Chakram The chakram ( Devanāgarī : चक्रं ; Panjabi : " chakkar " ; ) is a throwing weapon from India . It is circular in shape with a sharpened outer edge and ranges in size from approximately in diameter . It is also known as chalikar or " circle " . Unlike Chinese wind and fire wheels , which are generally larger and used as melee weapons only , the chakram was designed to be thrown but could also be used in - close . Because of its aerodynamic circular shape it is not easily deflected by wind . History . Earliest references to the chakram come from the Indian epics " Mahabharata " and " Ramayana " where the Sudarshana Chakra is the weapon of the god Vishnu . Chakradhaari ( " chakram - wielder , " or simply " circle - man " ) is a name for Krishna . The chakram was later used extensively by the Sikhs as recently as the days of Ranjit Singh . It came to be associated with Sikhs because of the Nihang practice of wearing chakram on their arms , around the neck and even tied in tiers on high turbans . From its native India , variations of the chakram spread to other Asian countries . In Tibet , Malaysia , and Indonesia , the chakram was not flat but torus - like . The Mongol cavalry used a similar throwing weapon with spiked edges . Construction . Chakram are traditionally made from steel or brass which is beaten into a circular shape against an anvil with an indentation for the curvature . Two ends are connected with a piece of brass and then heated , forming a complete circle before the brass is removed . Some chakram , even those used in combat , were ornately engraved , or inlaid with brass , silver or gold . Techniques . The chakram ' s combat application is largely dependent on its size . Regular - sized ( 15 + cm dia . ) steel chakram could be thrown 40 – 60 meters , while brass chakram , due to their better airfoil design , could be thrown in excess of 100 meters . If properly constructed , it should be a perfect circle . In single combat , the chakram could be thrown underarm like a modern Aerobie . In battle , it was usually thrown vertically so as to avoid accidentally hitting an ally on the left or right side . A stack of chakram could be quickly thrown one at a time like shuriken . On elephant or horseback , chakram could be more easily thrown than spears or arrows . The most iconic method of throwing a chakram is " tajani " , wherein the weapon is twirled on the index finger of an upraised hand and thrown with a timed flick of the wrist . The spin is meant to add power and range to the throw , while also avoiding the risk of cutting oneself on the sharp outer edge . An adept user can twirl the chakram while using another weapon with the other hand . The use of tajani in battle was perfected by the Nihang who employed a particular formation to protect the chakram - wielder from harm . Although variants of the chakram would make their way to neighbouring parts of the region , the tajani technique appears to have remained unique to Indian martial arts . Chakram could also be worn on the arms or wrists and used like knuckledusters . Some are as large as a shield and worn around the neck , making them equally suited for hand - to - hand combat as well as for throwing . When worn on the arms the chakram could be used to break or cut the opponent ' s arms while grappling . In the turban , it could be raked across an enemy ' s face or eyes while infighting .