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

[MeekOneGOP]

Howdy! :^D

[Kathy in Alaska]

American and Iraqi troops evacuate a soldier from a U.S. Army humvee which was heavily damaged from an apparent roadside attack on the main route to the airport on the outskirts of the Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, July 13, 2004. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

A US soldier lights the cigarette of an Iraqi man while patrolling central Baghdad. Five roadside bombs exploded in central Baghdad as a US army convoy passed by, causing minor damage to an armored car but no casualties, a military spokesman said(AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)

[StarCMC]

Kathy - this story is truly amazing.

[fatima]

Hi Fifth Business,How are you?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Army Pfc. Scott Magee, 28, of Mystic, Conn., with the 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, washes helicopters at Camp Doha, Kuwait, on July 11 in preparation for the unit’s redeployment to Germany following an extended rotation in Iraq. M. Scott Mahaskey / Military Times

CW3 Alejandro Porter II, 40, of San Antonio, an Apache pilot with 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, washes his helicopter at Camp Doha, Kuwait, on July 11 in preparation for the unit’s redeployment to Germany after a long tour in Iraq. M. Scott Mahaskey / Military Times

[Fifth Business]

Can't complain! You?

[fatima]

Fifth Business,My granddaughter Karen came home from Iraq in time for Easter,it was really nice and like a dream.She is home for now:)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Soldiers man the wash rack line of the 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division at Camp Doha, Kuwait. M. Scott Mahaskey / Military Times

armyboy...did your chinooks look a little like this, all lined up, ready to come home?

During preparations to redeploy, Army CW4 John Crowley, 44, of Jacksonville, Fla., engages in a little horseplay with CW4 Jim Cook, 40, of Dyersburg, Tenn., at Camp Doha, Kuwait, on July 11. Both men are with 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division and are preparing to return to Germany following their completion of duty in Iraq. M. Scott Mahaskey / Military Times

[Colonel_Flagg]

Hi, Canteen!

I hope you're all having a great night! Just got back from the President's rally in Duluth this evening. What a great night!

[StarCMC]

I'm getting here late, but I'm glad you're healing better and give your mom a hug for me if you talk to her again!!

[trussell]

Hi Colonel!!
Care to Dance?

[Soaring Feather]

Good evening Colonel, you booked for the night??

[StarCMC]

Hey Colonel - just got here and got caught up myself! So, give us the scoop!!! Details, we want details....!!

[Fifth Business]

Fifth Business,My granddaughter Karen came home from Iraq in time for Easter,it was really nice and like a dream.She is home for now:)

How wonderful for you! I can only imagine the pride and relief you must feel. Her spirit and sacrifice must surely be a reflection of her good breeding and heritage. You did well.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome to the Canteen!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Members of the Iraqi National Guard control a checkpoint in front of a U.S. Humvee in Baghdad on July 10. Khalid Mohammed / AP photo

As a U.S. soldier stands guard on the highway, a unit of Iraqi National Guard members climb aboard a transport truck during a shift change at a Baghdad checkpoint July 10. Khalid Mohammed / AP photo

[StarCMC]

Hey - just got some digital pics from hubby to share... The first one is from our ride to downtown St. Louis for my birthday...

And this is from the ride we took with friends a couple of weeks ago - we were waiting for the Golden Eagle Ferry to take us over the Mississippi River.

[StarCMC]

Hey - ditto what Tonkin said - welcome to the Canteen!! You seem to know a lot about ancient warfare/history -- I'm impressed!!

[fatima]

Thanks Fifth Business,Don't get me crying,you sure know about the early wars.

[Fifth Business]

Welcome to the Canteen!

Thanks! And thanks for your service to our country!