Mudgar

"Mudgarpani" Yaksha
Mathura, 100 BCE

Mudgarpani ("Mace-holder") Yaksha, Art of Mathura, 100 BCE.^[1] This colossal statue in the round is 1.96 meters tall.^[1] The right hand holds a mudgar, the left hand used to support a small standing devotee or child joining hands in prayer.^[2]

A mudgar (Sanskrit: मुद्गर, romanized: mudgara) or mudgara^[3] is a type of gada (mace) from India, and it is generally considered to be made of wood, but can also be made of iron.^[4]

Usage

The mudgar appears is ancient Indian sculptures, where it is commonly held by Yaksha deities, known as mudgarpani (mudgarapāṇi; mudgar-holders).^[5]

An ancient Jain story named the Antagadadasao tell the story of a man named Ajjunaka who was worshipping the image of the "Yaksa who held a mace", when he was attacked by five bandits, an event which shook his devotion to the Yashka. Afterwards the Yaksa possessed Ajjunaka, giving him the strength to kill the five bandits.^[6]

Nowadays, for training purposes when using Indian clubs, one or two wooden gada ("mudgar"), reaching up to 70 kilograms in weight, can be used: they can be swung behind the back in several different ways; this is particularly useful for building grip strength and shoulder endurance.^[7]^[8]

Examples

Yaksha holding mudgar and child. Art of Mathura, 100 BCE.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Dated 100 BCE in Fig.88 in Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. p. 368, Fig. 88. ISBN 9789004155374.
^ Fig. 85 in Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. p. Fig.85, p.365. ISBN 9789004155374.
^ Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24). Skanda Purana: Brahma Khanda: Dharmottara Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas. Kausiki Books. p. 169.
^ Bulletin of the Victoria Memorial. Trustees of the Victoria Memorial. 1973. p. 49.
^ Handa, Devendra; Agrawal, Ashvini (1989). Ratna-chandrikā: Panorama of Oriental Studies : Shri R.C. Agrawala Festschrift. Harman Publishing House. p. 90. ISBN 978-81-85151-29-8.
^ Sharma, Ramesh Chandra (1994). The Splendour of Mathurā Art and Museum. D.K. Printworld. p. 76. ISBN 978-81-246-0015-3.
^ Kasulis, Thomas P.; Aimes, Roger T.; Dissanayake, Wimal (1993). Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791410806.
^ "Mudgar exercise-club". British Museum. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
^ Dated 100 BCE in Fig. 85 Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. p. Fig.85, p.365. ISBN 9789004155374.

[SRQF88-1] Dated 100 BCE in Fig.88 in Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. p. 368, Fig. 88. ISBN 9789004155374.

[2] Fig. 85 in Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. p. Fig.85, p.365. ISBN 9789004155374.

[3] Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24). Skanda Purana: Brahma Khanda: Dharmottara Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas. Kausiki Books. p. 169.

[4] Bulletin of the Victoria Memorial. Trustees of the Victoria Memorial. 1973. p. 49.

[5] Handa, Devendra; Agrawal, Ashvini (1989). Ratna-chandrikā: Panorama of Oriental Studies : Shri R.C. Agrawala Festschrift. Harman Publishing House. p. 90. ISBN 978-81-85151-29-8.

[6] Sharma, Ramesh Chandra (1994). The Splendour of Mathurā Art and Museum. D.K. Printworld. p. 76. ISBN 978-81-246-0015-3.

[7] Kasulis, Thomas P.; Aimes, Roger T.; Dissanayake, Wimal (1993). Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791410806.

[8] "Mudgar exercise-club". British Museum. Retrieved 2019-02-01.

[9] Dated 100 BCE in Fig. 85 Quintanilla, Sonya Rhie (2007). History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE - 100 CE. BRILL. p. Fig.85, p.365. ISBN 9789004155374.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

v t e Indian martial arts
Martial arts and combat sports	Adimurai Aki Kiti Gatka Gatta gusthi Huyen langlon Inbuan wrestling Kabaddi Kalaripayattu Lathi khela Malakhra Malla-yuddha Mallakhamba Mardani khel Mukna Musti-yuddha Pehlwani Shastar Vidya Silambam Sqay Vajra-mushti
Weapons	Aruval Ayudha katti Bagh nakh Bichuwa Bhuj Chakram Chentu Elephant goad Firangi Gada Katar Kayamkulam vaal Khanda Khaṭvāṅga Kirpan Kukri Maduvu Malappuram Kathi Moplah Mudgar Otta Pata Pesh-kabz Pichangatti Saintie Savuku Shareeravadi Shuckra Talwar Urumi
Related terms	Akhara Ankam Ankathattu Chekavar Kalari Paika akhada
Martial arts portal

Usage

Examples

See also

References