Valari

Martial Art
Valari

Valari

A valari is a thrown, iron, Returning & non-returning weapon used primarily by the Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. The valari is used for protecting cattle from predators, and for war and hunting. It was the weapon of choice in deer hunting. It predates the Australian wooden boomerang, and was used widely in India since the Upper Paleolithic, most notably in the Deccan plains by kingdoms for war and most probably by the kings of present-day Madurai, Tirunelveli & Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu. The history of the valari is rooted in ancient times and literary evidence can be found in the Tamil Sangam “Purananuru”.

Construction

Like the hunting boomerang of the aboriginal Australians, some valari also return to the thrower. Returning boomerangs used for sport have special aerodynamics to enable the return but hunting boomerangs are designed to fly straight or slightly curved to hit a target.

Valaris are made in many shapes and sizes. The usual form consists of two limbs set at an angle; one thin and tapering, the other rounded to form a handle. Valaris are usually made of iron cast in moulds, although some may have wooden limbs tipped with iron or have lethally sharpened edges.

Use

The thrower holds the valari by one of its limbs and throws it. There are several ways of throwing and aiming. It is usually given a spin while throwing. While flying, it can manoeuvre and execute several types of movements according to the throwers purpose. It may spin in the vertical axis, horizontal axis, or just fly without spinning. The spin may also vary in speed. A lethal throw is given a spin and aimed at the neck. A non-lethal throw is given a spin and aimed at the ankles or knees. This is to capture a fleeing victim. A simple hurting blow does not have any spin. It is sharp enough to cut through a person’s neck during war.

It is mostly used once for wars and hunting by the people of Tamil Nadu, known as Kallar and Maravar people. The English destroyed most of the valaris when they came for conquest as they thought it would be a potential weapon of war. Only a handful of valaris are left in Tamil Nadu now.