Maduvu

Maru
Type	Melee
Place of origin	India

The maduvu (Tamil: மட்டுவு; Marathi: madhu, Hindi: singhauta), also known as a maru or madu, is a weapon from India. Most commonly called maru, it is also referred to as maan kombu after the deer horns from which it is made.^[1] The weapon typically consists of two blackbuck horns pointing in opposite directions connected by two crossbars which also act as a handle. Later variations were often tipped with steel and sometimes fitted with a plate of leather or steel to act as a shield. In the Panjab, the maru was typically constructed entirely of steel.

The maru originated among the Dravidians of south India and was favoured by the Bhil people.^[2] A similar weapon, consisting of a handle mounted on an antelope horn, was used as a crutch and served as a self-defence implement for the jogi who were forbidden by their order to carry conventional weaponry.^[3]

Technique

The maru is a primarily defensive weapon favouring a low stance, in which the wielder strives to stay lower than the opponent thereby reducing any openings to the body's vital points.^[1] Typically, the maru-wielder will block or parry attacks before countering with a thrust, choke, lock or disarm. Offensively the maru is treated similarly to a dagger, used for stabbing.

See also

• Silambam

References