The Indian PATA and the mysterious MANOPLE

Mercenary · 31st May 2025, 06:45 PM

Jim, thank you, you are right, this object is from a "living" culture and was used as a weapon in traditional martial arts. And if the handle is new (19th-20th centuries), then the blade, as you pointed out, has a much longer and more complicated history.
The pata sword was not only a weapon of the Marathas, but much more often a weapon of their opponents: the principalities of Rajasthan and the sultanates of the Deccan, and was also used throughout the rest of India.
I was interested not so much in the "face" on the handle (usually it is either a stylized image of a tiger or a person; in the case of a tiger, these would be the animal's ears, and in the case of a person - mustache or a third eye), as in the image of Garuda. This is a rarity in medieval and modern India - the cult of Garuda is more common in Nepal and Southeast Asia. This allows us to localize your object in South India, where the cult of Garuda has survived to this day as part of the Vaishnavism tradition. And this cult is directly connected with the warrior traditions, although to a lesser extent than the cult of Hanuman: in the South Indian kingdom of Hoysala there was a group of the bravest warriors, especially devoted to the ruler, who were called the Garuda warriors (Garuda served Vishnu as his vahana, so these warriors served the king).
Thank you for sharing this unusual item!

Jim McDougall · 31st May 2025, 09:03 PM

Mercenary, thank you so very much for such valuable input! I know from years of reading your posts you are incredibly well versed in these arms and the complex cultures they are from.
As I have noted, this unusual pata is among the number of swords I have acquired through lifetime, and now part of sort of 'bucket list' to try to close their cases and finally determine what they are exactly.

As you note this is an unusual item used in traditional martial arts, but in more of a ceremonial sense I believe, as it is not substantial enough to serve as an actual weapon. I am so glad you pointed out the image of Garuda, which I honestly would not have recognized even if I had noticed it. As I am totally uninitiated in the incredibly complex theology of these Indian religions, I am grateful for your adding this.

If I understand correctly, this pata may be associated with the cult of Garuda in Hoysala, so then the martial demonstrations or ceremonies might have used weapons such as this?

The celebration of warriors is well represented in the areas of Hoysala as seen in temples and warrior stones seen through its regions. Perhaps then this very old blade possibly might be a venerated old blade that has been remounted for use with this recognition?

Mercenary · 1st June 2025, 01:36 PM

It is very possible. Usually in akhara, kalari, festivals and ceremonies any weapon made recently and even from aluminum or something else is used. So in the case of your sword, such a combination of a real (not flexible, like most modern pata) and "very ancient" blade from the point of view of its owners in the 19th-20th centuries, and a handle with the image of Garuda may not be accidental. The image of Garuda is not just a decoration, especially on a simple weapon made not for sale, but for martial arts or fests. It is a sign, a symbol. It means that there was a semantic connection between the martial traditions and the cult of Garuda in this region for hundreds of years, which in turn means that your pata also comes from a warrior culture, regardless of when it was made. The main thing is that it lived in this culture. Not every item in our collections can boast of this.

P.S. That is why we are interested in Indian culture, where nothing had disappeared without a trace. Even for 5000 years.

Jim McDougall · 1st June 2025, 03:55 PM

That is a wonderful perception of exactly how we SHOULD approach the study of Indian arms and for that matter all material culture. In the dynamics of their Faith, the culture is vibrant, living and essentially timeless.

When Robert Elgood was writing "Hindu Arms & Ritual" in 2004, he addressed many aspects of this in perspectives not typically seen in references on Indian arms. He had concerns that perhaps this approach was too 'deep' but as we agreed it was exactly the way we should be studying these arms.

Again, I thank you for detailing these elements of this most important view into this fascinating culture.....above all having new appreciation for this wonderful old pata, knowing it served in such a profound way in it.

1st June 2025, 01:36 PM	#3
Mercenary Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 428	It is very possible. Usually in akhara, kalari, festivals and ceremonies any weapon made recently and even from aluminum or something else is used. So in the case of your sword, such a combination of a real (not flexible, like most modern pata) and "very ancient" blade from the point of view of its owners in the 19th-20th centuries, and a handle with the image of Garuda may not be accidental. The image of Garuda is not just a decoration, especially on a simple weapon made not for sale, but for martial arts or fests. It is a sign, a symbol. It means that there was a semantic connection between the martial traditions and the cult of Garuda in this region for hundreds of years, which in turn means that your pata also comes from a warrior culture, regardless of when it was made. The main thing is that it lived in this culture. Not every item in our collections can boast of this. P.S. That is why we are interested in Indian culture, where nothing had disappeared without a trace. Even for 5000 years. Attached Images

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31st May 2025, 06:45 PM	#1
Mercenary Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 428	Jim, thank you, you are right, this object is from a "living" culture and was used as a weapon in traditional martial arts. And if the handle is new (19th-20th centuries), then the blade, as you pointed out, has a much longer and more complicated history. The pata sword was not only a weapon of the Marathas, but much more often a weapon of their opponents: the principalities of Rajasthan and the sultanates of the Deccan, and was also used throughout the rest of India. I was interested not so much in the "face" on the handle (usually it is either a stylized image of a tiger or a person; in the case of a tiger, these would be the animal's ears, and in the case of a person - mustache or a third eye), as in the image of Garuda. This is a rarity in medieval and modern India - the cult of Garuda is more common in Nepal and Southeast Asia. This allows us to localize your object in South India, where the cult of Garuda has survived to this day as part of the Vaishnavism tradition. And this cult is directly connected with the warrior traditions, although to a lesser extent than the cult of Hanuman: in the South Indian kingdom of Hoysala there was a group of the bravest warriors, especially devoted to the ruler, who were called the Garuda warriors (Garuda served Vishnu as his vahana, so these warriors served the king). Thank you for sharing this unusual item!

31st May 2025, 09:03 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Mercenary, thank you so very much for such valuable input! I know from years of reading your posts you are incredibly well versed in these arms and the complex cultures they are from. As I have noted, this unusual pata is among the number of swords I have acquired through lifetime, and now part of sort of 'bucket list' to try to close their cases and finally determine what they are exactly. As you note this is an unusual item used in traditional martial arts, but in more of a ceremonial sense I believe, as it is not substantial enough to serve as an actual weapon. I am so glad you pointed out the image of Garuda, which I honestly would not have recognized even if I had noticed it. As I am totally uninitiated in the incredibly complex theology of these Indian religions, I am grateful for your adding this. If I understand correctly, this pata may be associated with the cult of Garuda in Hoysala, so then the martial demonstrations or ceremonies might have used weapons such as this? The celebration of warriors is well represented in the areas of Hoysala as seen in temples and warrior stones seen through its regions. Perhaps then this very old blade possibly might be a venerated old blade that has been remounted for use with this recognition?

1st June 2025, 03:55 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	That is a wonderful perception of exactly how we SHOULD approach the study of Indian arms and for that matter all material culture. In the dynamics of their Faith, the culture is vibrant, living and essentially timeless. When Robert Elgood was writing "Hindu Arms & Ritual" in 2004, he addressed many aspects of this in perspectives not typically seen in references on Indian arms. He had concerns that perhaps this approach was too 'deep' but as we agreed it was exactly the way we should be studying these arms. Again, I thank you for detailing these elements of this most important view into this fascinating culture.....above all having new appreciation for this wonderful old pata, knowing it served in such a profound way in it.