Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the greatest warrior of 17th century who established Hindavi Swarajya. He brought revolution in traditional maratha weapons. He developed Maratha swords. This type of sword has a unique comfortable hilt with a unique pommel.
Description of different parts of a typical Maratha Sword :-
The author's passion towards the swords and history motivated him to investigate into the real swords of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and study different types of swords.
There are different types of swords - Dhop, Khanda, Phirang, Latti, Samsher, etc.
The swords belonging to Shivaji Maharaj are of Phirang type. i.e. the blade is of European (Portuguese) made and they are straight and hilt of the sword is of Maratha type. In the historical records,we can find that Shivaji Maharaj was having many swords like Tulaja, Bhavani, Jagadamba, etc.
In this book, the author has given many references / evidences to find out where these swords are located now.
"Jagadamba", one of the swords of Shivaji Maharaj is now in London, in Royal Collection Trust of Royal family of Britain. This sword was presented by Shivaji IV of Kolhapur to Prince of Wales in 1875 AD. (The Royal Collection London - Address: Clarence House, St James's Palace, London, SW1 1BA)
The catalog at Royal collection has the following entry about this sword :-
" Sabre : Maratha: Straight, one-edged old European blade with two grooves on each side, in one of which I.H.S. is stamped three times; the raised steel supports at the hilt are damascened with gold in floral designs; the guarded hilt is iron with a broad knuckle guard and a circular pommel, terminating in a spike and encrusted with heavy open-work Floral decoration of gold thickly set with large diamonds and rubies. Presented by H.H. the Maharaja of Kolhapur as a relic of the Maratha chief Shivaji, to whom it formerly belonged."
Jagadamba sword in Royal collection :-
Efforts are being made to bring back this sword from London back to India. This sword is indeed a source of inspiration to all of us.
Please refer this link for more pictures and information :- http://swordofshivaji.blogspot.com/
I would recommend everyone to read this book.
Many thanks to Indrajit Sawant for doing this excellent research !
Posts
This Sword is being gofted.
ReplyDeletetumche karya khup prerna dayee aahe
ReplyDeletethanks for posting pic & info. Its very much informative
ReplyDeleteAATA VEL AALI AAHE MAHARAJANCHI TALWAR PARAT GHENYACHI
ReplyDeleteJay Bhavani Jay Shivaji
ReplyDeleteMaharaja of Kolhapur was a mlechha? Why he gave celebrated sword to British? Very sad. But what to do.. The only thing to do is not to repeat same mistakes again. Past is past. In the end, all things material will turn to ashes anyway. Jay Sai Ram
ReplyDeleteJai Bhavani.... Thanx......
ReplyDeleteJai Bhavani.............Jai Shivaji........
ReplyDeleteRaje Apan Punnha Janmala Ya Swarajyala Tumchi Garaj Ahe
Har Har Mahadev
छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज की जय !
ReplyDeleteIT IS A WONDERFULL THALAVAR
ReplyDeleteBAVANI THALVAR IS IN PANDARIPUR
ReplyDeleteindrjeet sawant yanch pustak apratim aahe.
ReplyDeleteTyanana lakh lakh dhanyavad.
The sword given to British royalty by the Maharajah of Kolahapur should be viewed with suspiscion as having genuinely belonged to Shivaji. It would have been absurd to give one of Shivaji's actual swords to the British. The hilt on the sword in the photograph is very elaborately decorated and seems to be more 'ceremonial' rather than an actual 'fighting sword' although the blade is clearly of the 'firenghi'(phirengi) type. The long spike to the pommel is not unique to this type of sword as had been stated and may be seen on a variety of Hindu 'khanda' and 'patissa' swords from a relatively early period. J
ReplyDeleteI.H.S. is stand for what?
ReplyDeleteI.H.S. are holy letters (sacred monogram) in Christianity. As you know that the sword of Shree Maharaj was of Phirang (European blade) type, these letters were stamped on it.
DeleteThe Christogram is IHS or IHC, derived from the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus. Because the Latin alphabet letters I and J were not systematically distinguished until the 17th-century, JHS and JHC are completely equivalent to IHS and IHC. "IHS" is sometimes interpreted as meaning Iesus Hominum Salvator ("Jesus, Savior of men" in Latin)
Please refer :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christogram
https://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage=page&mode=display&gid=20052995655655607101111555&pg=20053040942236960101111555
Thanks for reading ! :-)
IHS means " In Hoc Signo ( vinces) " . Its a Greek phrase ,latin translation of which means " with this sign you will conquer " Because of Constantine this phrase become famous. As far as sword is concern , IHS meaning suits correct.
DeleteJay Bhavani,Jay Shivaji
ReplyDeleteHello Can you please provide the link to the image of the sword in the Royal Collection Trust. I am assuming the image in your post has been created by you? Thank you.
ReplyDelete