SIKH Weapons (Shasters)

Shaster
is the name given to the weapons used in Shaster Vedia. The weapons are held in
the highest esteem even higher than the teacher! Weapons have a special place
where they are stored and presented. They are approached with respect and bowed
to as if they were a living thing. It is believed that these weapons came
directly from God and they are manifestations of God's power on earth. Thus the
power of God has been put into the hands of man. This is a huge responsibility
and something which is easily abused even with the best intentions in mind.
 
Below
are a selection of Sikh shasters that were used during many historic battles.

Selection of Sikh shasters


 
Safajung
& Kirch



Khanda





Khunda (Pronunciation)

Double edged sword



The oldest and most typical of Indian swords.

it has a broad, straight blade, usually widening towards the point, which is
generally quite blunt. Sometimes it is double-edged, but it generally has a
strengthening plate with ornamental borders on the back for a considerable part
of its length.

The hilt has a broad plate guard and wide finger guard which joins the large
round, flat pommel. There is a spike on the pommel which acts as a guard for the
arm, and for a grip for the left hand when making a two-handed stroke.

It is also used as a hand rest when the sword is sheathed. The inside of the
guard and finger guard are padded.
 
Pata
 


Dang



Sword


The
sword has been for centuries revered by man as a symbol of his power. It was not
until the Sikh Guru Hargobind that a deeper understanding of this was revealed.
He taught that the sword was a symbol of both temporal and spiritual power.
Later Guru Gobind Singh defined this further by describing " God fashioned
the entire universe with his sword". For this reason the sword is seen as
the primal force of the universe.



The Akali Nihang Singh's worship the sword as a manifestation of God's power. It
is through the Sword Meditation that we are granted its blessings. And by which
its immense power becomes the law which governs ours thought and actions.



The energy of the sword is called Shakti, it is a 2 1/2 cycle energy which is
the regulating force on the physical plane. Mystery of the Sword Meditation is
mastery of all aspects of physical reality.



At the moment of creation the Creator was in a profound state of meditation.
Every particle of the universe was shaped by this meditation through the sword.
By allowing the Sword Meditation the creator grants to his creatures the power
of creation.



Every deed regardless of it significance or superficial value is an act of
creation. Every action becomes a Kriya, ( a complete and balanced cycle ) every
movement a Mudra ( a posture which expresses a particular energy), every though
a meditation, creator and creation are united in action, this is Shakti Yoga.



The joy and celebration of this moment of meditation is expressed in the mantra

" Wahe Guru Wahe Guru Wahe Guru &quot
 
Chakra



Chakram, Chacra, Chakar

Throwing Disc



It is a flat steel ring from five to twelve inches in diameter and from half an
inch to an inch and a half wide, the outer edge is sharp.

It is usually plain but sometimes elaborately inlaid.

Several of different sizes were often carried on a pointed turban, the dastar
ungaa or behind the back. The thrower stands squarely facing his objective,
takes the chakra between the thumb and first finger of the right hand, holding
it low down on his left side. He then turns his body so as to bring the right
shoulder as far forward as possible and throws underhand with the full swing of
his body.

Thrown with sufficient force and accuracy it can cut off a green bamboo
three-quarters of an inch in diameter at a distance of thirty yards.</p>

Dhal

 
Shield



It is nearly always round and varies in diameter from about eight inches to
about twenty-four.

Some are very nearly flat while others are strongly convex. The edges may be
flat or rolled back in the reverse curvature of the shield.

It is held by two handles fastened to ring bolds that pass through the shield
and are riveted to bosses on the outside, sometimes formed to spikes. Between
the handles there is a square cushion for the knuckles to rest against. The
handles are so placed that, when tightly grasped, they force the backs of the
fingers against the cushion giving a very firm and comfortable hold.

These shields are nearly always of steel or leather.
 
Gurj


Mace



Indian maces have a great variations in their shape. From simply curved steel
bars to Persian influenced maces with openings in the head which gave a whistling
sound when the blow was struck to plane massive heads.

They often have guarded hilts like the Khanda.</font></p>

Kaman



Bow



Most of the bows are composite. Some are made of steel with block of wood at the
handles. They are of the shape of composite bows and reverse when strung. Others
are made of up to nine layers of wood or horn</font></p>


Katar


Coutar,
Katha, Koutha, Kutha, Kutar (Pronunciation

Armor piercing Dagger

The
oldest and most characteristic of Indian knives. The pectiliarity lies in the
handle which is made up of two parallel bars connected by two, or more,
crosspieces, one of which is at the end of the side bars and is fastened to the
blade. The Katar is wrapped to the hand to optimize the grip. The blades are
always double-edged and generally straight, but occasionally curved. They are of
all lengths from a few inches to about three feet. European blades of the 16th
and 17th centuries were often used, especially by the Mahrattas. Katars with
original blades are often thickened at the point to strengthen them for use
against armor. When European blades are used they are always riveted to
projections from the hilt. The native blades are often forged in one piece with
it. The blades are sometimes forked at the point, and even three blades occur.
The Indian armies occasionally made Katars that were hollow and served as
sheaths for smaller ones; or with three blades that folded together, appearing
to be one, until handle bars were pressed together, when they opened out

Tabar




Tapar (Pronunciation)
 


At first the ordinary hatchet or axe of civil life was used as a weapon, but
special varieties were soon developed for fighting. War axes were of all sizes
from light weapons, to heavy pole axes requiring the use of both arms.

The Indian axes are generally lighter than the European and often have the
handle made of a flat plate of steel with pieces of wood riveted to each side.

Occasionally they have a dagger concealed in the handle; and, sometimes, a
sharp-edged hook projects from one side.

Combinations of axes and pistols were fairly common in India; in these the
barrel of the pistol is often the handle of the axe.



Talwar


Tulwar,
Tulwaur, Tarwar

 
Sabre



The Indian sabre, class name. It includes practically all of the curved swords
used in India; but those of very marked curvature are frequently called by their
Persian name, shamshir. The Talwar is the commonest sword in India and the
blades vary enormously in Size, curvature and quality. The hilts generally have
short, heavy and disk pommels. They may or may not have finger guards;
some have as many as three. Several other forms of hilts are also used. The
Nihangs are as careful of their swords and take as much pains to keep them in
order as the Japanese samurai. It is a common saying that an really objectionable
act is &quot;as disgraceful as having a blunt sword.&quot; &quot;These are Sikh
cavalry-who know not steel scabbards-but wear leather sheaths, wherein the
swords do not become blunt and dull-keen bright and ready, as many a deep and
ghastly cut on corpses can testify
 
Tir


Arrow



The Indian arrows have steel heads of a great variety of shapes, with tangs
fitting into the shafts, which are generally of reed. The shafts are often
painted and gilded elaborately. These arrows have three feathers and bone, or
ivory , noks.



Soti

Gatka
Soti, Sothi

Training
device



The Soti is made from fire hardened bamboo or ratan, 1m long and usually has a
hand guard. It is mainly used for practice and &quot;playing Gatka&quot;, the
training fight.

For combat they were replaced by oak ore ironwood sticks, without hand guards.</p>
 
 
Kirpan


Kirphan (Pronunciation)
 
Dagger



The most typical Knife.

It usually has a curved blade, and should be carried by every Sikh. The special
techniques used make this weapon very dangerous.</p>
 
Very
many people question the need of Kirpan or the sword in the atomic age. Others
require an explanation for the wearing of the sword. How can sword he reconciled
with spirituality ? Even before Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, his grand father Guru
Hargobind had donned the sword as a twin-symbol of temporal and spiritual power
(Miri &amp; Piri). He had maintained an army and taken part in military
operations against the Mughal forces.



Guru Gobind Singh Sahib justified the use of the sword as a duty and as a means
of protecting the weak and the oppressed. With human brutes, non-violence is
meaningless. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib says:



When the affairs are past other remedies,

It is justifiable to unsheath the sword.



Tyrants are like mad dogs and wolves. They should be opposed in the interests of
the good of humanity as a whole. The sword is neither to be used for conquest
nor for wreaking vengeance. The sword is meant only for self-defence or for the
good of the people. In cases of injustice and intolerance, the refusal to use
the sword may do more harm than good. The Sikh's sword is not an instrument of
offence but a symbol of independence, self-respect and power. Guru Gobind Singh
Sahib called it Durga or Bhagwati and praises it thus :



Sword that smites in a flash,

That scatters the armies of the wicked

In the great battle-field,

0 symbol of the brave.

Your arm is irresistible, your brightness shines forth

The splendour of the black dazzles like the sun.

Sword, you are the scourge of saints,

You are the scourge of the wicked ;

Scatterer of sinners, I take refuge with you.

Hail to the Creator. Saviour and sustainer,

Hail to you : Sword supreme

Lathi


Quarterstaff



&quot;The harder the times the longer the Lathis&quot;



This weapon is nearly everywhere available and very dangerous when used in the
right way. Lathis should be as long as the warrior and Ironwood or Oak are preferred.

Marati

Training
device



The Marati is a bamboo stick with wooden or cloth balls on its ends. It is
mainly used for training purposes but there are variations with blades or
burning cloth on its ends, to attack and distract elephants and for
psychological warfare.

THE ILLUSION OF REFLECTION

Once there was a king who had presented his daughter, the princess,
with a beautiful diamond necklace. The necklace was stolen and his
people in the kingdom searched everywhere but could not find it. Some
said a bird might have stolen it. The king then asked them all to
search for it and put a reward for $50,000 for anyone who found it.

One day a clerk was walking home along a river next to an industrial
area. This river was completely polluted, filthy and smelly. As he
was walking, the clerk saw a shimmering in the river and when he
looked, he saw the diamond necklace. He decided to try and catch it
so that he could get the $50,000 reward. He put his hand in the
filthy, dirty river and grabbed at the necklace, but some how missed
it and didn't catch it. He took his hand out and looked again and the
necklace was still there. He tried again, this time he walked in the
river and dirtied his pants in the filthy river and put his whole arm
in to catch the necklace. But strangely, he still missed the
necklace! He came out and started walking away, feeling depressed.

Then again he saw the necklace, right there. This time he was
determined to get it, no matter what. He decided to plunge into the
river, although it was a disgusting thing to do as the river was
polluted, and his whole body would become filthy. He plunged in, and
searched everywhere for the necklace and yet he failed. This time he
was really bewildered and came out feeling very depressed that he
could not get the necklace that would get him $50,000.

Just then a saint who was walking by, saw him, and asked him what was
the matter. The clerk didn't want to share the secret with the saint,
thinking the saint might take the necklace for himself, so he refused
to tell the saint anything. But the saint could see this man was
troubled and being compassionate, again asked the clerk to tell him
the problem and promised that he would not tell anyone about it. The
clerk mustered some courage and decided to put some faith in the
saint. He told the saint about the necklace and how he tried and
tried to catch it, but kept failing. The saint then told him that
perhaps he should try looking upward, toward the branches of the
tree, instead of in the filthy river. The clerk looked up and true
enough, the necklace was dangling on the branch of a tree. He had
been trying to capture a mere reflection of the real necklace all
this time.

Moral of the story:

Material happiness is just like the filthy, polluted river; because
it is a mere reflection of the TRUE happiness in the spiritual world.

We can never achieve the happiness we are looking for no matter how
hard we endeavor in material life. Instead we should look upwards,
toward God, who is the source of real happiness, and stop chasing
after the reflection of this happiness in the material world. This
spiritual happiness is the only thing that can satisfy us completely.