Urumi

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{{Other|Urumi (disambiguation)}}
{{infobox weapon
| name = Urumi
| image = Ethunu kaduwa.jpg
| caption = A pair of multi-bladed Sri Lankan ''ethunu kaduwa'' wielded by an [[Angampora]] practitioner
| origin = [[Indian subcontinent]]
| type = Sword

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'''Urumi''' ([[Malayalam]]: ''uṟumi''; [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]]: ''ethunu kaduwa''; [[Hindi]]: ''āra'') is a sword with a flexible, whip-like blade, originating in the southern parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Bryan |first=John |date=2013-04-23 |title=A History of Weapons: Crossbows, Caltrops, Catapults & Lots of Other Things that Can Seriously Mess You Up |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_History_of_Weapons/3dz0tAoF0jIC?hl=de&gbpv=1&dq=urumi&pg=PA92&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live |access-date= |publisher=Chronicle Books LLC |language=en-GB |isbn=9781452124209}}</ref> It is thought to have existed from as early as the [[Sangam period]].

It is treated as a steel whip<ref name="Saravanan2005">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/01/14/stories/2005011400050100.htm|title=Valorous Sports Metro Plus Madurai|last=Saravanan|first=T.|date=January 14, 2005|journal=[[The Hindu]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128173452/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/01/14/stories/2005011400050100.htm|archive-date=January 28, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and therefore requires prior knowledge of that weapon as well as the sword. For this reason, the urumi is always taught last in [[Indian martial arts]] such as [[Kalaripayattu]].

The word ''urumi vaal'' is used to refer to the weapon in [[Tamil Nadu]]. In [[Kerala]], it is also called ''chuttuval'', from the [[Malayalam]] words for "coiling," or "spinning,"(''chuttu'') and "sword" (''val'').<ref name=Saravanan2005/> Alternatively, [[Tamil language|Tamil]] names for the weapon are ''surul katti'' (coiling knife), ''surul vaal'' (coiling sword) and ''surul pattakatti'' (coiling machete).

==Anatomy==
[[File:Urumi weapon.jpg|thumb|Urumi weapon|150px]]
The urumi hilt is constructed from iron or brass and is identical to that of the ''[[talwar]]'', complete with a crossguard and frequently a slender knucklebow. The typical handle is termed a "disc hilt" from the prominent disc-shaped flange surrounding the pommel. The pommel often has a short decorative spike-like protrusion projecting from its centre. The blade is fashioned from flexible edged steel measuring three-quarters to one inch in width. Ideally, the length of the blade should be the same as the wielder's armspan, usually between 4 feet to 5.5 feet. Multiple blades are often attached to a single handle. The [[Sri Lanka]]n variation can have up to 32 blades and is typically dual-wielded, with one in each hand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lankadeepa.lk/index.php/articles/166910|title=හෙළයේ සටන් රහස අංගම්|date=September 7, 2013|work=[[Lankadeepa]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018020845/http://www.lankadeepa.lk/index.php/articles/166910|archive-date=October 18, 2013|url-status=dead|language=si|trans-title=Angam fighting in Hela}}</ref>

==Use==
The urumi is handled like a flail but requires less strength since the blade combined with [[centrifugal force]] is sufficient to inflict injury. As with other "soft" weapons, urumi wielders learn to follow and control the momentum of the blade with each swing, thus techniques include spins and agile manoeuvres.<ref name=Saravanan2005/> These long-reaching spins make the weapon particularly well suited to fighting against multiple opponents. When not in use, the urumi is worn coiled around the waist like a belt, with the handle at the wearer's side like a conventional sword.<ref name=Saravanan2005/>

==Legacy==
A peptide found in the mucus of a South Indian frog is named [[urumin]]. This name is inspired from the ''urumi'', since urumin kills the [[H1n1|H1N1]] flu virus effectively.<ref name="urumin_news1">{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/04/south-indian-frog-oozes-molecule-that-inexplicably-decimates-flu-viruses/|title=South Indian frog oozes molecule that inexplicably decimates flu viruses|last=Mole|first=Beth|date=April 19, 2017|website=[[Ars Technica]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130050902/https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/04/south-indian-frog-oozes-molecule-that-inexplicably-decimates-flu-viruses/|archive-date=January 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="urumin_article1">{{cite journal|last1=Holthausen|first1=David J.|last2=Lee|first2=Song Hee|last3=Kumar|first3=Vineeth TV|last4=Bouvier|first4=Nicole M.|last5=Krammer|first5=Florian|last6=Ellebedy|first6=Ali H.|last7=Wrammert|first7=Jens|last8=Lowen|first8=Anice C.|last9=George|first9=Sanil|display-authors=1|date=April 18, 2017|title=An Amphibian Host Defense Peptide Is Virucidal for Human H1 Hemagglutinin-Bearing Influenza Viruses|url=https://www.cell.com/immunity/pdf/S1074-7613(17)30128-0.pdf|journal=[[Immunity (journal)|Immunity]]|volume=46|issue=4|pages=587–595|doi=10.1016/j.immuni.2017.03.018|pmid=28423338|first10=Madhavan Radhakrishna|first11=Joshy|last10=Pillai|last11=Jacob|s2cid=29119302|doi-access=free}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Angampora]]
*[[Bagh nakh]]
*[[Kalaripayattu]]
*[[Katara (dagger)|Katara]]
*[[Silambam]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Swords by region}}
{{Indian martial arts}}

[[Category:Blade weapons]]
[[Category:South Asian swords]]
[[Category:Indian swords]]
[[Category:Weapons of India]]
[[Category:Whips]]

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Urumi