An indian khanda for comment.

BANDOOK · 14th September 2016, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi CERJAK,

For me it's 19th c. I've seen few of them.
Now ritual or decorative piece maybe...
Most of the objects posted on this forum are from the 19th c. (at least for the ethnographic forum)...

Best,
Kubur

AGREE WITH KUBUR IT HAS AGE TO IT,MANY KHANDAS WERE NOT ONLY USED FOR WARFARE BUT ALSO FOR CEREMONIAL PURPOSE ,NICE SWORD
THANKS FOR POSTING

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 14th September 2016, 06:12 PM

If we can see some examples ? I include some Firangi as the hilts are the same...

The Rajputs easily recognised in their head dress with Quoits inserted and their leader with the huge Khanda.
It is noted that the spike protruding from the top of the hilt was used as a holding point for the other hand turning this into a two hander for certain strikes; adding more power.

Jens Nordlunde · 18th September 2016, 03:59 PM

Ibrahim, please notice, that not all of the swords you show are firangis, some of them may be, while others may be Indian copies of European blades, but some of them are pure Indian blades.

You write "The Rajputs easily recognised in their head dress with Quoits inserted and their leader with the huge Khanda."
They are not Rajputs, they are Punjabi's of the Akali religion, all dressed in dark blue dresses.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th September 2016, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Ibrahim, please notice, that not all of the swords you show are firangis, some of them may be, while others may be Indian copies of European blades, but some of them are pure Indian blades.

You write "The Rajputs easily recognised in their head dress with Quoits inserted and their leader with the huge Khanda."
They are not Rajputs, they are Punjabi's of the Akali religion, all dressed in dark blue dresses.

Thank you for your comments although I did note that some of the blades were Firanji meaning there was a mixture of Khanda and Firanji...I have no idea which are Indian and which are not. The Rajput suggestion was right off the top of my head ...I have no idea how that came about... Such are the complexities of this vast subject...Below are more pictures of Akali regions warriors..
Please see http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/military-sikhs/ for a V and A detail on Akali Sikhs...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th September 2016, 06:27 PM

Refocusing on the Khanda which is a truly huge chopping weapon of great antiquity...From Wikepedia I Quote"
History

Early swords appear in the archaeological record of ritual copper swords in Fatehgarh Northern India and Kallur in Southern India. although the Puranas and Vedas give an even older date to the sacrificial knife. Straight swords, (as well as other swords curved both inward and outward), have been used in Indian history since the Iron Age Mahajanapadas (roughly 600 to 300 BC), being mentioned in the Sanskrit epics, and used in soldiers in armies such as those of the Mauryan Empire. Several sculptures from the Gupta era (AD 280-550) portray soldiers holding khanda-like broadswords. These are again flared out at the tip. They continued to be used in art such as Chola-era murtis.

There is host of paintings depicting the khanda being worn by Rajput kings throughout the medieval era. It was used usually by foot-soldiers and by nobles who were unhorsed in battle. The Rajput warrior clans venerated the khanda as a weapon of great prestige.

According to some, the design was improved by Prithviraj Chauhan. He added a back spine on the blade to add more strength. He also made the blade wider and flatter, making it a formidable cutting weapon. The new design proved very effective against the leather inlaid chain mail armour of Muslim invaders. It also gave a good advantage to infantry over light cavalry enemy armies.

Rajput warriors in battle wielded the khanda with both hands and swung it over their head when surrounded and outnumbered by the enemy. It was in this manner that they traditionally committed an honourable last stand rather than be captured. Even today they venerate the khanda on the occasion of Dasara.

Maharana Pratap is known to have wielded a khanda. The son in law of Miyan Tansen Naubat Khan also wielded khanda and the family was known as Khandare Beenkar. Wazir Khan (Rampur) Khandara was a famous beenkar of 19th century.

Many Sikh warriors of the Akali-Nihang order are known to have wielded khandas. For instance, Akali Deep Singh is famous for wielding a khanda in his final battle before reaching martyrdom, which is still preserved at Akaal Takhat Sahib. Akali Phula Singh is also known to have wielded a khanda, and this practise was popular among officers and leaders in the Sikh Khalsa Army as well as by Sikh sardars of the Misls and of the Sikh Empire. The Sikh martial art, Gatka also uses Khandas.''Unquote.

Jens Nordlunde · 18th September 2016, 09:51 PM

Your Wekipedia source could be right, but dont have to be, so all these quotes must be taken with a bit of salt - some evn with a small handful of salt.
I do agree that Wikepedia is a great source of information, but do be careful not to belive everything what is written on it.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th September 2016, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Your Wekipedia source could be right, but dont have to be, so all these quotes must be taken with a bit of salt - some evn with a small handful of salt.
I do agree that Wikepedia is a great source of information, but do be careful not to belive everything what is written on it.

I occasionally use web and Forum Library(Search). Some care is taken to get a reasonable and well constructed post. The world wide web is staggering in its depth although at times some care is needed...I find the Forum Library very extensive; Forum like web search are after all computerized retrieval Systems so both are enormously useful. From the cross referencing carried out on the Wikipedia article I cannot find any discrepancies thus I think my due diligence has been correct...

14th September 2016, 06:12 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	If we can see some examples ? I include some Firangi as the hilts are the same... The Rajputs easily recognised in their head dress with Quoits inserted and their leader with the huge Khanda. It is noted that the spike protruding from the top of the hilt was used as a holding point for the other hand turning this into a two hander for certain strikes; adding more power. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 15th September 2016 at 05:33 PM.

18th September 2016, 06:27 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Refocusing on the Khanda which is a truly huge chopping weapon of great antiquity...From Wikepedia I Quote" History Early swords appear in the archaeological record of ritual copper swords in Fatehgarh Northern India and Kallur in Southern India. although the Puranas and Vedas give an even older date to the sacrificial knife. Straight swords, (as well as other swords curved both inward and outward), have been used in Indian history since the Iron Age Mahajanapadas (roughly 600 to 300 BC), being mentioned in the Sanskrit epics, and used in soldiers in armies such as those of the Mauryan Empire. Several sculptures from the Gupta era (AD 280-550) portray soldiers holding khanda-like broadswords. These are again flared out at the tip. They continued to be used in art such as Chola-era murtis. There is host of paintings depicting the khanda being worn by Rajput kings throughout the medieval era. It was used usually by foot-soldiers and by nobles who were unhorsed in battle. The Rajput warrior clans venerated the khanda as a weapon of great prestige. According to some, the design was improved by Prithviraj Chauhan. He added a back spine on the blade to add more strength. He also made the blade wider and flatter, making it a formidable cutting weapon. The new design proved very effective against the leather inlaid chain mail armour of Muslim invaders. It also gave a good advantage to infantry over light cavalry enemy armies. Rajput warriors in battle wielded the khanda with both hands and swung it over their head when surrounded and outnumbered by the enemy. It was in this manner that they traditionally committed an honourable last stand rather than be captured. Even today they venerate the khanda on the occasion of Dasara. Maharana Pratap is known to have wielded a khanda. The son in law of Miyan Tansen Naubat Khan also wielded khanda and the family was known as Khandare Beenkar. Wazir Khan (Rampur) Khandara was a famous beenkar of 19th century. Many Sikh warriors of the Akali-Nihang order are known to have wielded khandas. For instance, Akali Deep Singh is famous for wielding a khanda in his final battle before reaching martyrdom, which is still preserved at Akaal Takhat Sahib. Akali Phula Singh is also known to have wielded a khanda, and this practise was popular among officers and leaders in the Sikh Khalsa Army as well as by Sikh sardars of the Misls and of the Sikh Empire. The Sikh martial art, Gatka also uses Khandas.''Unquote. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 18th September 2016 at 06:55 PM.

18th September 2016, 03:59 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Ibrahim, please notice, that not all of the swords you show are firangis, some of them may be, while others may be Indian copies of European blades, but some of them are pure Indian blades. You write "The Rajputs easily recognised in their head dress with Quoits inserted and their leader with the huge Khanda." They are not Rajputs, they are Punjabi's of the Akali religion, all dressed in dark blue dresses.

18th September 2016, 09:51 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Your Wekipedia source could be right, but dont have to be, so all these quotes must be taken with a bit of salt - some evn with a small handful of salt. I do agree that Wikepedia is a great source of information, but do be careful not to belive everything what is written on it.