CM Shinde Declares Shivaji Maharaj’s Dand Patta As State Weapon
On the anniversary of the Maratha king’s birth, the “dand patta,” or gauntlet sword, which was supposedly used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and other Maratha warriors, was designated as the official weapon of Maharashtra. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced it on February 19 during an event held in Shivaji’s birthplace, the Shivneri Fort.
Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, played a vital role in the selection and finalisation of the weapon. He said, “Our research revealed that the Maratha kingdom made the best use of the dand patta. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his commanders made use of it. Thus, we have decided to designate it as a state weapon.”
Since taking on the role of minister for cultural affairs for Maharashtra, Mungantiwar has designated Silver Pomfret as the state fish and Garja Maharashtra Majha as the state song.
The dand patta is a four-foot-long, double-edged sword with a gauntlet that serves as a hand guard. Shivaji is seen brandishing the weapon in multiple artworks, and it was a common weapon during the Middle Ages. Shivaji’s bodyguard Jiva Mahala is said to have chopped Sayyad Banda’s arm with a dand patta when he was attacked by Afzal Khan, the commander of Adil Shah from Bijapur. It is also thought that Baji Prabhu Deshpande, the commander of Shivaji, used a dand patta to battle against the troops of Siddi Johar, who was pursuing the king.
