Tulwar Hilted Kora

Norman McCormick · 13th December 2007, 08:48 PM

Hello,
Has anyone any opinions as to whether these Tulwar hilted Kora were used as fighting weapons and not just as sacrificial tools. I was always under the impression that the small hole at the top of the hilt in Tulwar type weapons was for a metal ring to enable the use of a sword knot or similar type accessory. If this was the case would it be necessary to have this feature on a blade that was only ever going to be used for ritual sacrifice. I have seen this feature on various different styles of Tulwar hilt so it doesn't seem restricted to a particular area or time period. Wrist type loops would appear to have been used on Indian all steel single handed axes as the examples I've seen, apart from some of the ones with a bulbous end, have an indentation at the base of the grip, I think, to facilitate a wrist binding of some sort. Anybody who has hefted a single handed weapon of any size will know how useful and comfortable a sword knot is and I'm reasonably sure this fact will not have been overlooked by Indian swordsmen.
The above is of course speculation on my part but I would be interested to know the facts if available.
Regards,
Norman.

Jens Nordlunde · 16th December 2007, 07:03 PM

If I am not mistaken, what he has in his hand is a boomerang – any comments?

Norman McCormick · 16th December 2007, 08:33 PM

Hi,
I'd always assumed it was a simplified representation of a Kora.
Regards,
Norman

Jim McDougall · 17th December 2007, 04:05 AM

I have seen numerous discussions on the Nepalese kora, and in response to the suggestion that these were primarily ceremonial and sacrificial weapons, the answer was a resounding no, they were indeed used in battle. As I have noted, these heavy tulwar hilt examples from Bengal and Nepal border regions that were intended for sacrificial use typically had either the eye (of Kali) or sometimes a lotus, on the blade. This one has neither, but the interesting depiction of a royal figure, with what does look like a highly stylized kora. I think it might be presumed this was intended as a weapon, possibly for guards for a royal figure, this suggesting they would strike on behalf of that person if required. Naturally this is pure speculation but worth consideration.

Jens Nordlunde · 17th December 2007, 01:02 PM

Sorry folks, but what the ’king’ is holding in his hand is a boomerang.

If you have a look at Hindu Arms and Rituals you will see the attached on page 191 and others on page 192. Further more, in the Index page 306 you will see that Elgood mentions six different boomerangs used in India.

Jim McDougall · 17th December 2007, 04:32 PM

Ahah! The reference is revealed!!! Thank you Jens

Now that we know it indeed is a boomerang the strange kingly figure is holding, perhaps we might better assess what this particular kora was for.
In using the Elgood reference, he notes that the 'birudungi' was this South Indian form of boomerang with one end cut square, the other ending in a knob, as seen in the inscribed figure on the blade of the kora. There is also the suggestion that the Maravar were one tribal group using these, and formed the state of Sivaganga, the use of the thrown stick described c.1795.

While this kora seems later 19th century, perhaps it is inscribed recalling the traditions there, and was indeed referencing combat events. Elgood describes the kora further on p.252, "...the kora is generally described by modern writers as Nepalese but appears particularly associated with Bengal. A kora in the Kandy Museum , Sri Lanka, is said to be the weapon of the last royal executioner". The reference continues to p.238 where the term 'bughalee' becomes synonymous in 19th century with the kora, and the seven examples held in the Royal Danish Kunsthammer inventory from 1674, describing these as East Indian sabres.

Interestingly, the boomerang held by the 'king' has the widened end shaped with double concave tip, like the kora, rather than the straight end in the illustrated and described examples in Elgood. Perhaps associating the weapon with the kora, which apparantly was also an established weapon?

Brings to mind the question of development of the kora in Nepal, and whether that occurred from Southern India to the north.

All best regards,
Jim

Norman McCormick · 18th December 2007, 08:24 PM

Hello,
Having studied the 'king' figure there are a few points I would like to raise. On the depiction of the kora/boomerang the profile of the end of the blade is different in the engraving than on the Kora itself in fact it is different from any Kora I have seen, different enough I think to warrant a closer look. Were there boomerangs with this type of profile as it would appear from the post that the end of the boomerangs were straight and not curved, or perhaps there may have been boomerangs with a curved profile that we are not aware of. The pantaloon type garment worn by the 'king' figure, would that style of dress point to a particular area of origin or a particular group of people. At the end of the left hand are four dots and a shallow semicircle, this is obviously not meant to be a representation of a hand, is it an armoury,makers mark or an esoteric symbol or something else?
Looking forward to your observations.
Regards,
Norman.

17th December 2007, 01:02 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Sorry folks, but what the ’king’ is holding in his hand is a boomerang. If you have a look at Hindu Arms and Rituals you will see the attached on page 191 and others on page 192. Further more, in the Index page 306 you will see that Elgood mentions six different boomerangs used in India. Attached Images

13th December 2007, 08:48 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	Hello, Has anyone any opinions as to whether these Tulwar hilted Kora were used as fighting weapons and not just as sacrificial tools. I was always under the impression that the small hole at the top of the hilt in Tulwar type weapons was for a metal ring to enable the use of a sword knot or similar type accessory. If this was the case would it be necessary to have this feature on a blade that was only ever going to be used for ritual sacrifice. I have seen this feature on various different styles of Tulwar hilt so it doesn't seem restricted to a particular area or time period. Wrist type loops would appear to have been used on Indian all steel single handed axes as the examples I've seen, apart from some of the ones with a bulbous end, have an indentation at the base of the grip, I think, to facilitate a wrist binding of some sort. Anybody who has hefted a single handed weapon of any size will know how useful and comfortable a sword knot is and I'm reasonably sure this fact will not have been overlooked by Indian swordsmen. The above is of course speculation on my part but I would be interested to know the facts if available. Regards, Norman.

16th December 2007, 07:03 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	If I am not mistaken, what he has in his hand is a boomerang – any comments?

16th December 2007, 08:33 PM	#3
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	Hi, I'd always assumed it was a simplified representation of a Kora. Regards, Norman

17th December 2007, 04:05 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	I have seen numerous discussions on the Nepalese kora, and in response to the suggestion that these were primarily ceremonial and sacrificial weapons, the answer was a resounding no, they were indeed used in battle. As I have noted, these heavy tulwar hilt examples from Bengal and Nepal border regions that were intended for sacrificial use typically had either the eye (of Kali) or sometimes a lotus, on the blade. This one has neither, but the interesting depiction of a royal figure, with what does look like a highly stylized kora. I think it might be presumed this was intended as a weapon, possibly for guards for a royal figure, this suggesting they would strike on behalf of that person if required. Naturally this is pure speculation but worth consideration.

17th December 2007, 04:32 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Ahah! The reference is revealed!!! Thank you Jens Now that we know it indeed is a boomerang the strange kingly figure is holding, perhaps we might better assess what this particular kora was for. In using the Elgood reference, he notes that the 'birudungi' was this South Indian form of boomerang with one end cut square, the other ending in a knob, as seen in the inscribed figure on the blade of the kora. There is also the suggestion that the Maravar were one tribal group using these, and formed the state of Sivaganga, the use of the thrown stick described c.1795. While this kora seems later 19th century, perhaps it is inscribed recalling the traditions there, and was indeed referencing combat events. Elgood describes the kora further on p.252, "...the kora is generally described by modern writers as Nepalese but appears particularly associated with Bengal. A kora in the Kandy Museum , Sri Lanka, is said to be the weapon of the last royal executioner". The reference continues to p.238 where the term 'bughalee' becomes synonymous in 19th century with the kora, and the seven examples held in the Royal Danish Kunsthammer inventory from 1674, describing these as East Indian sabres. Interestingly, the boomerang held by the 'king' has the widened end shaped with double concave tip, like the kora, rather than the straight end in the illustrated and described examples in Elgood. Perhaps associating the weapon with the kora, which apparantly was also an established weapon? Brings to mind the question of development of the kora in Nepal, and whether that occurred from Southern India to the north. All best regards, Jim

18th December 2007, 08:24 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	Hello, Having studied the 'king' figure there are a few points I would like to raise. On the depiction of the kora/boomerang the profile of the end of the blade is different in the engraving than on the Kora itself in fact it is different from any Kora I have seen, different enough I think to warrant a closer look. Were there boomerangs with this type of profile as it would appear from the post that the end of the boomerangs were straight and not curved, or perhaps there may have been boomerangs with a curved profile that we are not aware of. The pantaloon type garment worn by the 'king' figure, would that style of dress point to a particular area of origin or a particular group of people. At the end of the left hand are four dots and a shallow semicircle, this is obviously not meant to be a representation of a hand, is it an armoury,makers mark or an esoteric symbol or something else? Looking forward to your observations. Regards, Norman.