FReeper Canteen ~ Part I: War in Ancient India ~ July 13, 2004

A Tribute to Hinduism.com ^ | July 13, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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Part I: War in Ancient India

The history of ancient India is largely a history of Hindu culture and progress. Hindu culture  has a distinct claim to a higher antiquity than Assyrian schools would claim for Sargon I and as much or even higher antiquity than Egyptian scholars would claim for the commencement of the first dynasty of Kings. One aspect of this culture consists in India's political institutions which were almost modern. Modern warfare has developed on mechanical lines, giving less scope for the qualities of courage and individual leadership. The value and importance of the army were realized very early in the history of India, and this led to the maintenance of a permanent militia to put down dissent within and arrest aggression from without. This gave rise to the Ksatriya warrior caste, and the ksatram dharmam came to mean the primary duty of war. To serve the country by participating in war became the svadharma of this  warrior community. 

Hindu military science recognizes two kinds of warfare - the dharmayuddha and the kutayuddha. Dharmayuddha is war carried on the principles of dharma, meaning here the Ksatradharma or the law of Kings and Warriors. In other words, it was a just and righteous war which had the approval of society. On the other hand, kuttayuddha was unrighteous war. It was a crafty fight carried on in secret. The Hindu science of warfare values both niti and saurya i.e. ethical principles and valor. It was therefore realized that the waging of war without regard to moral standards degraded the institution into mere animal ferocity. A monarch desirous of dharma vijaya should conform to the code of ethics enjoined upon warriors. The principles regulating the two kinds of warfare are elaborately described in the Dharmasutras and Dharmasastras, the epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata), the Arthasastra treatises of Kautalya, Kamandaka, and Sukra. Hindu India possessed the classical fourfold force of chariots, elephants, horsemen, and infantry, collectively known as the Caturangabala. Students also know that the old game of chess also goes by the name of Caturanga. From the references to this game in the Rg Veda and the Atharva Veda and in the Buddhists and Jaina books, it must have been very popular in ancient India. The Persian term Chatrang and the Arabic Shatrang are forms of the Sanskrit Caturanga. 

According to Sir A. M. Eliot and Heinrich Brunnhofer (a German Indologist) and Gustav Oppert, all of whom have stated that ancient Hindus knew the use of gunpowder. Eliot tells us that the Arabs learnt the manufacture of gunpowder from India, and that before their Indian connection they had used arrows of naptha. It is also argued that though Persia possessed saltpetre in abundance, the original home of gunpowder was India. In the light of the above remarks we can trace the evolution of fire-arms in the ancient India. (source: German Indologists: Biograhpies of Scholars n Indian Studies writing in German - By Valentine Stache-Rosen. p.92). Terence Duke, author of The Boddhisattva Warriors: The Origin, Inner Philosophy, History and Symbolism of the Buddhist Martial Art Within India and China, martial arts went from India to China. Fighting without weapons was a specialty of the ancient Ksatreya warriors of India.

Introduction

The value and importance of the army were realized very early in the history of India, and this led in course of time to the maintenance of a permanent militia to put down dissensions. War or no war, the army was to be maintained, to meet any unexpected contingency. This gave rise to the Ksatriya or warrior caste, and the ksatram dharman came to mean the primary duty of war. To serve the country by participating in war became the svadharma or this warrior community. 

The necessary education, drill, and discipline to cultivate militarism were confined to the members of one community, the Ksatriyas. This prevented the militant attitude from spreading to other communities and kept the whole social structure unaffected by actual wars and war institutions. Says the Arthva Veda: "May we revel, living a hundred winters, rich in heroes." The whole country looked upon the members of the ksatriya community as defenders of their country and consequently did not grudge the high influence and power wielded by the Ksatriyas, who were assigned a social rank next in importance to the intellectual and spiritual needs of the society. The ancient Hindus were a sensitive people, and their heroes were instructed that they were defending the noble cause of God, Crown and Country. Viewed in this light, war departments were 'defense' departments and military expenditure were included in the cost of defense. In this, as in many cases, ancient India was ahead of modern ideas.

Chivalry, individual heroism, qualities of mercy and nobility of outlook even in the grimmest of struggles were not unknown to the soldiers of ancient India. Thus among the laws of war, we find that (1) a warrior (Khsatriya) in armor must not fight with one not so clad (2) one should fight only one enemy and cease fighting if the opponent is disabled, (3) aged men, women and children, the retreating, or one who held a straw in his lips as a sign of unconditional surrender should not be killed. It is of topical interest to note that one of the laws enjoins the army to leave the fruit and flower gardens, temples and other places of public worship unmolested.  

Next Tuesday, Part II of War in Ancient India

[Soaring Feather]

WOO HOO HIJINX!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

No Longer Free State : Thank You for your current service to our country.
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[writer33]

For starting a wonderful topic, you win this link, Diva: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/books/electivedecisions.shtml

Chris

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Just in from Long Cut

I'm back in town! Please tell everyone at the Canteen that Short Cut REALLY enjoyed his first b-day with his Mommy and Daddy...we took him to Sea World in Orlando to see the big fishies (and whales, and seals, and manatees, and dolphins, oh my!). He got a ton of presents from friends and family, too. He even got a college fund set up, courtesy of his grandparents!

I'll be busy getting caught up at work for a few days, but please, tell everyone that I got their pings, and give them a hearty "THANX" from the Cut Family!!!

FReegards,

LC

[SevenofNine]

Well report off Aussie Age wire Rupert Murdoch is this close of getting his Fleet Street sources to dig up dirt on CNN and MSNBC after that documentary about his American baby Fox news has come out

Report is that Murdoch so tick off that he want all former CNN employees and MSNBC and all national network make pay back is B*** OH OH Aussie is not amused

GUYS Murdoch is one tick off Aussie he probably going Ozzy Osbourne f-bombing

[SevenofNine]

Well report off Aussie Age wire Rupert Murdoch is this close of getting his Fleet Street sources to dig up dirt on CNN and MSNBC after that documentary about his American baby Fox news has come out

Report is that Murdoch so tick off that he want all former CNN employees and MSNBC and all national network make pay back is B*** OH OH Aussie is not amused

GUYS Murdoch is one tick off Aussie he probably going Ozzy Osbourne f-bombing

[Smartass]

[SevenofNine]

Breaking news off AP wire report that witnesses are claim they hear LOUD Explosion in Central Baghdad

NO Word YET what is that

[Old Sarge]

Greetings, Canteeners, Troops,
and All the Ships at Sea!

Well, Demon Cat has joined Sarge in ushering in Hell Week at Fort McCoy - the final phase of the training that Sarge has been on since May. And what a deal! Twenty-four hour operations, constant computer work, briefings in front of VIP's - all designed to see how much ankle-biting pressure you can handle.

And insult to injury, Internet access is now down to almost nothing - which is why Sarge is making a late-night, drive-by post to the Canteen this early Tuesday. But hey, the gang over in the Sandbox has it far worse than Sarge, so just suck it up, right?

So, on to a few Personals before sign-off:

TONKIN/DIVALOCA: Just yet another fantastic thread for all of us to see and share! The lights are on for another day...

MOJO/HIJINX: Monday Mayhem sees the first prize go out to Jinx this time. We'll see what happens NEXT week...

BEACH/BETSY/RADU: I don't see you ladies except in passing, so I wanted to include you in at least one day, when I say HI!! to just y'all...

STAR/BETSY/KATHY/SPOTSY/MS. B./AND THE REST OF THE GALZ: Sorry that dancing is pretty much out for a few nights, but as we all see now, there's a few more eligible fellas to pick up the tune, so CARRY ON!

BENTFEATHER: Speaking of dancing, the Poets' Dance was WONDERFUL Sunday night. I always look forward to the time when we shall spin once more, so let's make it soon!

Sarge will be back tomorrow, so in the meantime, Y'all Have Fun!

SARGE

[Kathy in Alaska]

SARGE!! I needed you this evening. LOL! I needed someone to have a beer for me. Are you sorta enjoying this new phase? Learning new stuff? Relearning old?

[Old Sarge]

{{{{{ KATHY! }}}}}

Have one FOR you?!? I'd rather have one WITH you - it would be Miller Time, Beer-Thirty, and all those other times of kick-back-and-relax.

But not until Thursday, at least...

And I'm learning new stuff, re-learning things I forgot, and teaching some dirty tricks to the next generation. That's what NCO's do, after all...

[Spotsy]

Sarge! Are you allowed to disclose what Hell Week entails?
Good luck to you and your fellow troops.
We will be here to offer morale boosts.

BUMP for Morale!

[Spotsy]

Corrupting the young ones - teeheehee. You are a character!

[Kathy in Alaska]

BARNEY!!!! Cool guys.

Although not officially on the National Park Service staff,
Barney assists with lawn work on the White House grounds.
White House Photo by Alex Cooney.

[Old Sarge]

Oh, my, Spotsy, where DID you come from? Shopping again?

Coffee on the cafe - I don't remember the last time I did that...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Spotsy, did you eat? I just had scrambled eggs with bacon bits, and a piece of toast. Very good. I think I'll make some egg salad to take to work tomorrow for lunch. Just finished hard boiling the eggs.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Diva, now we are going to India, huh? Thanks for all the effort you put into the history lessons. HOpe everything is going well for you.

[Old Sarge]

Ladies, I hate doing this: but I go back on shift in 8 hours, so sleep is key.

Just wish now I hadn't splurged on Mountain Dews during the day.

Pass the good feelings to all here, and I'll try and see each other, same time tomorrow night - I hope...

'Nytol!

[IPWGOP]

John Fitzgerald Kennedy he's NOT ...

[Spotsy]

~ Good Night, Sleep Well Sarge ~
(get out while you can, otherwise Ma will keep you up all night!!)