मल्लपुराण (ज्येष्ठिमल्ल - प्राचीन भारतीय मल्लविद्या, अखाड़ा व्यायाम व कुश्ती महाग्रन्थ)

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In India boxing is preserved at least in two known varieties. One of
them is an open fist fight as preserved by the boxers at Benares and wrestling
with a weapon known as Vajramuṣṭi preserved by wrestlers known as Jyeṣṭhi-
mallas. Except in these two types of traditional boxing, Indian wrestlers do
not use fist in wrestling bouts; so their activities do not help one to understand
the nature of Muṣṭi.
The Vajramuṣṭi wrestlers are known as Jyeṣṭhīmallas, Jyeṣṭhis and Bajar-
muṭhiyā. They use an instrument known as Vajramuṣṭi or Bajarmuṭha. It is
made of horn of a buffalo or of ivory. It can be described as a small ring held
in hand having six points on its periphery. These points are triangular in
shape and are found in two varieties. One of them has a small sharp nail
attached on it for increasing its strength, while in the other variety this instru-
ment does not have the iron nail and is rather blunt. It is held in the palm
between the space below the fingers, and above the thumb. Its length is equal
to the palm of the user and its height is also of the thickness of the palm and
above it the points of the instrument rise at the most for 3 to 5 cms. (Fig. 6).
This instrument is traditionally used by the wrestlers for fighting but
there is another form of this instrument. It is locally known as fent. This
variety is made of copper and has four holes for four fingers and a convex
edged blunt base. This instrument is held by passing four fingers through four
holes and holding the base in the palm. Its antiquity is unknown but it is also
used for delivering a powerful blow by the fist. This is probably a new introduc-
tion in India and possibly resembles a knuckle duster of America.
This instrument is much nearer to the other type known as Vāghnakh or
tiger's nails. This weapon has a straight bar attached to two finger rings and
on this bar are attached nail-like steel points of about 2 to 5 cms. length. They
are held in the closed fist. When the fist is opened they come out like nails and
inflict deep wounds. Eventhough this weapon is held in the fist it is improper
to identify it as a Mauṣṭika as it is used as nails for scratching and for inflicting
wounds and not as one which enhances the blow of fist.
It is, therefore, highly probable that the Mauṣṭikas might resemble either
the Vajramuṣṭi or the Fent. But fent does not preserve the traditional name
nor it is associated with traditional wrestlers, hence it is very likely that ancient
Muṣṭi or Mutṭhiya is nearer to the present day Vajramuṣṭi.
It is, however, interesting to note that the weapon Musandi is explained as
Vajramuṣṭi by an anonymous commentator of Paumcariyam.¹ If this explan-
ation be accepted, it suggests that by mediaeval period in a particular tradition
¹ Dr. H. C. Bhayani, Paumacariyam, P. III, p. 295, Singhi Jain Sastra
Śikṣāpīṭha, Bhāratīya Vidyābhavan, Bombay, V. S. 2017.