Indian Swords with downward curving blades

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Miguel,

You are welcome. When it comes to the size of the daggers/swords, it is hard to say how long they were, and the men looks like dwarfs, but maybe that was the artistic style of the time.

The way I remember the text I once read, it went like this. 'About the 12th century the people of southeast India was beaten in a big battle, and as a consequence they moved to the north, and some to the Himmalaya area.'
The problem is, that I read this long ago, and I am not sure in which book I read it, but should I find the book and the sentence I will try to remember to let you know.

Yes the history of India is fascinating, but complicated, like you say. But you must not forget that India is a huge country, and not only that, it is a very huge country. To this comes that it was very rich, so other people found it most interesting to pay them a visit.

In an article I have read about some of the different forts in India from the 16th and 17th century, the author gives the awarage hight if the soldiers to about 170 cm. I am, however, not sure that the same measure can be used here.

Jens

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Miguel,

Hindu Arms and Ritual. Eburon Achademic Publishers, 2015. Page 83. Robert Elgood shows the attached and writes.

"Gana holding a sword. Mahishamardini cave Temple. Mamallapuram Pallava. Mid-seventh century.
Ganas were diminitive gods or attendants who served as arms bearers for the great gods. The square 'cussion' pommel, invariable made of wood in later examples, is already evident as is the forward curved blade which continues in use for centuries, the late form being the sosan pattah."

So not only does he show a very early example, but he also tells why the man is so small.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Hi Miguel,

Hindu Arms and Ritual. Eburon Achademic Publishers, 2015. Page 83. Robert Elgood shows the attached and writes.

"Gana holding a sword. Mahishamardini cave Temple. Mamallapuram Pallava. Mid-seventh century.
Ganas were diminitive gods or attendants who served as arms bearers for the great gods. The square 'cussion' pommel, invariable made of wood in later examples, is already evident as is the forward curved blade which continues in use for centuries, the late form being the sosan pattah."

So not only does he show a very early example, but he also tells why the man is so small.

Hi Jens,

Fascinating, if that doesn't look like a Khukri nothing does, it convinces me even more that that the Khukri form originated from India. The image also reminded me of the Ayda Katti the weapon of the Coorgs (Kodava people) who, as you know, are in South West India. Apparently this weapon did not appear until the 17thC a century later than the oldest known Khukri which means that up to 10 centuries passed from the weapon shown on the carving to the finding of the Khukri. Thank you once again for sharing this information, it is most appreciated and keeps my appetite whetted.
Kind regards
Miguel

[Jens Nordlunde]

You are welcome.
About the size of the weapon we can only guess, but if the man is a dwarf like Elgood says, and if the proportions are correct, and if we (guessing) say the man was 130 cm tall the sword must have been about 75 cm long. This is all guessing, but it is likely to have been quite big.

It is possible that the Adya Katti developed from such a sword/dagger, but from which kind of weapon did the weapon Elgood shows develop?

I do hope you will take up the challange and start to research it, and tell us to which conclusion you come.

Jens

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

You are welcome.
About the size of the weapon we can only guess, but if the man is a dwarf like Elgood says, and if the proportions are correct, and if we (guessing) say the man was 130 cm tall the sword must have been about 75 cm long. This is all guessing, but it is likely to have been quite big.

It is possible that the Adya Katti developed from such a sword/dagger, but from which kind of weapon did the weapon Elgood shows develop?

I do hope you will take up the challange and start to research it, and tell us to which conclusion you come.

Jens

Hi Jens,

I will do my best but before that I need to scratch an itch which started when I saw the image from Elgood and that is to discover where the Coorgs originated from before they settled in the mountain area of south west India.
Kind regards
Miguel