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

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!

[USVet6792Retired]

MINE!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!!!

[armyboy]

#250!!!!!!!

[USVet6792Retired]

MINE!!!

[E.G.C.]

Folks, I just finished downloading the July set of critical updates from Microsoft. Be sure to visit Windows Update and download them if you're running Windows.

[beachn4fun]

Hi Auntie Fawnn. I'm just now getting around to catching back up and I had to tell you that this one is funny! And, his response to you was an admission! Now we know! LOL

[windchime]

Hey beachn4fun!

[windchime]

Hey Kathy!

[tomkow6]

I admit to NOTHING!

[Mudboy Slim]

"RightWinger Uprise!!"
(To be sung to the Eagles' "Tequila Sunrise!!")

RATS're Fearin' OUR Righteous Uprise...
'Cuz Slick Willie is gonna FRY...
Clinton's MINE!!

MUD is just a hired hand,
Working on the FReeps he plans to try...
McAuliffe's MINE!!

Folks, we're Right when we FReep RATS' clowns...
Justice Shall Be OURS Once Slick Goes Down...
He'll Be SQUEEEEEEALIN' LOUD!!

Slick isn't just another Lib'ral,
And MUD hazta FReep RATS' Lyin' SCUM!!
Slick, say "So long!!"

It'll be such a wondrous feelin'...
When we get Slick Re-Impeached!!
Truth can't be spin'd!!

Take another shot of courage,
Wonder why the RightWing never sung?!
Just know that The Righteous Shall Triumph!!
Slick's Chi-Com SCUM!!

It's another RightWinger Uprise,
This whole world won't be the same...
DemonRAT Shame!!

Ooo-ooo-ooo, ooo-ooo-ooo, ooo-ooo-ooo

FReegards...MUD

[Kathy in Alaska]

YOU WILL NEED A WHOLE BOX OF KLEENEX!!

A very interesting read. I'm having trouble getting through it.

The casket of Marine Pfc. Chance Phelps is taken to the cemetery in a horse-drawn carriage driven by Robin Wiltshire on April 17, 2004 in Dubois, Wyo. Photo courtesy of Sarah Beth Barnett/Casper Star-Tribune

Taking Chance Home

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Chance Phelps, 19, died April 9, 2004, from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was buried in Dubois, Wyoming on April 17, 2004. The below story was written by Lt. Col. Mike Strobl, assigned to Manpower Management Officer Assignments at Marine Corps Base Quantico, who volunteered to be the escort officer for Pfc. Phelps during his journey home. Lt. Col. Strobl's mission as escort officer was to ensure Pfc. Phelps arrived home with dignity and honor and in a professional and timely manner.

Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn’t know Chance before he died. Today, I miss him.

Over a year ago, I volunteered to escort the remains of Marines killed in Iraq should the need arise. The military provides a uniformed escort for all casualties to ensure they are delivered safely to the next of kin and are treated with dignity and respect along the way.

Thankfully, I hadn’t been called on to be an escort since Operation Iraqi Freedom began. The first few weeks of April, however, had been a tough month for the Marines. On the Monday after Easter I was reviewing Department of Defense press releases when I saw that a Private First Class Chance Phelps was killed in action outside of Baghdad. The press release listed his hometown-the same town I’m from. I notified our Battalion adjutant and told him that, should the duty to escort PFC Phelps fall to our Battalion, I would take him.

The rest of the story

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!!

[darkwing104]

Works for me