Sinhala / Sri Lankan Swords?

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

Thanks Thor for Complement, About the girls; sadly they don’t dress the same way now…

Balooshi, I have run the concept of Kasthana origin being the word Asthana with a few Sri Lankan historians and linguists and there is agreement to the high probability of the root of the word.

The design origin of Kasthana is also indigenous; and very likely pre-dated Portuguese arrival; though some elements of the Kasthana in its final form may have had possible Portuguese influence. I am still working on this- need more work…

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

Balooshi, I have run the concept of Kasthana origin being the word Asthana with a few Sri Lankan historians and linguists and there is agreement to the high probability of the root of the word.

The design origin of Kasthana is also indigenous; and very likely pre-dated Portuguese arrival; though some elements of the Kasthana in its final form may have had possible Portuguese influence. I am still working on this- need more work…

Salaams Weerakkody ~ All good. It is entirely feasible that the Kastane is Portuguese assisted or even a pre Portuguese then later modified weapon... perhaps jointly worked and produced. It still remains possible, however, that this is a weapon developed by Portuguese / Sri Lankan co-operation post 1505. Perhaps there is some evidence at Museum level or in the archives?

My earlier suggestion of the link in Martial Arts weaponry may be another source.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all ~ Note to Forum...

This thread was very interesting and a huge amount of detail was logged for Forum library ~ Meanwhile, it stalled as threads so often do with the promise that we would get back to it soon...

I have seen various Kastane and some extremely nice items though with written detail tending to muddle the two terminologies of Lion Hilt with Makara. Auction houses in particular are reluctant to come down on one side of the fence as they percieve that potential clients could be put off with one of the descriptions so they put both

I hope that by resurecting this thread we can get a little closer to the truth.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All ~Note to Forum.

Please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ed=1#post16117 .. I use this reference to illustrate the identity of the Kastane Hilt as Makara based.

The Malay peninsula weapon with a clear design based upon the Makara. See below the water spout design from the same monster form.

It has always intrigued me as to which way the Makara design spread ...

My theory on the Sri Lankan Kastane offers a design formulated by a joint Portuguese Sri Lankan workshops situation using The Makara combined onto a hilt with Vijra (Buddhist influence) elements(false quillons) onto which other Deities(Nagas) and the human faced crocodile on the hand guard are spilled and including a rain guard formed of the Makara (peacock form) tail.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All. Note to Library.

Here are a few new pictures and some maybe already pictured but I just wanted to bring on a group of shots of this sword style ... perhaps I can inspire some input from other Forum members and since this thread came to an abrupt halt a while ago it is time to breathe new life into it.. So lets go!

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all ...I seek the link between Kastane and Javanese/Indonesian/Malay weapons through the accepted religious/traditional aspect of the mythical Makara Hilts designs, thus, I show Javanese Pedang Lurus Sword with Pamor Blade, Padang Sesak from Indonesia, Makara on Malay Hilt (picture on a black background) below.

I am not only drawing conclusions about cross style transmission but also that what we are looking at in the Sri Lankan Kastane Hilt form is from the same source... The Makara.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

iI would like to park here some Makara designs in Jewellery... It may be of note that the majority of designs refer to a snake or serpent like creature since the main them is upon bangle design...which naturally lends itself to a curled snake bangle style...as opposed to say... a lion.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All ~ An example of Makara on Indian weapons and Tibetan chopping devices...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

My theory on the Sri Lankan Kastane offers a design formulated by a joint Portuguese Sri Lankan workshops situation using The Makara combined onto a hilt with Vijra (Buddhist influence) elements(false quillons) onto which other Deities(Nagas) and the human faced crocodile on the hand guard are spilled and including a rain guard formed of the Makara (peacock form) tail.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

I think there is also a bit mix in it of a monkeyhead, as you can see above the makara head on the picture.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Maurice

I think there is also a bit mix in it of a monkeyhead, as you can see above the makara head on the picture.

Salaams Maurice... Makara!! .. Dragon, crocodile or serpent like head, ears of a mouse or pig, the horns of a goat, the body of an antelope or deer, the trunk of an elephant, a curved tail like that of a snake, peacock or fish and feet like those of a panther or a dog, with two horns on the forehead, its sides and bloated belly sometimes covered with leopard like spots, it is like nothing on earth... hmmm ?? Not sure ... it could be...

However, what about the huge grey stone object at the front?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[David]

They live!