Vajra-musti ("thunder fist" or "diamond fist") refers to a knuckleduster-like weapon and also the name of ancient Indian martial art practiced by a class of wrestlers known as Jyeṣṭīmalla. The weapon is sometimes called bhukhandi or Indra-mukti which means Indra's fist. Wrestlers would compete with a vajramusti on one hand, from where the system gets its name. Later examples of the weapon occasionally had blades protruding from the sides, but these were not used in vajra-musti matches. Fights were typically held during Dusara festivals. The first literary mention of vajra-musti comes from the Manasollasa of the Chalukya king Someswara III (1124--1138). The combatants fought either nude or wearing the same type of loincloth as modern Indian wrestlers. In the basic stance, the left arm is held out to the front with the hand open. The right arm, holding the vajramusti, is held to the side next to the waist. The left foot is placed forward while the right foot is turned to the side.
