatever it is rattling around in the hilts. If it is corn, then I would like to know which kind of corn – does anyone know?

Jens

Hi Jens,
I do not think that there are seeds or any other 'organic' material inside the hilt (mine) Whatever 'they' are....they were placed within the hilt at the time of manufacture as it is 'sealed'. Had they been 'organic' I think they would have deteriated badly...considering the age of the sword.

I get the impression that the 'seeds' (in mine) are metallic and round because you can hear them 'rolling'. Also, if I am right and they are metallic... they are not a ferrous metal ....as a magnet placed on the hilt does not 'capture' them.

You are of course right – sorry. The pieces could be made of brass/bronze – maybe. But I have a feeling that they represent something special.

For many years it was ‘known’ that the Tibetan/Nepalese/Indian bronzes of deities had gems hidden in their base, so dealers/collectors/smugglers or maybe others; to get the gems, opened the base. What they got was prayers – but no gems. The fact is however, that they spoiled the bronze as the bottom plate was not reset, and the dignity of the deity was lost.

These ‘corns’ pieces of metal could be meant as prayers, or maybe something else – hopefully we will know some day.