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

[darkwing104]

Thank you for the continuous support.

[beachn4fun]

Are we our feelings or are our feelings ours? Hohoho. :) Pay attention ~ there's gonna be a quiz.

Blackie.....are you trying to confuse me? I'm confused enough. ;->

[blackie]

Beachey ~ my comments were very clear ~ think about it. :)

Life is ripoff
when you expect to get what you want.

Life works
when you choose what you got.

Actually what you got is what you chose.

To move on, choose it.

- anon

[Kathy in Alaska]

I'm doin' fine, Oklahoma! A self-satisfied cougar at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

[Kathy in Alaska]

It's 6 p.m. Where's dinner? A hungry young swallow does a fair imitation of a cuckoo clock at a golf range in Bremerton, Wash.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

This is a "fly by"....
Found the libraray, but their computers are shutting down at five, not sure for how long...
All is going well, school is hard!!
I miss you all very much!
I will call the library later, and if the come back on line, I'll drive back over and chat with you!!
Lady Jag, I will call you this evening and makee plans for dinner tomorrow night!
Love to all!
Ms.B

[HiJinx]

Sorry, Ma. Not going there. I've already used a full box of kleenex reading about PFC Phelps...ain't a'gonna do it again.

That was one heck of a tear-jerker.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Arrowhead1952]

Seeing that reminds me of the battle to fabricate that sign. That was one "nasty" fight. Who will pay, who buys the material, who get the bids for the footing..... Bad few weeks.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi fellow cubevillian. Hope you have/had a good Tuesday.

Paladins

[Lady Jag]

A hungry Flying Fox watches a young swallow do a fair
imitation of a cuckoo clock at a golf range in Bremerton, Wash.

[Spotsy]

Can I ask you what you are doing up so early (or is it going to bed so late? ). Or is my FR clock wrong? Hmmmmm?

It's Ma's fault. She keeps me up so late.

And that wasn't Tomkow cheating on his test, that was YOUR alter ego Calvin. (wink)

[Spotsy]

I saw a frog yesterday by the side of the road with a sign saying..."MOJAVE DESERT" I wonder if thats a clue???

LOL!

[Spotsy]

LOL! I like this balloon - thanks Ma!

[justshutupandtakeit]

Sorry but this is impossible for me to read. Too bad too since I would like to.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Tomkow you better watch your local news one of Chicago freepers has just report that Ditka may do it he going run for Senate

OKAY Mike don't trade bills for number one draft pack like Ricky William

Also Fox news reporting that associate of Bin Laden who was parlzied surrender himself to Saudi forces earlier today

And Debka reporting number one rule don't mess with Israelis they just shot Islamic jihad general

COOL

[HiJinx]

Out of curiosity...is the problem font size, or the liberal use of Indian words?

I mean, I had quite a bit of trouble getting my mind to comprehend words like Dharmayuddha and Kutayuddha...

If it's font size or type face, we can correct that really easily.

[HiJinx]

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.

Sounds a lot like the way we waged the recent conflict.

[mylife]

Ehhhh.. my day was ok I guess.

Its better now that Im home

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen