Mugdal – Black with Orange Ram 108

I got this piece of Neem wood from a saw mill a few years ago. Whittled it down with different handtools. When I first tried swinging it, it felt too light, close to 2.5kgs. Next time I should make one in the 5-6kg range I decided. This remained in a corner of my studio for a long time. Until I discovered that one set in traditional practise was 108, not the usual 10-20-30 that is common in gyms today.

It was when I did 108 swings with it that I discovered that this was perfect to begin with. With this number of repetitions one has to think of it as a marathon. While 20-30 can be done like a sprint. With 108 if one doesn’t pace oneself, or breath right, muscles would start cramping up about halfway.

The first finish of this was done using Hanuman sindur pigment and linseed oil. Did a few layers of this. That made it functional. Over the orange layer of the Hanuman sindur are a few thin layers of charcoal powder with linseed oil. Before it had chance to fully dry I scraped away 108 times the name of Ram.

If someone suffers from a vata imbalance, they are recommended slow steady exercise for grounding. Some exercises like running further disbalance the wind (vata). Also massaging ones body with oil to balance the dry qualities of vata. What is interesting is that if this person with the disbalance vata goes to an astrologer, he is likely to diagnose an imbalanced Saturn/Shani. Black is the color for Shani. And the remedy would be to worship Hanuman ji. Hanumanji being the son of wind, mastered this element in his childhood. He was not born with this mastery and had to do his home work which involved both slow steady exercise and meditation. And Indian wrestlers famous for being ‘grounded’ worship him as their dirty. Swinging the mugdal among other things.

In this age where atheistic thought is common, this is to remind you that classical Hinduism also has a atheistic school within itself. If you have a scientific temperament and do not want to believe age old stories, stop searching for scientific papers about the benefit of swinging clubs. Use the scientific method we were taught in elementary school. Assume that this is true. Start swinging 108 rounds. Choose a weight which you are comfortable swinging 108 times. Observe the changes in your body and your mind. Take back science from industrial lobbies into you own hands.