The original graphic furnished circled what appeared to be a hole which was dead center in the blade, and resembled the unfortunate hole I described in the British sword I had. The hole in my sword was clearly not intended as any sort of decorative feature, nor did it have anything to do with the use of the sword, also it could not have been the result of anything accidental or natural.
The 'hole' now shown is among the linear group of impressions that are typically featured on the backpiece of these swords. These strengthening elements it seems often carried these dotlike impressions to vestigially represent the holes in many temple swords where auspicious or apotropaic decorations were applied. This is at least my impression. I am uncertain to what degree the temple swords were decorated but it seems that jingles were often the form of decoration to ward off malevolence during ceremonies and ritual.
I am uncertain why a singular hole would be present in this case.
The key importance of "Hindu Arms and Ritual" is that Robert Elgood explains in great depth how to understand the symbolism imbued in these weapons and the deep reverence with which they are held. Until his work was presented, virtually all references to Indian weapons dealt almost wholly with typology, and even then inconsistantly. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone seriously interested in collecting and understanding these Indian arms.
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