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

[Kitty Mittens]

:^D I also look like this, courtesy of sweet Mama_Bear!

I LOVE FREE REPUBLIC!

[beachn4fun]

Good Morning Everyone. Good morning to our

Military and our allies. Thank you for all you do. Oh, did I tell you that you are AWESOME? Well, apparently not enough! LOL.

Hiya Diva. Thank you for your continued good work on the Thread. I thought about you last night while stopping by the History channel. They were doing something on the Japanese's different machine guns.

Congrats Jinxie on your win. But, waaaaaaa......I wanted that cap! boo-hoo! Oh, well at least it sounds like the rest of us will have another chance. Thanks Mojo!

Sorry, but I am going to cut this post short cause I want to at least feel I managed to get in the Canteen before it reached 100 posts. I was so depressed yesterday!

But, don't panic, I will be back! LOL

[beachn4fun]

Good morning 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?

[beachn4fun]

Howdy Sarge. Thank you for remembering me. I was getting so worried that you had forgotten all about me being up there at Ft. McCoy! I'm sorry I miss getting to dance with you. I am taking the day off on Friday, so maybe I'll try to sneak in and grab a dance on Thursday.

[beachn4fun]

Morning Ma. I know you are probably finally getting some sleep. So, this will be waiting for you when you get here.

[beachn4fun]

Morning Sis. Here's one for you too.

[beachn4fun]

Morning Mr. Tonk. Your favorite day is fast approaching. How's the kittyz?

Oh, last Friday evening I got to enjoy seeing my grandson via webcam! It was great. I have since gotten my own webcam. I plan on my grandchildren, especially my new grandson, knowing who we are! Here's something for all you do.

[beachn4fun]

You know, I think your graphics are so funny! Thank you for posting them here at the Canteen.

[beachn4fun]

Hiya Ms. Feather. What are you going to do today? Oh, don't you think it's kind of funny that there is someone here at the Canteen who doesn't know that you are Queen of Canteenville?

How about one of these?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning to you Ronnie. Glad to see you this morning.

[tomkow6]

 

SALUTE!

 

[beachn4fun]

Hiya Smarty! Glad to see you too!

[tomkow6]

Good morning, LaDiva! Good morning, Canteen Crew! Good morning, EVERYBODY!

GOOD  

MORNING

TROOPS!

Me for PREZ! VOTE !!!

[beachn4fun]

Morning Meekie! Have one of these......

[tomkow6]

 

Today's FEEBLE

YOKE :

A new, young MD doing his residency in OB was quite embarrassed performing female pelvic exams. To cover his
embarrassment he had unconsciously formed a habit of whistling softly as he went about doing the examinations.

One morning, the young lady upon whom he was performing this exam suddenly burst out laughing and further embarrassed him.

He looked up from his work and sheepishly said, "I'm sorry. Was I tickling you?"

She replied, "No Doc, but the song you were whistling was, 'I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner'."

 

[beachn4fun]

Hiya EG

[tomkow6]

 

Chicagoland Weather

July 13, 2004
Chicago, IL
Sunrise	5:27 AM (CDT)
Sunset	8:29 PM (CDT)
Hrs. of Daylight	15 Hrs., 2 Mins

 

Currently
70°

Mostly Cloudy

	Hi: 90

	Lo: 64

5 Day Forecast

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

Mostly Sunny

High:	79
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Mostly Sunny

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Isolated Thunderstorms

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Isolated Thunderstorms

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Partly Cloudy

High:	79
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[USVet6792Retired]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING CANTEENERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another wonderful Tuesday (???)At least it isn't raining here, YET. I think Kentucky is the new tropical rain forest...I saw a frog yesterday by the side of the road with a sign saying..."MOJAVE DESERT" I wonder if thats a clue???

[beachn4fun]

Morning Tomkow. Whatz ya doing? I got one of these for you too!

[beachn4fun]

Mine?