THE GODDESS: ARMS & ARMOUR OF THE RAJPUTS NOVEMBER 2018 LONDON +44 (0)7866 424 803
[email protected] runjeetsingh.com INTRODUCTION To the Rajput and other Kshatriya races Lindsay Harlan elucidates further in her of India, the sword represents the Hindu book The Goddesses’ Henchmen: Goddess of War herself. Often called Mata, or Mother, she can take on many Supplied with victims—sacrificial goats forms, the most relevant of which is and enemies—by Rajput warriors, known as Durga. On one hand she lusts the Goddess enables men to fight for destruction, while on the other she fiercely and so execute their duty as represents the primordial energy, or warriors (Kshatriya dharm) to protect Shakti—the driving force of creation. their kingdoms and especially women, Similarly, weapons too share this dual cows, and Brahmins, who are thought nature: desiring the blood, noise and fury particularly vulnerable and dependent, of battle; yet also saving lives by providing and who are individually held up as protection and a means of defence. emblems of truth and goodness (sat, sattva) and duty (dharm). Feeding the For this reason, weapons are seen as Goddess in ritual and war, warriors inseparable from the Goddess and, function as duly rewarded servants.1 consequently, they enjoy an elevated status within the Rajput community, Alongside the singing of the appropriate providing a locus for worship during Sanskrit liturgy, Rajputs spend time important events. worshipping their weapons through ritual acts of cleaning. Such careful treatment The colourful festival of Navratri is of their arms is seen as an embodiment an example of this, and during it the of their great devotion to the Goddess Goddess is believed to come to life, or and imbues these magnificent items even come to take life.