Indian axe for comments and suggestions

bhushan_lawate · 5th December 2008, 12:45 PM

Hi all,

The figures on this ceremonial/temple axe bear the hour glass shaped "Damaru" which is a percussion instrument belonging to the deities of the "Shiva Family"
It is interesting to note that this is a instrument which finds vast usage in Shiva Temples even to date and is one carried by "Shiva" always. It is a instrument which found useage during warfares as well.

They Bull and the "Bhairavi"(????) are also seen carrying a "mace" again common to deities in the Shiva Family. Similar maces can be seen in body building "akhadas" or country gyms in India. (Especially towards the North)

Coming to the script and the language; the script is Devanagari for sure and the language seems like Hindi or Sanskrit. Mostly looks like proper nouns pronouncing name(s) of owner???????

I'll try to figure out if I can get the exact meaning of the letters there. As Jim has rightly pointed out the script is written in different forms in different provinces and thus leads to difficulty in deciphering at times.

Most old temples in India or temples which follow legacies and rituals strictly have a lot of weapons for ritual and ceremonial use.

The ritual weapons are mostly those which are used actively (E.g For sacrifice of Buffaloes, Sheep etc) This is prevelant on a large scale even to date.

Ceremonial weapons are those which are richly decorated and elaborate in character and find useage in ceremonial processions (these weapons are carried by designated personnel) or are kept besides the deity etc.

In fact many deities have weapons kept by their side always.

We have to look at temple/ceremonial weapons keeping all the above things in mind.
I've personally seen a lot of such ritual and ceremonial weapons in a lot of temples in India.

Regards,
Bhushan

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5th December 2008, 12:45 PM	#8
bhushan_lawate Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: India Posts: 77	Hi all, The figures on this ceremonial/temple axe bear the hour glass shaped "Damaru" which is a percussion instrument belonging to the deities of the "Shiva Family" It is interesting to note that this is a instrument which finds vast usage in Shiva Temples even to date and is one carried by "Shiva" always. It is a instrument which found useage during warfares as well. They Bull and the "Bhairavi"(????) are also seen carrying a "mace" again common to deities in the Shiva Family. Similar maces can be seen in body building "akhadas" or country gyms in India. (Especially towards the North) Coming to the script and the language; the script is Devanagari for sure and the language seems like Hindi or Sanskrit. Mostly looks like proper nouns pronouncing name(s) of owner??????? I'll try to figure out if I can get the exact meaning of the letters there. As Jim has rightly pointed out the script is written in different forms in different provinces and thus leads to difficulty in deciphering at times. Most old temples in India or temples which follow legacies and rituals strictly have a lot of weapons for ritual and ceremonial use. The ritual weapons are mostly those which are used actively (E.g For sacrifice of Buffaloes, Sheep etc) This is prevelant on a large scale even to date. Ceremonial weapons are those which are richly decorated and elaborate in character and find useage in ceremonial processions (these weapons are carried by designated personnel) or are kept besides the deity etc. In fact many deities have weapons kept by their side always. We have to look at temple/ceremonial weapons keeping all the above things in mind. I've personally seen a lot of such ritual and ceremonial weapons in a lot of temples in India. Regards, Bhushan