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Pata (weapon)
Encyclopedia
The pata, patta, dand patta or dandpatta (Marathi
:दांडपट्टा) is an Indian sword with a gauntlet integrated as a handguard. Traditionally, Maratha
warriors were trained to fight with dual patas by bearing one in each hand. Alternatively, a single pata was used in addition to a belt, javelin, or axe in the other hand. This combination of dual weapons was referred to as dand patta. Created during the Mughal period, its use in warfare appears to be mostly restricted to the 17th century when the Marathas came into prominence. Ranging in length from 10-44 inches, it was considered to be a highly effective weapon for infantrymen against heavily armoured cavalry. Folklore has it that a maratha soldier would use the dand patta when encircled, so as to maximize the casualties on the opposition, before he fell. The founder of the Maratha Empire --- Shivaji --- was reputedly trained in the art of fighting with pata. One of his generals, Tanaji Malusare
, wielded the weapon with both hands during the Battle of Sinhagad
, before one of his hands was cut off by the Rajput
Udaybhan Singh Rathod.
In the Battle of Pratapgad, when Afzal Khan's bodyguard Sayyed Banda attacked Shivaji with swords, Shivaji's bodyguard Jiva Mahala fatally struck him down, cutting off one of Sayyed Banda's hands with a dandpatta.
Emperor Akbar also used a pata during the siege of Gujarat. The Rajput warriors are known to have used this weapon very effectively during the Mughal period. The Mughals also developed a variation of the pata with matchlock pistols adjoining the handle.
One of the best pata collections can be seen at the Durbar Hall, Shiva Nivas Palace, at Udaipur
, Rajasthan
. The erstwhile rulers – the Royal Family of Mewar
owns the collection. It is displayed along with many other bladed weapons.
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
:दांडपट्टा) is an Indian sword with a gauntlet integrated as a handguard. Traditionally, Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
warriors were trained to fight with dual patas by bearing one in each hand. Alternatively, a single pata was used in addition to a belt, javelin, or axe in the other hand. This combination of dual weapons was referred to as dand patta. Created during the Mughal period, its use in warfare appears to be mostly restricted to the 17th century when the Marathas came into prominence. Ranging in length from 10-44 inches, it was considered to be a highly effective weapon for infantrymen against heavily armoured cavalry. Folklore has it that a maratha soldier would use the dand patta when encircled, so as to maximize the casualties on the opposition, before he fell. The founder of the Maratha Empire --- Shivaji --- was reputedly trained in the art of fighting with pata. One of his generals, Tanaji Malusare
Tanaji Malusare
Tanaji Malusare , also known as Simha , was a warrior and military leader in the army of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire in 17th century India. Tanaji was one of Shivaji's closest friends; the two had known each other since childhood....
, wielded the weapon with both hands during the Battle of Sinhagad
Battle of Sinhagad
The Battle of Sinhagad was a night battle that took place on February 4, 1670 in the fort of Sinhagad, near the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. It was fought between Tanaji Malusare, a commander of Maratha ruler Shivaji and Udaybhan Rathod, fortkeeper under Jai Singh I...
, before one of his hands was cut off by the Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
Udaybhan Singh Rathod.
In the Battle of Pratapgad, when Afzal Khan's bodyguard Sayyed Banda attacked Shivaji with swords, Shivaji's bodyguard Jiva Mahala fatally struck him down, cutting off one of Sayyed Banda's hands with a dandpatta.
Emperor Akbar also used a pata during the siege of Gujarat. The Rajput warriors are known to have used this weapon very effectively during the Mughal period. The Mughals also developed a variation of the pata with matchlock pistols adjoining the handle.
One of the best pata collections can be seen at the Durbar Hall, Shiva Nivas Palace, at Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. The erstwhile rulers – the Royal Family of Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
owns the collection. It is displayed along with many other bladed weapons.