Manjushree Sword in historical context

[ruel]

The arrival of my sword today prompted me to reach a decision as to where exactly this blade form belongs in historical perspective. (I know this isn't an issue with many forumites, who simply like blades as modern tools, but I'm quite obsessed with it.)

After much sifting, I've decided that it was most probably a form of khanda used across North India prior to the Mughal conquest in the late 16thc. David Nicolle's Mughul India 1520-1761 reproduces two very similar swords depicted in period paintings of Hindu footsoldiers of that time; they are extremely similar right down to the flattened sphere pommels.

My guess is that this was the preferred N. Indian sword in the 1st half of the 2nd millenium, which was gradually replaced by the Turko-Mongol style saber of invading Central Asian Muslims, a saber which later evolved into our familiar talwar. It makes sense too that the "Manjushree" type sword survived in Nepal, as many Rajputs fled there in the wake of the Muslim conquests. The patronage of these Indian princes would have influenced the development of Hindu-Buddhist art there, which is probably how this form of sword came to be associated with the sword-wielding Manjushri in Himalayan-Tibetan style painting and sculpture.

* * *

Anyway, that's my take on it. Other views are most welcome.

 

[Svashtar]

Excellent research and background and makes for interesting reading. Thanks for taking the time to post it!

Regards,

Norm

 

[cognitivefun]

Thanks, very interesting...

And, any ideas on the Dukti, perchance?

 

[Howard Wallace]

from http://www.catgen.com/thanka/EN/100001410.html

Manjushree is the Bodhisatwa of wisdom Literature. In Nepal, he is considered as the founder of Nepalese civilization and the creator of Kathamndu valley. There is a legend that long ago Kathmandu Valley was a big lake with serpents inhabiting the lake. Manjushree smashed the mountains toward the south of the valley with his sword of wisdom to drain the water out of the lake and form the Kathmandu Valley. The thangka Depicts Manjushree smashing the mountains with his sword of wisdom.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Very informative. Thanks for posting this.

 

[ruel]

Thanks for the comments, friends.

And, any ideas on the Dukti, perchance?

Seems like both the Dukti (not sure where that name comes from) and the "Manjushree" are variants of the basic early khanda sword form. I wonder what the originals on which these models were based look like? The swords reconstructed in Nicolle's book appear to have metal rather than wooden hilts, which relate them to later Hindustani swords that also have full metal hilts. I'm betting that was the case here too: The kamis just gave their replicas wooden grips because in Nepal, unlike in N. India, they obviously prefer wood to metal.

The reconstructed image shows that this Manjushree/Dukti khanda was the sword of infantrymen (Hindu Rajputs) who dressed rather lightly: They wore only short trousers with sandals and a thick turban, and paired the sword with a large shield. Really, apart from the headgear, they didn't look all that different from the appearance of Manjushri in the painting posted by Howard above.

In fact, the costume is so simple that I'm tempted to try to put together one of my own, to complement the sword. Getting an appropriate shield is the only real problem...! Maybe one of our many talented forumites could make one?

 

[munk]

This forum misses the knowledge you bring to the table. With Beo gone, we have a gap in our world here. Come more often!



munk

 

[Dave Rishar]

In fact, the costume is so simple that I'm tempted to try to put together one of my own, to complement the sword. Getting an appropriate shield is the only real problem...! Maybe one of our many talented forumites could make one?

Googling "rajput shield" eventually took me to your website. Nicely done.

I gather that these shields were circular and metal but other than that, I can't find much. Do you have any specifics and/or pictures?

 

[Hibuke]

This forum misses the knowledge you bring to the table. With Beo gone, we have a gap in our world here. Come more often!



munk

What the? Huh? What happened to Beo? Have I been out of it for that long??!

 

[Yvsa]

What the? Huh? What happened to Beo? Have I been out of it for that long??!

Beo, aka Ben went too India, got married and is living happily ever after in an antique palace. Well everything is true except the palace and who knows, he could be doing that with his bride as well.
Ben posted some pix just not long ago. Beautiful wedding and beautiful bride, even Ben was all dressed out in fancy garb!!!!

 

[DannyinJapan]

if you still dont have the Egerton book, you are totally lost!!!

 

[ruel]

This forum misses the knowledge you bring to the table. With Beo gone, we have a gap in our world here. Come more often!

You know Munk, it's ironic: I've actually been around, but haven't posted because all the topics have been way over my head! All this talk about regrinding blades, applying oil coats to handles, designing new models, etc.etc. leaves me in the dust. By contrast, looking up stuff in books is something I find relatively easy (especially when I have tons of 'em piled up here in my apartment)... I guess we all have different aptitudes.

And I could never replace Beo! Now that he's all hitched with a local wife, he's tapped into a primary source. (And that reminds me, I still need to write a congrats to him!)

I gather that these shields were circular and metal but other than that, I can't find much. Do you have any specifics and/or pictures?

Glad you like the website, though I didn't realize I had anything on Rajput shields in it! I really should spend more time fixing it up; it seems to do its own thing when I'm not looking.

From the illustration, the shield used by this early Rajput looks essentially like the 'dhal' of later times -- like you said, circular and metal, with a shallow convex surface and four bosses. The one shown here is large, so maybe these Rajputs fought like the classical Greeks and Romans did: Short sword/big shield in tight infantry formations.

I'll see if I can't scan the picture sometime this week. If I hadn't said it before, I'm rather peachy about HI making this kind of sword, as it represents a culture and time period whose weapons aren't given attention to by anyone else, and is unfairly neglected in favor of its successors the Mughals and later Rajputs.