How old is the kora, and from where did it come?

Jens Nordlunde · 9th April 2017, 01:23 PM

Ok - I cant ansver any of the two questions, but should someone be interested in researching the subject, I can come up with a hint.
In A Catalogue of Arms and Armour in the State Museum, Hyderabad. A.P., 1975. M.L.Nigam writes.
"In the eastern part of Deccan, some new weapons seem to have been inreoduced to suit the regional needs of the People. The 'Kora', which could produce deadly blows with its forward-curved and broad-tipped blade, appears, for the first time, in one of the sculptural panels carved in the second gate of the Mukhalingesvara temple at Mukhalingam, the capital seat of the Eastern Ganga monarchs.
The temple is datable to the second half of the eight century AD. It may, therefor, be presumed that 'Kora', the favorit weapon og the Gurkhas, had come in vogue by the middle of the eight century AD."

The author, unfortunately, does not show any pictures if the panels, but long ago I have seen a relief from South India, showing a soldier with a kora like sword.

I knew we har had a discussion like this before, but not that it was exactly the same:-(. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10050

sirupate · 9th April 2017, 02:11 PM

On my latest visit to Nepal I came across a different and to me a more plausibe view to the visit in 2009.
Speaking to my kami about the khunda/khuda (pronounced Kora), they firmly believe that the khunda was a development of the khurpa utility tool, this makes sense when you look at how many khunda look like khurpa, and how easily the design of the khurpa lends itself to the development of the khunda

sirupate · 9th April 2017, 02:24 PM

From a video of my latest visit, note the shape of the khunda

Jens Nordlunde · 9th April 2017, 03:05 PM

Sirupate, I have now and then been wondering if the kore really had been travelling from South India to Nepal and Tibet, without leaving any traces along the way, so your last guess may be the right one.
Strange that a weapon as dangerous as the kora stopped being used in the south.

sirupate · 9th April 2017, 05:28 PM

I guess we will never know for sure, but what the kami had to say seemed to me to make sense

Jens Nordlunde · 9th April 2017, 09:20 PM

Sirupate, do you know when the kora was first used in Nepal and Tibet?
It is a bit strange, that a weapon of this strange kind, was used in South India, in Nepal and in Tibet. Maybe not at the same time - but still.

sirupate · 9th April 2017, 10:25 PM

Hi Jens, I'm afraid not, and to be honest I doubt anyone does

9th April 2017, 01:23 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	How old is the kora, and from where did it come? Ok - I cant ansver any of the two questions, but should someone be interested in researching the subject, I can come up with a hint. In A Catalogue of Arms and Armour in the State Museum, Hyderabad. A.P., 1975. M.L.Nigam writes. "In the eastern part of Deccan, some new weapons seem to have been inreoduced to suit the regional needs of the People. The 'Kora', which could produce deadly blows with its forward-curved and broad-tipped blade, appears, for the first time, in one of the sculptural panels carved in the second gate of the Mukhalingesvara temple at Mukhalingam, the capital seat of the Eastern Ganga monarchs. The temple is datable to the second half of the eight century AD. It may, therefor, be presumed that 'Kora', the favorit weapon og the Gurkhas, had come in vogue by the middle of the eight century AD." The author, unfortunately, does not show any pictures if the panels, but long ago I have seen a relief from South India, showing a soldier with a kora like sword. I knew we har had a discussion like this before, but not that it was exactly the same:-(. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10050 Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 9th April 2017 at 01:36 PM.

9th April 2017, 02:11 PM	#2
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	On my latest visit to Nepal I came across a different and to me a more plausibe view to the visit in 2009. Speaking to my kami about the khunda/khuda (pronounced Kora), they firmly believe that the khunda was a development of the khurpa utility tool, this makes sense when you look at how many khunda look like khurpa, and how easily the design of the khurpa lends itself to the development of the khunda Attached Images

9th April 2017, 02:24 PM	#3
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	From a video of my latest visit, note the shape of the khunda Attached Images

9th April 2017, 03:05 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Sirupate, I have now and then been wondering if the kore really had been travelling from South India to Nepal and Tibet, without leaving any traces along the way, so your last guess may be the right one. Strange that a weapon as dangerous as the kora stopped being used in the south.

9th April 2017, 05:28 PM	#5
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	I guess we will never know for sure, but what the kami had to say seemed to me to make sense

9th April 2017, 09:20 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Sirupate, do you know when the kora was first used in Nepal and Tibet? It is a bit strange, that a weapon of this strange kind, was used in South India, in Nepal and in Tibet. Maybe not at the same time - but still.

9th April 2017, 10:25 PM	#7
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Hi Jens, I'm afraid not, and to be honest I doubt anyone does