Ancient Indian Empires and Weapons

[Shaitan]

"The central panel carries an interesting image of a standing turban headed human figure holding bow and arrow to its left while the motif of dragger fixed on his waist towards its left," said Zahid.

Archaeologists have discovered a rare statue dating back to the Karkota era (600 AD- 800 AD) from a play field in Kunan village of Bandipora district in North Kashmir.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-statue-dating-back-to-1400-years-found-in-kashmir-2219731

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Rewa Warrior, dressed in armour and holding a sword and shield. A soldier from Rewa, Rewah or Riwa, in Central India. (Australian artist Mortimer Menpes 1855 - 1938),

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Clues ?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

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Snaps are taken from ====>


Published on Dec 29, 2015
Watch all the episodes of 'Blazing Bajirao', the graphic web series in one go. Binge on the valour of the Peshwa who remained undefeated on the battlefield and find out more about the man and the legend. Blazing Bajirao - the complete series.

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Except the mastani part and few, Rest are historical accurate if not precious ..

 

[ezsasa]

This is my family's history on my mother's side. written by one of my relatives..
one thing you will realise when you read this is that, history is not as simple as explained in the movies..
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HISTORY OF THE KAMADANAS--THE CHARMAHAL ZEMINDARI

This is the story of my ancestors and the chronicles end with my paternal Grandfather KVRS Prakasa Rao.

There is one small village called Guraja in Andhra Pradesh. That village has a big story behind it. It is located in Krishna District.

The Kamadanas and Guraja are a part of the history of the Velama Doras who ruled the Telugu area at one time.

Guraja was earlier known as Char Mahal. Char Mahal means that which consists of 4 mahals.

Char Mahal estate consists of 4 paraganas- Kalidindi, Vinnakota, Gudivada and Chittarjalli.

Char Mahal was originally a part of the Nuzvid principality which consisted of 18 paraganas including Char Mahal. The rulers of Nuzvid are known as Apparaos.

The Nuzvid Apparaos and the Kamadanas of Guraja have a common ancestry and they have separated from the same family.

There is a lot of history prior to this separation. They are Padmanayakas of the Vipparla family. The Vipparla Padmanayakas as the commanders of the Cholas during the time of Karikala Chola have arrived to occupy the territories of the Vengi Chalukyas.

As the commanders of the Cholas they have conquered the Divi area which was impregnable and was known as Jaladurga for which they have been awarded the title of “Divi Choorakara”. Divi is an island on river Krishna.

At that time Divi was the main fort of Vengi Chalukyas. Vengi Chalukyas are those Chalukyas who made their capital as Pedavegi and ruled over a large kingdom. “Vengi Chalukya Hanyala Voruganda” is the main title earned by the ancestors of the Vipparla family.

After the Vengi kingdom declined, the Kakatiya kingdom was established. Then the Vipparla Padmanayakas have become the rulers of the Krishna Godavari Do-ab and became the important tributaries and commanders of the Kakatiyas.

The sea in the east, river Krishna on the south, Gallu on the west and Godavari on the north are the boundaries of their kingdom. This means that the present districts of Nalgonda, Khammam, Krishna and West Godavari was under the rule of the Vipparla Padmanayakas. The important titles of the Vipparala Padmanayakas at that time were “Tera samanta” and “Bara Mandalika”.

The main families of the Vipparlas-Jupallis the rulers of Nalgonda, Aswaraos the rulers of Palvancha, Bhadrachalam and Khammam, Apparaos of Nuzvid and the Kamadanas of Charmahal slowly separated. The Kamadanas and the Apparaos are more closely related.

After the decline of the Kakatiya kingdom the Recherla Padmanayakas made Rachakonda as the main capital and Devarakonda as the sub capital ruled a major part of the Telugu area for a period of 125 years with the title “Andhra Desadheeswara”. They also encountered a lot of trouble from the Reddy kings of Kondaveedu at that time.

After that the Recherlas became the tributaries of the Kalinga Gajapatis. Later Srikrishnadevaraya campaigned till Simhachalam and merged all the other kingdoms into the Vijayanagara kingdom. The Vipparla Padmanayakas have then become the tributaries of the Vijayanagara kings.

Then came the suzerainty of the Moghuls. The Andhra area was then ruled by the nawabs of Golconda. Even during their reign the Vipparla Padmanayakas retained their importance. During that time the Nuzvid Apparaos constructed Nuzvid in “Nujelu”. Meka Appanna was victorious and won the title of “Vijaya” and the title of “Rao” and became prominent. He became famous as Vijaya Apparao and changed the royal seat to Nuzvid from Gollapalli.

The Kamadanas were at that time in Kanukollu fort of the Kalidindi area. The Kanukollu fort is historically famous. This is a fort from the time of Vengi Chalukyas. From there the Kamadanas changed their capital to Gudivada.

Vipparla Basava Dandanatha was the Commander of the guards looking after the personal security of Rudramadevi. It appears that after Konappa a descendant of Basavadandanatha, the Vipparla families’ separated

That was the previous history. We now have the more recent history of the Kamadanas which was got compiled by Lord Mackenzie and narrated by him as follows.

It has been told in the narrative of the Nuzvidu family how the estates were preserved to that family by the exertions of a family named Kamadana, who obtained as a reward for their services the estates of Charmahal, comprising, as the name denotes, four parganas, Vinnakota, Gudivada, Kalidindi and Bhattarzalle, a compact block of about four hundred miles of fertile land on the Kolleru lake, including 260 villages.

The origin of the family can be traced to Kamadana Guruvayya, who had two sons, nine grandsons and eight great grandsons. It was two of these grandsons who exerted their influence at the Court of Hyderabad in 1738 and following years. It was two others who obtained in their own names a sanad for the Nuzvidu estates, which sanad was afterwards cancelled.

Four names of these grandsons and great grandsons appear in the sanad for the Charmahal estates granted by Venkatadri Appa Rao in 1757 and two names appear in the grants given by the French on 4th February 1759 and by Salabat Jang on May 28th 1759, while two others of the descendants of the original Guruvayya met General Caillaud at Ellore in 1765 and received grants from the English Government on 25th April 1771, other two again receiving grants from the English on 3rd May 1774 and on 25th May 1777. All these men were grandsons or great-grandsons of the original ancestor Guruvayya, and they evidently lived together, Hindu fashion, as a united family.

In 1770 Mr. Wynch, Chief at Masulipatam, began to correspond with the Charmahal Zemindars and in 1771 made a settlement of the rental for three years, Kaldindi Tirupati Razu, Zemindar of Mogultore, becoming security for the three years' peshcush. In 1774 Mr. Whitehill, Chief at Masulipatam, made another settlement of the estates and found that they were indebted to Tirupati Razu in the large sum of 84,000 Pagodas, the deficit in the Company's peshcush which had been made good by Tirupati Razu during the past three years. To enable the Mogultore Zemindar to recoup himself for this heavy loss, which was crippling his credit, the Charmahal estates were handed over to him for six years more.

In the meantime the two representative members of the Charmahal family, with whom Mr. Wynch had treated in 1771, both died. Kamadana Ankappa, great grandson of the common ancestor Guruvayya, died in July 1773 and was succeeded by his younger brother Chinna Papayya.

Kamadama Pedda Papayya, the youngest and last surviving grandson of the original Guruvayya, died in October 1774, leaving an infant son called Narasimha Rao.

When Narasimha Appa Rao of Nuzvidu went to Madras in Sir, Thomas Rumboldt's time he set forth a claim that the grant of Charmahal to the Kamadana family was an act of the Nuzvidu Zemindar and not of the ruling power, in other words that Charmahal was a fief subordinate to the Nuzvidu Raja and not a Zemindari held directly from the State.

InMay 1780 when the six years' lease of Tirupati Razu expired, Appa Rao formally applied to be put in charge of the Charmahal estates. The Chief in Council at Masulipatam rejected the application of Appa Rao and, with the concurrence of the then Government of Madras, gave a ten years' lease of the Charmahal estates to his Head Dubashi, Condregula Venkatrayalu, but at the same time ordered that out of the revenues of Charmahal eight thousand pagodas per annum should be paid to the creditors of Appa Rao of Nuzvidu.

When it is remembered that Mr. Hodges, now Chief at Masulipatam, was himself the principal creditor of Appa Rao it must be admitted that the whole affair is more than suspicious. At the same time the guardianship of the minor Kamadana Narasimha Rao was entrusted to Narasimha Appa Rao of Nuzvidu.

The history of next year 1781 is obscure. Some members of the Kamadana family, discontented with their deprivation of the management of the estates, and Narasimha Rao created confusion in Charmahal. The youthful Narasimha Rao escaped from his guardian Appa Rao of Nuzvidu, who thereupon arrested Kamadana Subbayya and confined him in the fort at Nuzvidu. The Council at Masulipatam demanded the release of this Subbayya without avail, but he escaped from Nuzvidu to Masulipatam and there received a pension from Government until his death.

The Charmahal estates were now ravaged by Sirdar Bandaru Venkayya, one of Appa Rao's men, and the renter, Condregula Venkatrayalu, had to be supported by a military force from Masulipatam.

In 1783 Condregula Vinkatrayalu died and the lease was continued to his nephew Jaggappah, who succeeded him as Dubashi, but in 1787 this man was removed from office and the Charmahal estates were taken under the direct management of the Chief and Conucil at Masulipatam. By order of the Madras Government they were added in January 1788 to the Haveli lands under charge of Mr. Oram.

In 1783, when Narayya Appa Rao proclaimed independence the East India Company negotiated with the Kamadanas of Charmahal threatening them to alienate the Charmahal samstanam from them in case they refuse to help and also promising them the Nuzvid Jamindari after British victory. They then pressurized the Kamadanas into sending 500 soldiers for their help in fighting against Naryayya Appa Rao. At the time of battle Sardar Chelikani Ramarayanam a relation of the Kamadans who headed the troops sent by them refused to help the British. This is proved by the message sent by Captain Montgomery of the East India Company from Nuzvid to the Chief in Council

In 1791 the Court of Directors decided that the Charmahal estates should be restored to the Kamadana family and rejected the claim of the Nuzvidu Zemindar. The Madras Government, thereupon, recognised Chinna Papayya and Narasimha Rao as Zemindars of Charmahal and allowed for their support 10,000 Pagodas per annum, but did not restore to them the estates.

This was unpalatable to Kamadana Venkata Rao, son of the Subbayya who had been imprisoned in 1781 in Nuzvidu and afterwards drew a pension in Masulipatam. This Venkata Rao was a turbulent fellow, who had assisted Ramachandra Rao of Nuzvidu in his revolts, and he now began to raise disturbances in Charmahal which were put down only with some loss of life.

In this year, 1791, the Zemindar Kamadana Chinna Papayya died leaving two sons, the eldest being called Sobhanadri. In 1792 Government restored the estates to this Sobhanadri and his cousin Narasimha Rao who thus became joint Zemindars of Charmahal. In 1793 Narasimba Rao died without issue and the Masulipatam Council reiterated their views and Government at last consented. The Board suggested that if his turbulent cousin, Venkata Rao, were recognised as his successor it would be conducive to peace, but the Government declined to purchase the submission of Venkata Rao by any such arrangement and recognised Sobhanadri as the sole Zemindar.

They also decided that Venkata Rao should reside in Masulipatam and receive five hundred Pagodas per mensem from the revenues of the estates to keep him quiet. Raja Sobhanadri Rao, who was now sole Zemindar and in charge of the estates, had to pay to Government the whole balance due when the estates were handed over in 1792, and as he had no money in hand this obligation involved him in pecuniary difficulties.

With the concurrence of Mr. Gardiner, Chief in Council, he took in 1794 a loan of 42,000 Pagodas from Qutb Mulk, eldest son of Hasan Ali Khan. The transaction was the subject of much correspondence in after years but finally Qutb Mulk was repaid his money with ten percent interest.

In 1798 Mr. Oakes, the Collector, put pressure upon Raja Sobhanadri to place his finances in a more satisfactory state, and the Zemindar furnished as his surety and took as his Divan, one Talluri Jogayya, an opulent Brahman of Kautaram vilage. The rule of this Divan appears to have been exceptionally harsh even for that period. Some of the doggerel verses of prayer to the village goddesses to interpose and rid the people of Taluri Jogayya are sung to this day in Gudivada Taluq. Many cultivators abandoned their fields, the arrears due to Government increased, and in 1801 Mr. Collector Reade placed both the Zemindar and his Dubash in confinement and assumed the charge of the Zemindari.

This was the opportunity of Kamadana Venkata Rao, who for six or seven years had been drawing his allowance in Masulipatam. He appeared at the head of a band of followers raiding in the Charmahal estates and for the next two years the records are full of the efforts made by military detachments to drive him back into the Nizam's territories and the efforts made by the Collector to extract some portion of the arrears from the Zemindar and his Divan.

In 1808 the rental was permanently fixed by the Special Commission, all arrears were remitted and Raja Sobhanadri was again placed in charge of his estates. He was still very unfortunate. The two renters to whom he entrusted his estates, Diduvani Timmayya and Bommadevara Naganna, both failed and involved him in protracted litigation, at the colse of which, in 1812, the irrepressible Venkata Rao again appeared plundering from the Nizam's territory. A military force drove him back into the Nizam's country where he was arrested and handed over to Lieutenant Vaughan. He was tried and sentenced to transportation for life, but died at Masulipatam.

Raja Sobhanadri now found himself without any rival claimant in the representation of the Kamadana family, but this relief came too late. His debts were overwhelming and there were two decrees passed against him by the provincial Court amounting to 47,000 Pagodas, while the arrears due to Government amounted to 20,000 Pagodas. Accordingly in 1813 the mutahs of Kaldindi and Bhatrazalle were put up to sale. The Zemindar of Mailavaram purchased Bhattarzalle for 7,125 Pagodas and the Bezvada Zemindar purchased Kaldindi for 3,525 Pagodas. Thus dismembered the Charmahal estates were reduced to two parganas, Gudivada and Vinnakota, which were taken under the management ot the Collector, who for seven years succeeded in paying off a portion of the Zemindar's liabilities in each year.

Raja Sobhanadri, himself, passed his time in lawsuits until his death on September 16th, 1820, leaving ten sons and six daughters. A dispute at once arose about the successinon and lasted till 1832 when the family agreed to recognise the eldest son, Papayya, as Zemindar and Government made over to him the two parganas, remitting all arrears. The terrible famine of 1833 threw Raja Papayya into embarrassments and in 1836 the estates were attached by the Government.

There was no prospect of the Zemindar freeing himself from his liabilities and his second brother filed a suit for the partition of the estate. Under these circumstances the Zemindari was brought to sale for arrears of revenue in 1843 and was purchased by Government for Rupees 3,00,000. Thus the Charmahal Zemindari came to an end 85 years after the Kamadana family had obtained it. An allowance of Rs. 500 per mensem had been made to Raja papayya and his brother since the Zemindari was attached in 1836. They now petitioned for the restoration of their estates, but the Court of Directors in their dispatch of 29th November 1848 declined to sanction the restoration of the Zemindari, observing that the extent of Raja Papayy's embarrassments and the reduced resources of the property precluded the hope that it would prove beneficial to him while it would certainly be injurious to the ryots.

An allowance of Rs. 1,000 per mensem was, however, sanctioned with retrospect from 20th November 1843. In 1850 this allowance was ordered to be paid direct to the Ex Zemindar and not in shares to his relations.

Raja Papayya Rao died on the 17th January 1876, leaving two sons and five daughters. The Board in Proceedings No. 1982, dated 5th August 1876, recommended that the allowance of Rs. 1,000 per mensem to the family be continued as follows : Rs. 600 to Raja Venkatarama Gopala Jagannadha Rao, eldest son of the deceased Raja Papayya, and Rs. 100 each to his four cousins, the eldest sons of his uncles. In other words Rs. 600 to the family left by Raja Papayya and Rs. 100 each to families left by four of his brothers.

VEGAVARAM-BORAMPALEM ESTATE.

The Kamadanas of Char Mahal were known as the Jamindars of Guraja but the Jamindari lapsed and only the titles of Raja Bahadur remained.

After the Char Mahal estate was confiscated by the British in 1836, Kamadana Paparayanam repaid debts with the compensation of Rs 3 lacs given by the British and with the remaining amount he purchased the Borampalem-Vegavaram estate in West Godavari district and retained his Jamindari status.

The sons of Paparayanam are Venkataramagopala Jagannadha Rao and Venkatanarasimha Ramachandra Rao.

The elder son died issueless. The second son had 3 sons. The eldest was Venkata Varadaraja Sobhanadri Rao. He is known as Guraja Peda Doragaru. He is famous for Sanskrit Andhra literature, Samu Garidilu (fighting with a stick), hunting, riding, assessing the value of gemstones and the quality of horses. He is also well known for his culture and manners as per the elders.

Varadaraja Sobhanadri Rao had 5 sons and 4 daughters. The eldest of them was Suryaprakasa Rao. Suryaprakasa Rao had 3 sons. Ramakrishna Rao, Venkata Krishna Rao and Gopala Krishna Rao.

NAMES OF THE RAJAS OF CHAR MAHAL ESTATE.

1. Guravayya.
2. Subbayya.
3. Ankappa.
4. Rayanna 1710-1740
5. Ayyanna 1740-1759
6. Surayya 1759-1768
7. China Papayya 1768-1791
8. Sobhanadri Rao 1791-1820
9. Papayya Rao 1820-1876
10. Venkata Ramagopala Jagannadha Sobhanadri Rao 1876-1884

1. Venkata Narasimha Ramachandra Rao 1884-1911
2. Venkata Varadaraja Sobhanadri Rao 1911-1965
3. Venkatarama Surya Prakasa Rao 1965-1992

TITLES OF THE KAMADANAS.

1.Jabdatul Yekaranu( Given by the Nizam Nawab)
2.Raja Bahadur( Given by the British)

The Kamadanas are not to be found anywhere else except in Guraja. Their allied branch has settled down at Vinagadapa.

http://ramadanakrishnayya.blogspot.in/2011/01/history-of-kamadanas-charmahal-zemindari.html

 

[Kunal Biswas]

आपल्या पेजवरील सभासद मित्र विवेक शंकरराव काळे यांनी सादर छायाचित्रात पेजला टॅग करून खुलासा मागितला आहे.

कुळदैवत श्री बिऱ्हाड सिद्धेश्वर मंदीर , कवठे एकंद, तासगाव येथील ही तलवार आहे. मंदिराच्या पुजारीच्या मते ही लढाईत वापरलेली तलवार असून, ती भाऊसाहेब पटवर्धन यांची आहे, असे त्या पोस्ट मध्ये नमूद केले आहे.

तरी सदर तलवारीचे स्वतंत्र छायाचित्र असते तर बरे झाले असते. पण, प्रस्तुत छायाचित्र पाहता, सदर तलवार ही पारंपरिक प्राचीन हिंदू खङग अर्थात खंडा असून, मूठ ही मराठा पूर्वकालीन आहे.

ती श्री भाऊसाहेब पटवर्धन यांनी देवालयास देणगी नजर केली असावी, असा आमचा कयास आहे. पण, सदर तलवारीचे छायाचित्र पाहता ती अवजड असून, युद्धात वापरली जाण्याची शक्यता नाही. सदर खड्ग/ खंडा हा मिरवणुकीत, उत्सवात देवाच्या मानासाठी वापरला जात असावा, असे आमचे मत आहे.

अशाच प्रकारचा खंडा पेशव्यांचे तोफखाना प्रमुख सरदार पानसे यांनी जेजुरीच्या खंडेरायाच्या चरणी वाहिला आहे.

अधिक चांगले छायाचित्र प्राप्त झाल्यास यावर नेमके भाष्य करता येईल.

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I cannot translate Marathi, These sword is probably a Cavalry sword used in Maratha empire ..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

19th century broad blade Khanda in possession with an European collector

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सोसूनपट्टा, जोर्जे कारावना संग्रह

Sosunpatta, Jorge Caravana collection, www.caravanacollection.com

 

[Kunal Biswas]

आपल्या पेजवरील सभासद मित्र श्री हर्षद बेलसरे यांनी सदर छायाचित्र पाठवून, जमदाढ या शस्त्राविषयी माहिती विचारली होती.

तरी, ती माहिती इथे देत आहोत:

जमदाढ हे एक तलवार प्रकारातील शस्त्र असून धारदार पाते असलेले व काही पाते हे करवटी सारखे 'दात' यासलेलेही आढळते. शत्रूचा शिरच्छेद करण्यासाठी हे नामी हत्यार आहे.

जमदाढ नावामागचे कारण: 'जम' आणि 'दाढ' अशा दोन शब्दांच्या संगमातून हे तयार झाले आहे. जम हा शब्द मृत्यूची देवता 'यम' याचा अपभ्रंश आहे. जमदाढ म्हणजे ज्याप्रमाणे मृत्यूच्या कचाट्यातून कुणी वाचू शकत नाही, त्याचप्रमाणे या शास्त्राच्या आघातापासून कुणी वाचू शकत नाही, सबब जमदाढ हे नाव व त्या प्रमाणे कार्य.

ऐतिहासिक वापर: याचा उपयोग अनेक सरदार मानकरी करीत असत. पानिपत मोहिमेच्या वेळी कुंजपुऱ्याच्या पाडवात याचा उपयोग जनकोजी शिंदे याने नजीब खानचा अध्यात्मिक गुरू आणि राजकीय सल्लागार कुतुबशहाला मारण्यासाठी करून त्याचा शिरच्छेद केल्याचा उल्लेख सापडतो. दत्ताजी शिंदे यांच्या शिरच्छेद करण्याचा हुकूम देणाऱ्या कुतुबशहाचा शिरच्छेद करून दत्ताजींच्या मृत्यूचा बदला जनकोजींनी घेतला.

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Variation in swords and their names ..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

लोकमान्य टिळक , चापेकर बंधू , शाहू महाराज , दुसऱ्या बाजीराव पेशव्यांची मुले नानासाहेब आणि रावसाहेब , सयाजीराव गायकवाड , इंदोरचे शिवाजीराव होळकर , योगी अरविंद , गदर संघटनेचे थोर क्रांतिकारक आणि भारताचे ' जॉर्ज वॉशिंग्टन कार्व्हर , ' डॉ पांडुरंग खानखोजे , सावरकर बंधू ही नावे ऐकली तरी आहेत तुम्ही ! पण ह्या सगळ्यांना क्रांतिकार्यात एकत्र जोडणारा दुवा तुम्हाला माहीत आहे ? नाही ! अजिबात नाही !! कारण आपल्यावर उपकार करणाऱ्यांना विसरायची सवय आपल्याला काळ्या आणि गोऱ्या ब्रिटिशांनी लावली आहे ना !

कधी साताऱ्याला गेलात तर न्यू इंग्लिश शाळेला भेट दिलीत किंवा सातारच्या जुन्या , जाणत्या माणसांना विचारलेत तर तुम्हाला थोडे कळले तर कळेल . कारण फार थोड्या माणसांनाच त्यांची माहिती आहे .

पूर्णपणे विस्मरणात गेलेल्या ह्या माणसाचे नाव आहे ' दामोदर भिडे ' ! क्रांतिकारकांच्या वर्तुळात जरी ' भटजी ' ह्या टोपणनावाने ते ओळखले जात असले तरी त्याकाळची सामान्य जनता त्यांना ' दामूकाका भिडे ' ह्या नावानेच ओळखते . सातार जवळच्या , रामशास्त्री प्रभुणे ह्यांच्या माहुली गावच्या जवळच्या महागाव ह्या गावचे हे भिडे तसे मूळचे रत्नागिरी जिल्ह्यातल्या निवेंडी ह्या गावचे !

शस्त्रास्त्रे चालवणे , व्यायाम , दांडपट्टा , कुस्ती , योग ह्या सर्व शास्त्रांचे तज्ज्ञ असणाऱ्या भिडे गुरुजींनी त्या ज्ञानाचा उपयोग भारतमातेच्या स्वातंत्र्यचळवळीतल्या क्रांतिकारी मार्गासाठी केला आणि समर्थ रामदासांचा उपदेश प्रत्यक्षात आणला .

लोकमान्य टिळक ह्यांनी स्वातंत्र्य मिळवण्यासाठी बऱ्याच भारतीय संस्थानांची मदत घेतली होती . सयाजीराव गायकवाड , इंदोरचे होळकर , शाहू महाराज ह्यांच्याशी त्यांनी संपर्क साधला होता आणि मदत मिळवली होती . हा संपर्क त्यांनी दामूकाकांच्या मार्फतच केला होता . लोकमान्यांचा पहिला राजकीय खटला जो लोकमान्यांनी शाहू महाराजांच्या वडिलांची बाजू इंग्रजांविरुद्ध घेतली त्यामुळे झाला त्या खटल्यात लोकमान्यांना मदत भिडे घराण्यानेच केली . चापेकर बंधूंनी रँड आणि आयर्स्ट ह्याचा वध केला त्यात दामूकाकांना पण ब्रिटिशांनी पकडले होते , पण पुरेसे पुरावे न मिळाल्याने दामूकाकांना सोडून द्यावे लागले .

शाहू महाराजांच्या कारकिर्दीत कोल्हापूर येथे भारताच्या स्वातंत्र्यासाठी क्रांतिकारकांचा एक गुप्त समूह हणमंत राव मुर्कीभावीकर ह्यांनी सुरु केला होता . शाहू महाराज ह्या समूहाला अर्थ आणि शस्त्रास्त्र पुरवठा करत असत . लोकमान्य टिळक सुद्धा ह्या समूहाचे एक मार्गदर्शक होते . ह्या समूहात शारीरिक आणि लढाऊ विद्यांचे मार्गदर्शक होते दामूकाका भिडे !

१९१५ साली एके दिवशी लोकमान्यांनी शिक्षणाच्या नावाखाली परदेशात पाठवलेले क्रांतिकारक भारतावर सशस्त्र हल्ला करून लोकमान्य टिळकांना भारताचे पंतप्रधान आणि सयाजीराव गायकवाड ह्यांना भारताचे राष्ट्रपती म्हणून घोषित करणार होते . पण एका पंजाबी माणसाच्या ' कर्तार सिंग ' ह्या माणसाच्या फितुरीमुळे आणि एका जेष्ठ भारतीय नेत्याच्या ( ? ) फितुरीमुळे तो डाव फसला . त्या लढ्यात महत्वाचे क्रांतिकारक होते भारतीय कार्व्हर , शेतीतज्ज्ञ डॉ पांडुरंग खानखोजे ! तर ह्या खानखोज्यांना क्रांतिकारी चळवळीत वयाच्या दहाव्या बाराव्या वर्षी आणले ते दामूकाकांनीच ! दामूकाका लोकमान्य टिळकांच्या सल्ल्यानुसार गावोगाव दौरे करत आणि स्वातंत्र्य चळवळीत आणि क्रांतिकारी चळवळीत लोकांना आणायचा प्रयत्न करत .

चापेकर बंधूंनी रँड चा वध केल्यानंतर त्यांचे काही सहकारी लोकमान्य टिळकांच्या सल्ल्यानुसार नाशिक मार्गे भूमिगत झाले होते . तेव्हा भगूरला ते सावरकरांच्या घरी उतरले होते . तो सोयही दामूकाका भिडे ह्यांनीच करून दिली होती .

इतके मोठे आणि स्फोटक काम करूनही कधीही इंग्रज दामूकाकांना शिक्षा करू शकले नाहीत .

एवढ्या तपस्वी दामूकाकांची आज पुण्यतिथी ! ७ डिसेंबर १९४८ ला दामूकाकांचे निधन झाले .

त्यांना शतशः वंदन !

आपल्याला दररोज मोठ्या मोठ्या माणसांची ओळख करून देणाऱ्या , देशभक्तीचे मूर्तिमंत प्रतीक असणाऱ्या माधव विद्वान्स काकांचे दामूकाका आजेसासरे ! तसेच जेष्ठ लेखिका प्रतिभा रानडे ह्यांचे ते आजोबा ! खरंच एवढा मोठा वारसा सांगणाऱ्या आणि दामूकाकांसारखेच देशप्रेम करणाऱ्या ह्या मोठ्या माणसांशी मी संबंधित आहे ह्याचा मला अभिमान आहे आणि मला खात्री आहे की तुम्हालाही तो वाटत असणार !

मला पूर्ण कल्पना आहे की दामूकाकांचे चरित्र एका लेखात समजून घेता येणारच नाही . त्यासाठी आपण आजपासून दामूकाकांच्या पुण्यतिथीच्या निमित्ताने एक लेखमालिका सुरु करणार आहोत . माझे वाचनालय ह्या पेजवर तुम्हाला ती नक्कीच वाचायला मिळेल .
================

Cannot translate ..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Sword of Maharaja Ranjitsingh of Punjab. This is first of the four known swords used by him. It was auctioned by London based Mullocks and bid was won by Dhillon, a Canada based real estate mogul for a six figure sum.

==============

From the Jorge Caravana Collection see it at www.caravanacollection.com

===============

Gunpowder keg, 18th century Maratha Empire

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Kataar/ कट्यार

Colecção de Armas de Jorge CaravanaCol

www.caravanacollection.com

===========

अतिदुर्मीळ

Rare among the rarest

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Patta/पट्टा

Colecção de Armas de Jorge Caravana

www.caravanacollection.com

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माडू

श्री संदीप करले यांचा संग्रह

=================

गुर्ज

श्री संदीप करले यांचा संग्रह

 

[Kunal Biswas]

विजयादशमी निमित्त छत्रपती उदयनराजे भोसले यांनी सहकुटुंब जलमंदिर महाल, सातारा येथे केलेले शस्त्रपूजन...

Photo- Dadaso Udugade Patil

===========

विजयादशमीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा

==========

आजची भवानी तलवार अलंकार महापूजा
छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज यांनी भवानीने प्रसन्न होऊन धर्मरक्षणासाठी भवानी तलवार देवून आशीर्वाद दिले.यामुळे भवानी तलवार अलंकार महापूजा बांधण्यात येते.

Today's Bhavani Talwar Avatar Mahapooja
Shri Tuljabhavani Gave Bhavani sword to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to establish Hindavi swarajya.On memory of this incidence, This Avatar Pooja is performed.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Shri Girish Jadhav collection

Mughal katyar

Shri Girish Jadhav collection

Pc- Pilankar

==============

लंडन येथील विक्टोरिया आणि अल्बर्ट संग्रहालयात असलेली "जगदंबा" तलवारीची परज, मूठ आणि गादी.

==================

अठराव्या शतकातील हैदराबादी कटार

 

[Kunal Biswas]

सर्वांना गणेश चतुर्थीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा

Mid 18th century Indo Persian Battle Axe Tabar, used by northern Marathas and Sikhs housed at Leeds Royal Armouries.

This piece is all steel with steel rod and hammer at the back of the axe.

As per Hindu beliefs, Lord Ganesha was the proponent of Parshu aka Battle Axe.

==========

19th Century Talwar with wootz steel blade. Note the blade widening at the tip.

The hilt is disc hilt with knucklebow style having koftagari work.

The blade has three blood ridges at the inner curve to maximise blood flow of the opponent ensuring death.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

भैसाकटी तलवार

बळी देण्यासाठी देवीच्या चरणी अर्पण केली जाणारी तलवार. म्हशीचे पाड्यास म्हणजे पाडा बळी देण्यासाठी वापरली जाणारी तलवार म्हणून हीला भैसाकटी तलवार म्हणतात

खंडयाचा एक प्रकार असून एका झटक्यात पाडयाचे मुंडके धडा वेगळे करण्याचे सामर्थ्य या तलवारीत आहे.

पात पोलादाची असून , मुठीवर कोफ्तागीरी नक्षीकाम केलेले आहे. उदयपुरच्या एका राजपूत ठिकाणेदाराच्या मालकीची असून सुमारे 200 वर्षे जुनी आहे

===========

रायगड जिल्ह्यातील उमरठ येथील नरवीर तानाजी मालुसरेआणि शेलारमामा यांच्या समाधी स्थळाजवळ सापडलेले धोप तलवार आणि पट्टा. सध्या ही शस्त्रे समाधी जवळील एका घरात ठेवण्यात आलीआहेत.

ही शस्त्रे समाधी स्थळा जवळ सापडली असली तरी ती कोणाची आहेत याचा निष्कर्ष निघू शकलेला नाही.

ह्या शश्त्रांची घडण पाहता ती सतराव्या शतकातील आहेत एवढे नक्की.

उमरठ पोलादपूर जवळ आहे.

===========

जागतिक मैत्रीदिनाच्या शुभेच्छा

Pc: D Pilankar

================

 

[Kunal Biswas]

मराठा कटारः

शस्त्रांचे जतन कसे करावे अशी विचारणा पेजच्या काही मित्रांनी केली आहे. वेळेअभावी माहिती टंकलिखीत करता येत नाही आहे. तरी, लवकरात लवकर माहिती टाकण्याचा प्रयत्न करू. आपला विश्वास आणि लोभ असाच असो द्यावा. मराठी माणसाला आपला सांस्कृतिक वारसा जपण्याची तळमळ पाहून आम्हाला हूरूप ही येतो. यातून भावी पिढ्या घडतील असा विश्वास आहे.

=============

सरखेल कान्होजी आंग्रे यांची तलवार

सरखेल कान्होजी आंग्रे यांची आज पुण्यतिथि

सरखेल कान्होजी आंग्रेंच्या पवित्र स्मृतीस विनम्र अभिवादन...

===========

सरदार हरजीराजे बरगे यांची तलवार. सध्या या तलवारी व इतर शस्ञ बरगे वंशजांकडे कोरेगावी आहे.

PC: Vishal Barge

 

[Kunal Biswas]

शस्त्र: पट्टा/ दांडपट्टा:

प्रकार: खुले मैदानी शस्त्र

धातू: लोखंड/ पोलाद

वापर: खुल्या मैदानी लढाईत हातघाईत अगदी प्रभावी शास्त्र. याची
रचना अगदी उपयुक्त आणि प्रभावी आहे. हातमोजांसारखा खोबळा
याला मुठी साठी असून त्यात पकडी साठी आडवी कडी असते.
साधारणपणे ३६ ते ४८ इंचांची पोलादाची पात असते. लोखंडा पेक्षा
पोलाद अधिक लवचिक असल्याने शक्यतो पोलादाचा वापर केला
जायचा. पाते सहसा दुधारी असते त्यामुळे शत्रूला अधिक विध्वंसकपणे
जायबंदी करता येत असे. तलवारी पेक्षा पट्ट्याची पकड अधिक मजबूत व
चपखलपणे बसत असल्याने हात अधिक जोरात व वेगवानपणे फिरवता येत
असे. त्यामुळे एक पट्टेबहाद्दर अनेक सैनिकांचा एकाच वेळी समाचार
घेण्यास समर्थ असे.
याचा प्रसिद्ध उपयोग प्रतापगड रणसंग्रामावेळी मराठे सैनिकांनी व
सर्वात महत्वाचे म्हणजे जीवा महाले याने बडा सय्यद या
अफझलखानाच्या बालाढ्य अंगरक्षकाला ठार मारून शिवरायांचे प्राण
वाचवताना केला.

Weapon: Patta/ DandPatta

Type: Open warfare weapon

Material: Iron/ Steel

Use: The weapon was extremely useful in open field warfare,
particularly in hand to hand combat. It has a grip akin to a
glove with a straight blade admeasuring 36 to 48 inches,
preferably made of steel; the steel being more flexible than
the iron. The weapon was highly destructive due to double
edged blade. The advantage of Patta over talwaar or sword
was that the grip and control was much better allowing
faster movement and with much force. A soldier a Patta was
much more destructive and able to face several enemy
soldiers at one go.

One of the most famous use of the weapon occurred during
the battle of Pratapgad by Maratha soldiers; particularly by
Jiva Mahale who slayed Bada Sayyad the dreaded
bodyguard of Afzalkhan and saved Shivaji Maharaj's life.

=========================

Khanda!

Origin and current location unknown. It was submitted by a follower of the page.

But going by its make, it is a 18th century piece.

===========================

Firang

www.thecaravanacollection.com

 

[Kunal Biswas]

19th Century Madu

===========

Wagh Nakhs or Tiger's claws of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Victoria and Albert Museum as per museum records. As per their records, these are the very tiger claws with which he slayed Bijapuri general Afzal Khan, as can be seen on the cover accompanying it.

Today is 343rd anniversary of coronation or Rajyabhishek of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Pic courtesy: Kiran Khamkar

 

[Kunal Biswas]

The above illustrations are an Indian made Tabar axe from
the 17th century. This one uses a matchlock firing
mechanism as well. There is no real trigger, as the
matchlock is mounted on a long thin lever around a pivot
point, as can be seen in the first illustration. The fire is
applied by simply pulling the other end of the long thin
lever. This axe is an all-steel construction and originally had
gold inlay, most of which is worn off. Judging by the carvings
on the axe head, this was probably owned by a Hindu, since
at least four human figures are depicted.

- Chadwik Bowman

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चिलखत भेदी कुर्हाड

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Circa 1760 Madu embedded Maratha Shield. This version is known as Bhid Chir dhaal, used to break front line of enemy soldiers and formed the first line of attack in Maratha infantry.

भीड चीर ढालः शत्रूची पहली फळी मोडून बिनीचे सैन्य आत घुसविण्यासाठी हिचा वापर मराठा पायदळाची पहिली फळी करीत असे. माडू पध्दतीची ही ढाल १७६० सालातील आहे.

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Temple sword from South India, circa 17th century linked to Thanjavur

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Shri Girish Jadhav collection

Image courtesy: Shubham Katale

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Shri Girish Jadhav collection

Image courtesy: Shubham Katale

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Shri Girish Jadhav collection

Image courtesy: Shubham Katale