he maduvu (Tamil: மட்டுவு; Marathi: madhu, Hindi: singhauta), also known as a maru or madu,

is a weapon from Tamilakam (now Tamil Nadu region).It is one of the many weapons used in
Tamil martial arts Silambam.[1]
Most commonly called maru, it is also referred to as maan kombu after the deer horns from
which it is made.[2]It is treated like a double bladed dagger. The weapon typically consists of
two blackbuck horns pointing in opposite directions connected by two crossbars which also act
as a handle. Silambam experts use this weapon to confront silambam staff fencing opponent in
various methods, for defensive or offensive.The fighting of Maduvu always begin with pay
respect ( refer to Salutation of Silambam ). After that, the fight of maduvu will commence. Usually
Silambam fighter will prefer to use Maduvu as defensive rather than offensive, to fight with
opponents which using silambam long staff fencing and short staff fencing.[1]
Later variations were often tipped with steel and sometimes fitted with a plate of leather or steel
to act as a shield. In Punjab, the maru was typically constructed entirely of steel. A similar
weapon, consisting of a handle mounted on an antelope horn, was used as a crutch and served
as a self-defence implement for the jogi who were forbidden by their order to carry conventional
weaponry.[3]