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

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Bhukhandi was identical with Vajramuṣṭi. Incidentally, it may be noted that
Bhukhandi or Bhrsundi is a very ancient weapon but to-day our ideas about
its shape etc. are hazy, and it has been variously interpreted to mean a stick a
Vajramuṣṭi and a ball with iron points attached to it. Which of these meanings
correctly represents ancient Bhusundi is difficult to guess.
A weapon which is much nearer to the Vajramuṣṭi was also used in the
ancient Greek and Roman world. It was used by boxers and was known as
Caestus. This was a ring kept around the knuckles and used to give a powerful
blow. It was used by gladiators but its later history is not clear. Divine origin
is given to this sort of weapon by the Greeks as well as Indians.¹ This is a
phenomena known in ancient world but they do not signify any thing except
proving its currency in a particular culture. Only Vajramuṣṭi, being an instru-
ment made of bone, may lead one to infer that it is a pre-metallic weapon, but
its existence in archaeological deposits is still to be found.
The Vajramuṣṭi of war-fare seems to be a much powerful weapon. A pair
of such instruments is preserved in the Madras Museum and belongs to Tanjore
armoury. (fig. 6). It has the central grip but on the sides instead on points
are large twisted nails and the front side shows a trident-like blade. This
Vajramuṣṭi is a deadly weapon and would be a war equipment rather than
sports material.
If this instruments is compared with another war instrument called Māḍu
or Mādhu in Gujarati and Marathi, one is surprised by their similarity. Māḍu is
made of two antlers. The base of both of them are turned into a grip by fixing
them in such a way that the ends are in opposite directions. The antlers are
then held in position by two rivets that join them and keep sufficient place for
the grip. In a variety of Māḍu a small shield is attached in front of the grip
and the points are strengthened by an arrow-head like metal piece attached to
either end. This is then used as a weapon both of offence and defence. In
Mahābhārata a weapon is described as Bāhukaṇṭaka in the fight between
Jarasandha and Karṇa.² It was used after all the arrows were exhausted and
swords were broken. This weapon was used by Karṇa to defeat Jarasandha.
This small weapon may be either a small dagger or a type of Mauṣṭika.
Summarizing the above data it will be seen that Mauṣṭika, Bāhukaṇṭaka,
Vajramuṣṭi and Māḍu of India and Caestus of Greece are the instruments meant
for developing powerful blow with hand. They are weapons of war and some
of them are used in Sports. Their similarity is tempting to show a sort of deve-
¹ Indian tradition ascribes it to Goddess who gave it to Devamall cf.
Devamallotpatti.
² Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Ch. V. 4.