Beginning :

(In Tai Ahom language, Heng = Flat, Dan = Stick) 

 Hengdan is the national weapon of the Tai Ahom community, a symbol of courage, strength, might, dominance, heroism and dignity. Hengdan is a long-bladed sharp sword. It is the weapon of the Tai Ahom.
'Hengdan', in Tai language, Heng means flat and Dan means stick. The weapon is made of a special iron and special poison is applied to it to kill the wounded enemy. In the past, iron was extracted from Tiru, ​Tipam, Joipur and other places across the Charaideo and set up blacksmiths to make Hengdan. There is also a special method of using Hengdan and the Tai Ahom still follow this sacred method. The Ahom hengdan is made of seven metals and the beetles are caught, crushed in bamboo pots, left for three months and then poisoned with the juice Later, a single injury or scratch of this hengdan can cause diseases like modern septic, It was because of such extraordinary qualities that's why this was called - 'Deo Loga Hengdan' (God's Weapon).

Deo_Loga_Hengdan_is_originally :

1. Cobra Snake venom
2. Lizard
3. Velua seed powder
4. glue (Natural) 
5. Mucuna bracteata DC 
6. History says that the leaves of the Dendrocnide Sinuata (Suraat) were crushed and put in bamboo pots and coated on weapons such as Hengdan's and spear's.

We all know that there was a clan among the Ahom called the Hengdan Dhora clan, which was a clan that protected the Ahom kings.
In the 'Chaklong' custom of the Tai Ahom wedding, the bride hands over the hengdan to the groom and says : With this weapon you will protect your country, your son, your wife, your wealth and your dignity and the groom promises to protect his country, son, wife and dignity in front of a hundred and one burning candles(Diya's) with a hengdan in his hand.

Hengdans are divided into the following :

1. Hengdan Khan-Kham-Pha-Pha (Original Hengdan): 

 Lord Lengdon granted a Hengdan when he was sent down 'Khun-Lung & Khun-Lai' from Mungfi to earth to rule . Goddess Ja-Sing-Pha advised them to tie the Hengdan to the Fo-kam pole of the royal court. I give you a hengdan. Goddess Khan-Kham-Pha gave me this one. All the people of the land will pay you tribute. You will be helped to carry out the royal duties. At the end of the year you shall wash the Hengdan.
No one can ever defeat you. -"Lord Lengdon"

2. Hengdan Tao Seng and Hengdan la chat (scepter Hengdan or original Ahom Hengdan and hunter Hengdan): When the Great Chaolung Sukapha set out for 'Moung-Dun-Sun-Kham' (Assam), his grandmother gave him two hengdan,
She gave two hengdan to Chao Thao Lung and Chao Frung Mung and five Hengdan to the five Hatimuria's.

(a) If the first Hengdan given to the Great Chaolung Sukapha is knocked, fish, wolves, birds, etc die and the country to which the second Hengdan is raised is defeated.

On the other hand :
a) The first Hengdan la_chat and
b) The second Hengdan is known as Tao_seng. The two brought by the two Gohains are called Hengdan Kun_hai and the others brought by the Hatimurias are called Hengdan ru_chat.

3. Heng-dan that-nap (Open Hengdan): On the day of the coronation of the Tai Ahom kings, the kings rode on elephants with open Hengdan in their hands. This is called Hengdan That_Nap.

4. Hengdan thin (Throne Hengdan): The Chaophat seven-story royal throne, Thi Run Kham, was filled with various golden nails and bakhar pota hengdan in the fist. These Hengdans were called Hengdan 'Thin'.

5. Hengdan Luk (Secret Hengdan): The Ahom kings kept a small Hengdan secretly with them for self-defense. This one was called Hengdan luk. One such Hengdan is preserved in the Guwahati Museum, Assam.

6. Hengdan 'Moi-dam' (Tomb Hengdan): During the burial of the Ahom kings, Hengdan with gold or diamond engraved gap was placed next to it. This is the Hengdan Moi_Dam.

7. Hengdan Chao-seng (Religious Hengdan): Hengdan chao_seng is the Hengdan used when slaughtering chickens for oaths, slaughtering other animals in religious activities, etc.

8. Hengdan 'An-chai-kan' (Gift Hengdan): The Ahom king 'Su-Hung-Moung' gave a Hengdan, a golden sword and many other things to the Kachari king Detchan. Later kings often gave gifts of Hengdan to many allied kings. This Hengdan is called Hengdan 'An_Chai_Kan'.

9. Hengdan kaang and Hengdan U (curved and straight Hengdan): According to historian Sarbananda Rajkumar, this type of Hengdan is a long-bladed sharp knife (Daa).

Dipankar Handique
Nazira, District- Sivasagar, Assam, India.