Appearance of the Kukri in Classical South Indian Culture

laEspadaAncha · 21st February 2010, 07:19 AM

Appearance of the Kukri in Combat in Classical South Indian Culture

It is believed by many that the kukri came into existence as a derivative evolution of the kopis first introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Macedonian troops during Alexander the Great's campaign in the 4th Century BCE. Today, everyone tends to associate the iconic kukri with Nepal, and with good reason - the famed Gurkha warriors carry it with distinction to this day. But deep in the south of the Indian subcontinent there exists evidence of the widespread use of the kukri in the Dravidian cultures of Classical India nearly a thousand years ago.

The Hoysala Empire was a South Indian kingdom that thrived in modern-day Karnataka between the 10th and 14th centuries. During the height of the empire's high classical period, it was centered around Halebidu, site of the Hoysaleswara temple complex, home to the ruling family. The temple architecture is remarkable, and probably best known for the use of relief sculptures, or friezes, that form an integral part of the temple structure. Completed in 1121 C.E., these friezes provide an incredibly detailed (not to mention visually stunning) window into Hoysala culture and history, including warfare. When I visited the temple in 2008, I took my time to traverse the entire perimeter in search of visual clues that might provide a window into the arms and armor of South India in her antiquity.

My efforts did not disappoint. Several sections of friezes depicted scenes of war, scenes that likely portrayed either epics from Hindu mythology or possibly the internecine warfare that took place between the Hoysala and the contemporary Kannada civilizations competing for regional influence at the time of the temple's construction (such as the Kalachuri and Chalukya). Given the tendency of civilizations to portray historical events through the filter of contemporary references, it seems reasonable to expect that even if these reliefs did portray scenes from Hindu epics, they would most likely depict contemporary arms in use at the time.

Of note was the fact there were the different sword forms shown attributed to the Hoysala: both a straight blade and a forward-curving blade that could only be a kukri. It would appear as if the two forms coexistence simultaneously. Possibly they corresponded to different classes of warriors? This would not require a large stretch of reason considering the continued existence of the caste system today. Furthermore, some of the battle scenes depict both sides fighting with kukris, which would seemingly indicate the kukri saw widespread deployment and use in the region during this period.

Another relief sculpture show what clearly appears to be a flanged mace, which seems to indicate the use of such weaponry preceded the introduction of armor. Archers are depicted with what appear to be longbows. Another scenes proved enlightening with regards to the tactics used at the time.

Without further ado, I have below hosted and posted about a dozen photographs I shot in 2008, and welcome any and all discussion pertaining to the subject at hand. I hope you find this as interesting as do I.

Do to the number of images, I will post the remainder in a second post immediately following this one.

Photo of Hoysaleswara Temple

See the people on the far right for scale

Photo of the Friezes

Relief Sculptures Featuring the Kukri (Including Close-ups of Battle Friezes)

(note the warrior armed with the mace)

Battle Frieze Featuring Kukris in Combat

(note the right-facing warrior with the kukri immediately in front of the elephant on the left of the panel)

laEspadaAncha · 21st February 2010, 07:21 AM

Pt. II:

Relief Sculptures Featuring Straight-Edged Swords

Flanged Mace in Combat

Close-Quarter Tactics

Hoysala Archer

Nathaniel · 21st February 2010, 08:10 AM

laEspadaAncha, Thanks for sharing...beautiful temple carvings and examples of southern Indian weapons.....I saw the Hoysala temples back in 2000..definitely a must see if you are in the area.

laEspadaAncha · 22nd February 2010, 04:27 AM

Hi Nathaniel,

Glad you like 'em and that you had a chance to experience the beauty of Hoysaleswara temple firsthand... Did you make it over to Belur as well? While commissioned by the same ruler and built within a couple decades of each other, the differences are as remarkable as their similarity. The Dravidian architecture of the south is truly distinctive and different from anything else in the world.

I had always been under the impression the flanged mace evolved as a response to armor, but the relief above clearly shows they were in use at the time. It also intrigues me to see the kukri so far to the south, and makes me wonder just for how long it had been in use before these temples were built...

olikara · 2nd March 2010, 05:33 AM

Hello,

Here is a frieze from a 'Veeragallu' - 'Hero Stone' which is dedicated to a war hero who fell in battle from early Vijaynagara times - (1336 - 1565 A.D.)

Notice the reverse curved sword here. Yes, this type of sword was a predominant type down South. Malabar and Coorgi weapons like the 'Ayda Katthi' and 'Maplah Katthi' are still made with reverse curved edges.

Nidhi

P.S. Notice the horseman, he has a katar at his waist and his horse wears trappings similar to those worn by European knights!

laEspadaAncha · 2nd March 2010, 08:57 AM

Namaste Nidhi,

Where is the frieze in your post located? Can you post a larger copy of the image? I'd really like to see the depiction of that katar in detail...

I have Coorgi friends and my wife's family is coastal Kannada... I've been on the lookout for a nice ayudha katti for almost 13 years, and always make time to take up the search when we're back in India...

I'll also be on the hunt for a good pichangatti on my next trip.

Anyway, to your knowledge, has anyone ever published anything on when the southern kukri evolved into the ayudha katti? Unlike the visible "kukri kink" I found in the 12th C. friezes in Halebidu, the 15th C. example you post seems to more closely resemble the ayudha katti in form...

Thank you for posting that - before coming across these friezes a couple years ago, I had always assumed the ayudha katti to have been a (later) southern adaptation of a northern weapon, and had no idea the Indian kukri in its classical form had preceded it in the kingdoms of the south.

21st February 2010, 07:19 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Appearance of the Kukri in Classical South Indian Culture Appearance of the Kukri in Combat in Classical South Indian Culture It is believed by many that the kukri came into existence as a derivative evolution of the kopis first introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Macedonian troops during Alexander the Great's campaign in the 4th Century BCE. Today, everyone tends to associate the iconic kukri with Nepal, and with good reason - the famed Gurkha warriors carry it with distinction to this day. But deep in the south of the Indian subcontinent there exists evidence of the widespread use of the kukri in the Dravidian cultures of Classical India nearly a thousand years ago. The Hoysala Empire was a South Indian kingdom that thrived in modern-day Karnataka between the 10th and 14th centuries. During the height of the empire's high classical period, it was centered around Halebidu, site of the Hoysaleswara temple complex, home to the ruling family. The temple architecture is remarkable, and probably best known for the use of relief sculptures, or friezes, that form an integral part of the temple structure. Completed in 1121 C.E., these friezes provide an incredibly detailed (not to mention visually stunning) window into Hoysala culture and history, including warfare. When I visited the temple in 2008, I took my time to traverse the entire perimeter in search of visual clues that might provide a window into the arms and armor of South India in her antiquity. My efforts did not disappoint. Several sections of friezes depicted scenes of war, scenes that likely portrayed either epics from Hindu mythology or possibly the internecine warfare that took place between the Hoysala and the contemporary Kannada civilizations competing for regional influence at the time of the temple's construction (such as the Kalachuri and Chalukya). Given the tendency of civilizations to portray historical events through the filter of contemporary references, it seems reasonable to expect that even if these reliefs did portray scenes from Hindu epics, they would most likely depict contemporary arms in use at the time. Of note was the fact there were the different sword forms shown attributed to the Hoysala: both a straight blade and a forward-curving blade that could only be a kukri. It would appear as if the two forms coexistence simultaneously. Possibly they corresponded to different classes of warriors? This would not require a large stretch of reason considering the continued existence of the caste system today. Furthermore, some of the battle scenes depict both sides fighting with kukris, which would seemingly indicate the kukri saw widespread deployment and use in the region during this period. Another relief sculpture show what clearly appears to be a flanged mace, which seems to indicate the use of such weaponry preceded the introduction of armor. Archers are depicted with what appear to be longbows. Another scenes proved enlightening with regards to the tactics used at the time. Without further ado, I have below hosted and posted about a dozen photographs I shot in 2008, and welcome any and all discussion pertaining to the subject at hand. I hope you find this as interesting as do I. Do to the number of images, I will post the remainder in a second post immediately following this one. Photo of Hoysaleswara Temple See the people on the far right for scale Photo of the Friezes Relief Sculptures Featuring the Kukri (Including Close-ups of Battle Friezes) (note the warrior armed with the mace) Battle Frieze Featuring Kukris in Combat (note the right-facing warrior with the kukri immediately in front of the elephant on the left of the panel) Last edited by laEspadaAncha; 21st February 2010 at 04:42 PM. Reason: Too tired to proof-read my own work last night

2nd March 2010, 05:33 AM	#5
olikara Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: India Posts: 100	A Vijaynagar Frieze Hello, Here is a frieze from a 'Veeragallu' - 'Hero Stone' which is dedicated to a war hero who fell in battle from early Vijaynagara times - (1336 - 1565 A.D.) Notice the reverse curved sword here. Yes, this type of sword was a predominant type down South. Malabar and Coorgi weapons like the 'Ayda Katthi' and 'Maplah Katthi' are still made with reverse curved edges. Nidhi P.S. Notice the horseman, he has a katar at his waist and his horse wears trappings similar to those worn by European knights! Attached Images Last edited by olikara; 2nd March 2010 at 04:31 PM. Reason: Added dates

21st February 2010, 07:21 AM	#2
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Pt. II: Relief Sculptures Featuring Straight-Edged Swords Flanged Mace in Combat Close-Quarter Tactics Hoysala Archer

21st February 2010, 08:10 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	laEspadaAncha, Thanks for sharing...beautiful temple carvings and examples of southern Indian weapons.....I saw the Hoysala temples back in 2000..definitely a must see if you are in the area.

22nd February 2010, 04:27 AM	#4
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Hi Nathaniel, Glad you like 'em and that you had a chance to experience the beauty of Hoysaleswara temple firsthand... Did you make it over to Belur as well? While commissioned by the same ruler and built within a couple decades of each other, the differences are as remarkable as their similarity. The Dravidian architecture of the south is truly distinctive and different from anything else in the world. I had always been under the impression the flanged mace evolved as a response to armor, but the relief above clearly shows they were in use at the time. It also intrigues me to see the kukri so far to the south, and makes me wonder just for how long it had been in use before these temples were built...

2nd March 2010, 08:57 AM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Namaste Nidhi, Where is the frieze in your post located? Can you post a larger copy of the image? I'd really like to see the depiction of that katar in detail... I have Coorgi friends and my wife's family is coastal Kannada... I've been on the lookout for a nice ayudha katti for almost 13 years, and always make time to take up the search when we're back in India... I'll also be on the hunt for a good pichangatti on my next trip. Anyway, to your knowledge, has anyone ever published anything on when the southern kukri evolved into the ayudha katti? Unlike the visible "kukri kink" I found in the 12th C. friezes in Halebidu, the 15th C. example you post seems to more closely resemble the ayudha katti in form... Thank you for posting that - before coming across these friezes a couple years ago, I had always assumed the ayudha katti to have been a (later) southern adaptation of a northern weapon, and had no idea the Indian kukri in its classical form had preceded it in the kingdoms of the south.