Sinhala / Sri Lankan Swords?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

The Hatan kavya text “Seethawaka Hatana” written by a warrior who was supposed to have fought in the Great Battle of Mulleriyawela include a narrative in which he refers to at least 5 chiefs who fought with Kasthana swords by name. These include Chiefs Kuruppu (of Korathota), Athulpana, Kahandawa, Weragoda and Wijeyakoon. The Mulleriyawela Battle occurred in 1559 and the text is dated circa 1585. I think this conclusively establishes the existence of Kasthana swords to mid 16th century and conforms my earlier note on the gift of a Kasthana sword to the Arachchi of the Illangama fighters Korathota (see picture above post #62). I need to re-locate my copy of “Rajasinghe Hatana” text which may provide additional reference to confirm the record

This also establishes the fact that Kasthana was originally used in war.

Salaams~ Mulleriyawela; It is an interesting battle (or battles). The website has pictures of Kastane in various places though I have no reference on the exact existence of the weapon. If you have the details it would certainly point to the weapon being home grown though the mid to late 1500s is still in zone for Portuguese co-operation is this swords production and design. Perhaps there is another clue to its origins.

Observing the style of fighting at Mulleriyawela which was derived from a traditional Sri Lankan martial art Angampora (Illangampora being the weapons style) They certainly have single edged short swords in their armoury amongst the many weapons traditionally used. By examining their ancient system it may be possible to see an earlier date on the Kastane. It would be very interesting to see in their records if and where the Kastane appears...See Notes below.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.


Notes; I have included a quote "Historical Evidences For Angam Kalawa;

MAHA WANSHAYA: This mentions about ANGAMPORA fighting which was used in the battle of king ELARA and KING DUTUGEMUNU.IT specially describes the fighting styles of GHOTAIMBARA AND THERAPUTHTHABAYA.

MAHA WANSHAYA: This mentions that king PARAKRAMABAHU enjoyed a martial art display done by his soldiers in 12th century.

CHULA WANSHAYA: This mentions that king 4 VIJAYABAHU enjoyed a fighting display of his army.

RAJAWALIYA: This mentions how KONAPPUBANDARA (1 WIMALADHARMASURIA) defeated a Portuguese swordsman by using ANGAMPORA.

MAGHA SALAKUNA KAWYA: This mentions about a fighting academy named as “AGE MADILLA” in Kandy in 15th century.

JUGAN HANDERSAN: This writer who served for Dutch in 1669 has mentioned about SRILANKAN fighters in his book on SRI LANKA.

DR.JOHN DEV: HE has mentioned about the “SUDALAIYA”CLAN and “MARUWALLIYA” CLAN who practiced ANGAMPORA.HE has specially mentioned about the deadly fights done in “URA LIDA” (Gladiator fighting arena)

H.C.P BELL: HE merely describes about a fighting clan which was started by a lady named “GALABODA KUMARIHAMI”.Then he reports about the battle of MULLERIYA".Unquote

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!
As I don't seem to recall any example or mention of a Kastane with a WAVY Blade in this thread, I thought I'd post these quick snaps I took when taking advantage of a 'Window Of Opportunity'.(If already given/mentioned, then my sincere apologies and enjoy anyway.)
Best,

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

Hi amuk.

There are many Kasthana swords that seem to carry non-standard blades including imported ones. But in this specimen I wonder if the blade got this way through some bad blade repair effort. As you say wavy blades are not usual for Kasthana.

[fernando]

... Or someone's bizarre idea to mount a yatagan blade on a Kasthana .

[fernando]

A Kastane with a grip in rhino horn and chiseled silver, with a pommel in the Pia Kaeta style.

(Collection Rainer Daehnhardt)

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[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hullo everybody!
As I don't seem to recall any example or mention of a Kastane with a WAVY Blade in this thread, I thought I'd post these quick snaps I took when taking advantage of a 'Window Of Opportunity'.(If already given/mentioned, then my sincere apologies and enjoy anyway.)
Best,

Salaams Amuk Murugul ~Interesting. It looks like a bent blade...so it probably is. It also looks quite old in what I would term original form... Hilt and blade decoration are in the old style.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

Fernando

Remarkable weapon. Unlike most unusual pieces that may be later modifications of True Kasthana swords, this seem to be a custom made variation on the theme. It must be noted that the workmanship is very much traditional Sinhalese as for all floral and other motifs; but curiously done away with all animal forms.

would be interesting to find out what circumstances caused the artists to make such a deviant and who commissioned it and with what reasons.

What was the reason for avoiding animal forms???

[A.alnakkas]

Nice hilt. Possibly the animal motifs was avoided at the request of a Sinhalese Muslim owner? Or someone who wanted a change.

[fernando]

I regret not being able to contribute with some enligthening. The author/owner simply points out the hilt characteristic as a 'curiosity' .

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

I tend to think on same lines as Alnakkas, very likely that it was for a Muslim Chief serving under the Sinhala King as the workman ship seem to be very much from a Sinhala traditional workshop.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hullo everybody!
As I don't seem to recall any example or mention of a Kastane with a WAVY Blade in this thread, I thought I'd post these quick snaps I took when taking advantage of a 'Window Of Opportunity'.(If already given/mentioned, then my sincere apologies and enjoy anyway.)
Best,

Salaams ~ Whilst this looks like a bent blade it may be related to blades on http://www.arms2armor.com/Swords/tulwaryatagan.htm , however, what is interesting other than the oddity factor of the blade is the old form hilt with ...a sea monster hilt ...Makara... virtually identical to the water spout and similar hilts shown earlier at # 14 # 15 # 18 etc. etc. typically pouring other deities from their mouths onto the Knuckleguard Guard and Quillons thus fulfilling their role on the sword as the traditional and ancient protector and provider of strength and battlefield prowess linked to the religion, underpinned in architecture, and held in high esteem by all.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[fernando]

I know the thread author is more on the sword side, but let me show here a very interesting XVIII century Singalese matchlock pistol that i found in the Web ... don't remember precisely where
... already with lock on the left side, as it became typical of Singalese firearms


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[fernando]

These two splendid 'Tanegashimas' were examined by a Japanese specialist in antique arms and were confirmed to have being produced in Sakai (Japan), having being later decorated in Ceylon, one with floral motifs and the other with mother of pearl ornaments .

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[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams Note to Forum ~ The main thrust of my research is toward understanding the Sri Lankan martial art form "Angampora" which predates the Portuguese period in an attempt to link the Kastane to an earlier date ~ I have not achieved that yet, however, I am encouraged by detail on the website http://esrilankans.com/page.do?id=25 which depicts performers of the ancient fighting style with the weapon. Pictures below show Kastane Hilts depicting the Makara style on two weapons used by that martial system.

This indicates two things...1. It was a weapon and 2. If it was a true martial artists weapon the chances are that it originates in Sri Lankan history from ancient times. Angampora goes back at least 700 years before the Portuguese.

The last of the Angampora gurus existed during the Kandyan kingdom. The martial art, that had withstood the test of time, faced its biggest challenge during this era. The British, two years after capturing Kandy and gaining control over the entire island, passed a law to ban Angampora in 1817. The punishment was brutal ~ Shot below the knees.

Could this be one of the major reasons why this weapon has a clouded history?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams~ Note to Forum~ The reader may be aware of an undercurrent of facts pertaining to the Arabs of Sri Lanka known as Sri Lankan Moors and who appeared as trader immigrants in the murky, distant past. It has been suggested that short curved swords were introduced by them though whilst they may have added weapons of that nature I have no reason to believe they were in any way involved in Kastane design but it is an interesting side note. They appeared thus in an article from http://salamlanka.blogspot.com/2010/...nceptions.html

Quote ''Alexander Johnston has recorded that: …the first Muslims who settled in the country, were, according to the tradition which prevails among their descendants, a portion of those Arabs of the House of Hashim who were driven from Arabia in the early part of the eighth century by the Umayyad Caliph Abd-al Malik bin Marwan, and who proceeding from the Euphrates southward, established settlements in the Concan, the southern parts of the Indian peninsula, Sri Lanka and Malacca. He adds that the division of them that came to Sri Lanka formed eight considerable settlements.”Unquote.


From the same article I Quote "Similar sentiments have been expressed by other historians of the country including Dr. Lorna Dewaraja in "The Muslims of Sri Lanka, 1000 years of ethnic harmony 900-1915 AD", Dr. M I M Shukri and Professor K M De Silva".Unquote.

Another excellent description covering the Moros of Sri Lanka is at http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/srilanka.htm

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.