A woman sword-fighter in Sri Lanka

By Amal HEWAVISSENTHI

The surprising capabilities of certain women who rub shoulders with men have deservedly won praise and reputation. One such woman with exceptional fighting abilities was “Edanuwawe Disapathini” a brave woman who lived in Kegalle during the 17th century. Eventhough her life was swept by a blanket of obscurity, she was indeed mark of great dignity and unquestionable pride for Sri Lankan womankind.

Two factions of fighting

There were two traditions of martial arts (Angam Pora) in the Kandyan kingdom namely “Sudaliye” and “Marawalliye”. Sudaliye tradition was headed by Sudaliye Muhandiram and Marawalliye tradition was monitored by Marawalliye Muhandiram, both as appointed by British Governor, Robert Brownrigg. These dignified positions were held in great esteem during the Kandyan era and these twin traditions of martial arts was prevalent in different parts of the country. Tough fighters belonging to Marawalliye lived in specific regions such as Hewaheta, Delthota Rathmale, Udapalatha and Sathara Korale to maintain their dominance. Fighters of Sudaliye party lived specifically in Yatinuwara, Udunuwara, Mathale and Harispattuwa.

These fighters schooled themselves in a unique form of physical fighting called “Angam Pora” with or without weapons. They engaged in make-believe fights with false swords and shields at first and later engaged in real fighting with real weapons on gaining thorough training in the art. Most often, there fierce fighting between the members or groups of members from either faction and the fighting subsequently claimed the life of the one with lesser skill.

“Panikki Rala” - the fighters

A fighter from each of these twin factions was called “Panikki Rala”. In the village of “Edanduwawa” of Kegalle district, there lived a Panikka Rala who represented Marawalliye group. Meanwhile, another Panikki Rala from Sudaliye group informed the king of Kandy that he was well equipped to challenge any member of Marawalliye faction to a life and death fight. Panikki Rala of Edanduwawa was trapped in the dilemma whether to give protection to his pregnant wife at hone or to respond to the challenge from his rival party because the royal orders wanted him to engage in a fight. As his fate hanged in the balance, he intensely appealed to his pregnant wife to have the child trained in all forms of martial arts before he left her for the fateful duel in Kandy. Unfortunately he was doomed to a tragic death in the duel (Angam fight). As time progressed, his wife delivered a daughter under tragic circumstances and before long, she experienced great despondency over her inability to fulfill her dead husband’s expectations to teach martial arts to the child. As there was no room for a lady to have training in Angam fight and there was no male child in the family, impossibilities of fulfilling her husband’s last wish redoubled.

Indian traders - a decisive meeting

Meanwhile, a group of Indian tradesmen from the province of Mallawa, happened to seek temporary accommodation in the widow’s house. As they learnt the plight the Panikki Rala’s wife was in, they agreed among themselves to make arrangements to send Panikki Rala’s daughter, now in her prime of life, to India to have her trained in Angam fighting.

The charming young lady (Panikki Rala’s daughter) was given permission by her mother to go to India with the tradesmen. After thorough training and masterful performance of martial arts in the province of Mallavi-India, the charming and graceful Sri Lankan lady returned to Sri Lanka.

The most striking aspect of her fighting was her stunning capacity to continue a sword fight flying a few feet up in the air. The popular legend explains that she always managed to leave her opponent out gunned in whatever form of fighting. Now she was determined to unleash her prowess in her recognition of her own drive to realise her dead father’s expectations. Thus, she appeared before the Kandyan king and declared, with masculine spirit, that she was the daughter of Edanduwawe Panikki Rala and that she could challenge any member from Sudalige party to a sword fight. Driven to blush scarlet at a challenge by a woman the leadership of Sudaliye party arranged everything for a duel and played their trump card by employing their most skillful fighter.

The terrifying duel

With loud derogatory remarks and shouts of pride the twin fighters made history witness one of the most horrifying fights (“Angam Kateema”) staged for nearly 25 minutes in the presence of the Kandyan king. Both fighters began grand show of acrobatic feat with swords swishing in the air.

Though the fighter from Sudaliye group was an expert in acrobatic movements in fighting, the daughter of Edanduwawe Panikki Rala succeeded in lifting herself up in the air and kill off the renowned fighter with a well-judged lethal blow of sword.

The crowd stood transfixed with terror and wonder while the king silently lamented the death of his favourite fighter who had displayed amazing fighting techniques in the palace.

The young lady fighter turned over completely in the air and nimbly landed before the king who, though astonished, pondered critically over the impressive beauty, strength and fearlessness coupled with surprising martial specializations of an inexperienced young lady. Through thorough but friendly questioning, he found out all about the life of the young, charming lady who had thus far remained in obscurity within his domain.

“Edanduwawe Disapathini”

Immensely pleased with the unfailing perseverance and undounted mettle of a fatherless daughter, the king made prompt arrangements to confer on her the genuine rank of “Disawe” of “Sathara Korale” in Kandy. Furthermore the king decorated her with every possible sign of honour which had never touched any woman in Sri Lankan history. King Rajasinghe the second gifted her five tuskers and land by a special Sannasa (a Proclamation) as a special honour and granted the special permission to ride a tusker with her legs on eitherside of the tusker - a stark reminder that she excelled in martial arts more successfully than a man did. She was the first woman Disawe ever to have gained political supremacy in provincial level in recent history - a privilege of a lifetime of extraordinary