Tegha

Jens Nordlunde · 22nd December 2006, 05:04 PM

I don’t know what these teghas were used for, it could be executioner’s swords, or it could be swords used by guards – or maybe something else.

Egerton referrers to them in his book, see #398 and 399. He does not write what they were used for, but he writes that both were from Jodhpur, and in a note to the first one he writes. ‘….Much used by Mahrattes and Rajpoots in the time of Hyder Ali. Very hard and brittle’.

This could indicate that they were not used as executioner’s swords, as the number of executioner’s must have been limited.

Bill M · 23rd December 2006, 01:32 AM

I am also looking for references, but not finding much, however.

In Dr.Gaytri Nath Pant's "Indian Arms and Armor," (1980) Volume II, Page 84, he states:

"It is an Indian sabre with a broad curved balde and the hilt like that of a Talwar. It is used by the Muslim, Marathas and Rajputs. Those have hunting scenes engraved on the blades are are called tegha shikargaha.

"In the national Museum, New Dehli is displayed an heavy, 17th century A.D. Rajput tegha . . . ."

He provides no picture or further information.

And as Jens has already stated, Egarton of Tatton, "A Description of Indian and Oriental Armour," 1896, "In use by the Hindu Rangars..." and "Much used by the Mahrattas and Rajpoots in the time of Hyder Ali."

He was a Muslim ruler of Mysore, India in the mid-to late 1700s.

I am surprised that there is not more information about this sword as it would appear that it was popular, at least among the nobility. However I do wonder if the name "tegah" is confused or applied to something else as I have heard it compared to a nimcha.

ariel · 23rd December 2006, 02:03 AM

I wonder whether this spiky gentleman might be a " jetthy" (not sure whether I spell it right): bodybuilding guards of the Indian rajas ( Tipoo had quite a lot) who doubled as executioners. The methods they used were designed to demonstrate their physical strength but were rateher gruesome: twisting the head off, hammering a large nail into the head with their one blow of a bare palm, crushing the chest with one blow of the fist or with a hug, tearing the limbs off etc, etc....
Arms and armour were used just as a fashion statement ( where is D2K when one needs it?

)

23rd December 2006, 01:32 AM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	I am also looking for references, but not finding much, however. In Dr.Gaytri Nath Pant's "Indian Arms and Armor," (1980) Volume II, Page 84, he states: "It is an Indian sabre with a broad curved balde and the hilt like that of a Talwar. It is used by the Muslim, Marathas and Rajputs. Those have hunting scenes engraved on the blades are are called tegha shikargaha. "In the national Museum, New Dehli is displayed an heavy, 17th century A.D. Rajput tegha . . . ." He provides no picture or further information. And as Jens has already stated, Egarton of Tatton, "A Description of Indian and Oriental Armour," 1896, "In use by the Hindu Rangars..." and "Much used by the Mahrattas and Rajpoots in the time of Hyder Ali." He was a Muslim ruler of Mysore, India in the mid-to late 1700s. I am surprised that there is not more information about this sword as it would appear that it was popular, at least among the nobility. However I do wonder if the name "tegah" is confused or applied to something else as I have heard it compared to a nimcha. Last edited by Bill Marsh; 23rd December 2006 at 01:44 AM.

22nd December 2006, 05:04 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I don’t know what these teghas were used for, it could be executioner’s swords, or it could be swords used by guards – or maybe something else. Egerton referrers to them in his book, see #398 and 399. He does not write what they were used for, but he writes that both were from Jodhpur, and in a note to the first one he writes. ‘….Much used by Mahrattes and Rajpoots in the time of Hyder Ali. Very hard and brittle’. This could indicate that they were not used as executioner’s swords, as the number of executioner’s must have been limited.

23rd December 2006, 02:03 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I wonder whether this spiky gentleman might be a " jetthy" (not sure whether I spell it right): bodybuilding guards of the Indian rajas ( Tipoo had quite a lot) who doubled as executioners. The methods they used were designed to demonstrate their physical strength but were rateher gruesome: twisting the head off, hammering a large nail into the head with their one blow of a bare palm, crushing the chest with one blow of the fist or with a hug, tearing the limbs off etc, etc.... Arms and armour were used just as a fashion statement ( where is D2K when one needs it? )