The Sinhalese Kastane: Its Development, Decoration and Symbolism

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

Fernando, We know that the Sinhala texts use the term Kasthana as early as mid 1500's; yet as you say no reference to Kasthana in Portuguese texts. may be this is evidence that indicate that the origin of the name Kasthana did not have a Portuguese root and Portuguese used a different term to describe it.
The use of Calachurro hilts as an example of the excellence of casting skill would not only indicate that the Calachurro hilts were metal but was in some way a challenging task to cast. - Like a Kasthana hilt ??? ...

It is easy to support that the term Kasthana is not Portuguese; they were long gone by then. Besides, the word has no Portuguese characteristics, with its "K" letter and "th" spell. On the other hand we must remember that Calachurro is quoted by chroniclers as a name given by the locals, Lascarins for the case. We admit the usual corruption of the term to make it soundable in portuguese, which indeed so happens, but the term root is Sinhalese, whatever its local spell was. We may go into the fantasy of the name Calachurro being later changed to Kasthana due to its elevation from a field weapond to symbolic status, also influenced by dialect differences.
But then, i am potentialy talking nonsense.

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

... Hope one day would get to see the excellent material available to you- which sadly is rare down here. ...

Well, you can have in any case the paper i have quoted, written in portuguese; who knows some day you manage to submit it to translation. In the meantime you may enjoy period drawings of Adam's peak, the Buddha footprint and multiple plants of Pagodas and fortifications; even the area where the Vedas lived.
As the PDF was too heavy and beyond forum allowance, i took the libverty to send it to your email address. I hope it gets there.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Interesting bit of bed head carving showing zoomorphic characters ... and below that the King inspecting Mudalyers/leaders late in the English period.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by fernando

... We may go into the fantasy of the name Calachurro being later changed to Kasthana ... But then, i am potentialy talking nonsense...

Obviously i am talking nonsense. You just reminded us a couple posts ago that the term Kasthana appears in texts since the mid 1550's.
But considering the coexistance of both swords, each one with its purpose ...
Have a (new) look at the sword used at Gannoruwa Battle by King Rajasinghe II, back in 1638. Practicaly no decorations, no 'false quillons', a reasonably wide and sharp edged blade ...
Its total length is 62.02 cm.
João Ribeiro mentions that the calachurro was two and half palms long (55 cms.); he might wish to exclude that it wasn't six whole palms (66 cms.).
May we admit that by 1638 the Kasthana was already and only a rank adornment.
King Rajasinghe would then need a more operational sword to go to war.
Could this be a Calachurro ?

.

[derek]

Here are a few pics of the two I have owned. The more complete hilt example is still in my possession

[Kurt]

Here are two from my collection.
Kurt

[derek]

Very nice!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I was studying the sunburst design in Sri Lankan work ... I refer to the sworls or sunburst activity in the lionesque maine or serpents gills (depending how you view it) at the throat of zoomorphic beast forming the hilt...See below.