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]

#400!!!

[armyboy]

#400!!!

[Fifth Business]

Thanks much, trussell. I see you live in SW Co. That's one of my favorite parts of the country. There's something about those cliff-dwellings and ancient civilizations that stirs the imagination.

[Soaring Feather]

Oh boy, you had better stick around for the big show!

[armyboy]

whats the big show and what time is it? lol

[StarCMC]

So far so good! We wear all of our safety gear both on the dirt and the street -- we're pretty anal retentive about it. no one is allowed to ride on our property without safety gear...a rule which stood us in good stead on New Year's Day last year. We had to have a friend air-lifted to the hospital after he sent his dirt bike one way and he hit 3 trees - the last with his chest protector. He had a bruised lung from his ribs bending in. Had he not been wearing he gear he could easily have been dead. God took care of him for sure!

[fatima]

bentfeather,It is your Birthday and we thank your parents for having a wonderful daughter.

[StarCMC]

 

 

 

Well sure, Colonel!

 

Click the chick for music

Let's Give 'Em Something To Talk About

Bonnie Raitt

 

[trussell]

I live so close to the cliff dwellings that I can go see the 3 largest cliff dwellings ever discovered any time I want to. I am about 9 miles from the entrance to Mesa Verde!! I love it!!

[Colonel_Flagg]

Very nice, Star! I agree with the sentiment ;) LOL

[StarCMC]

WOOHOO on #400 armyboy!

[Fifth Business]

Thank you Kathy. I feel very welcome. I visited your homepage, and clicked on the Statler Bros. link (being a fan of Gospel music), but it didn't take. I think the link is broken, unless it's my browser. And that's a captivating animation of you wearing the tank. Did you get that mail-order?

[armyboy]

Good night all. I'll be posting again in the morning.

[Soaring Feather]

WOO HOO
A very merry Unbirthday to Colonel Flagg and ms feather!

[Fifth Business]

We had to have a friend air-lifted to the hospital after he sent his dirt bike one way and he hit 3 trees - the last with his chest protector.

Ooof! It's hard to steer in the air, I would imagine. Sounds like a combination of divine providence and prudent care.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Great report, Colonel. Glad you got to go to a rally.

Hank Snow ~ Orange Blossom Special

[Soaring Feather]

Oh Thank You dear heart.

[Fifth Business]

I am about 9 miles from the entrance to Mesa Verde!!

My favorite park. Not that I've been to all of them, but that one is very special. You are very fortunate to live so close. You must do a lot of hiking, living in that area.

[Ms.Poohbear]

I just got in from work.Have wed. thur. off.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Party Central is the place to be :)