FReeper Canteen ~ Part IV of War in Ancient India ~ August 3, 2004

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ANCIENT WARFARE

Part IV: War in Ancient India

Bow and Arrow:

In the words of H. H. Wilson: "the Hindus cultivated archery most assiduously and were very Parthians in the use of the bow on horse-back." One feature of this weapon was that it could be handled by all the four classes of warriors.

Frescos on the Angkor Wat depict scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, showing Kshatriyas engaged in war. For more refer to chapter on Suvarnabhumi: Greater India

Other Weapons:

The Bindipala and the nine following are minor weapons of this class. Probably this was a heavy club which had a broad and bent tail end, measuring one cubit in length. It was to be used with the left foot of the warrior placed in front. The various uses of this weapon were cutting, hitting, striking and breaking. It was like a kunta but with a big blade. It was used by the Asuras in their fight with Kartavirya Arjuna.

The Nalika is a hand gun or musket rightly piercing the mark. It was straight in form and hollow inside. It discharged darts if ignited. As has been already said, Sukracarya speaks of two kinds of nalika, one big and the other small. The small one, with a little hole at the end, measured sixty angulas (ie. distance between the thumb and the little finger) dotted with several spots at the muzzle end. Through the touch hole or at its breach which contained wood, fire was conveyed to the charge. It was generally used by foot-soldiers. But the big gun had no wood at the breach and was so heavy that it had to be conveyed in carts. The balls were made of iron, lead or other material. Kamandaka uses the word nalika in the sense of firing gun as a signal for the unwary king. Again in the Naisadha, a work of the medieval period, Damayanti is compared to the two bows of the god of love and goddess of love, and her two nostrils to the two guns capable of throwing balls.

Thus there is clear evidence of the existence and use of firing guns in India in very early times.

The Cakra, the next weapon in the category, is a circular disc with a small opening in the middle. It was of three kinds of eight, six and four spokes. It was used in five or six ways. It resembled the quoid of the Sikhs today. Lord Vishnu is popularly addressed as Sankha-cakra-gada-pani, that is having Sankha or conch, Cakra or disc, and Gada or mace in three of his four hands.The various uses of a disc were felling, whirling, rending, breaking, severing, and cutting. It is one of the instruments peculiar to Lord Vishnu. Kautalya speaks of it as a movable machine. The Cakra belongs to the category of a missile. According to the Vamanapurana, the Cakra has lustrous and sharp edges.

The Tomara is another weapon of war frequently mentioned in all kinds of warfare. It was of two kinds, an iron club (sarvayasam) and a javelin. . According to the Agni Purana it was to be with the help of an arrow of straight feathers, and was powerful in dealing blows to the eyes and hands of an enemy.

The Dantakanta, is another weapon of war, perhaps the shape of a tooth, made of metal, of strong handle and a straight blade. It had two movements.

The Pasa, which is a noose killing the enemy at one stroke, of two or tree ropes used as a weapon attributed to the god Varuna. It was triangular in shape and embellished with balls of lead. It was associated with three kinds of movements. In the Agni Purana are described eleven ways of turning it to one's own advantage by dexterity of hand.

The Masundi, was probably an eight sided cudgel. It was furnished with a broad and strong handle. It apparently comes from the root-meaning to cleave or break into pieces, and perhaps akin to the Musala.

All these and more found used in one battle or another both in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

Next Tuesday: Part V of War in Ancient India

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1 posted on 08/02/2004 8:02:51 PM PDT by LaDivaLoca

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; tomkow6; Bethbg79; bentfeather; Radix; ...

Have a wonderful day!

Good evening, Goodnight, Good morning, Good afternoon, everyone!

2 posted on 08/02/2004 8:03:55 PM PDT by LaDivaLoca (There can be no triumph w/o loss, no victory w/o suffering, no freedom w/o sacrifice. THANK U TROOPS)

To: LaDivaLoca; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; Fawnn; Bethbg79; bentfeather; Ragtime Cowgirl; ...

3 posted on 08/02/2004 8:05:41 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

To: LaDivaLoca; All

4 posted on 08/02/2004 8:06:36 PM PDT by Soaring Feather

Hope all went well with the wedding Saturday!
Thank You for today's thread!

5 posted on 08/02/2004 8:07:48 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

To: The Sailor; kjfine; Old Sarge; USAF_TSgt; darkwing104; txradioguy; Long Cut; Jet Jaguar; armyboy; ..

FYI : Look in upper right corner of "My Comments" page.
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6 posted on 08/02/2004 8:09:29 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

To: LaDivaLoca; All

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners . . . thank you for your Service.

7 posted on 08/02/2004 8:11:27 PM PDT by HopeandGlory (Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)

To: Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LaDivaLoca; bentfeather; beachn4fun; Fawnn; Ragtime Cowgirl; Teacup; ...

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

8 posted on 08/02/2004 8:11:30 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

Beautiful, thank you.

9 posted on 08/02/2004 8:13:22 PM PDT by Soaring Feather

10 posted on 08/02/2004 8:25:41 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Never Forget)

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; All

Well report off NY Liars errr I mean TImes going report that some of terror warning come from 4 year document OH BOY

Also another report have John Kerry arguing with US Miltary supporters and according to witnesses telling Drudge if SS wasn't there NO it wasn't Marines GUY NOT THat Wendys story

Some girlie man get his a*** kick

11 posted on 08/02/2004 8:25:45 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("Not everybody , in it, for truth, justice, and the American way,"=Det Lennie Briscoe)

To: Interesting Times; All

KERRY LIED . . . while good men died
A gathering of Vietnam veterans from across America

Where: The West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, DC

When: Sunday, Sept 12, 2004 2:00-4:00 PM (EDT)
Why: To tell the truth about Vietnam veterans.

To counter the lies told about Vietnam veterans by John Kerry
All Vietnam veterans and their families and supporters are asked to attend.
Other veterans are invited as honored guests.

Printable flyer Click Here
(pdf file)

12 posted on 08/02/2004 8:27:51 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Hanoi Jane and Hanoi Kerry sitting in a tree F-R-E-N-C-H-I-N-G)

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; bentfeather; All

Thank you all for keeping the Canteen open for those who are in the service of our country, those who have served, their loved ones and those of us just want to say:

Thank you for serving our country! May God watch over you.

13 posted on 08/02/2004 8:29:49 PM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry has been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security)

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thanks Tonk. Learned more here in three weeks than I could have ever learned in public school, or private (which I attended). Let us all live to learn, and rejoice in the freedoms that free people are priveledged enough to enjoy. Our troops have protected us for hundreds of years, and we will be, and continue to be, most appreciative of the fight. Our troops will continue to fight for our freedom, and we all owe a huge debt to these heroes. Your pictures and images are beautiful, and I appreciate your hard work.

14 posted on 08/02/2004 8:44:34 PM PDT by laurenmarlowe

It's a group effort.

I just open the doors each day.

15 posted on 08/02/2004 8:50:46 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

To: laurenmarlowe

"...Let us all live to learn, and rejoice in the freedoms that free people are priveledged enough to enjoy..."

AMEN

16 posted on 08/02/2004 8:51:57 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

17 posted on 08/02/2004 8:53:15 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

I'll be glad when Nov 2nd comes and goes.

And so will scary kerry

18 posted on 08/02/2004 8:54:48 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

LOL!!
I made it!!
;0)
Ms.B

19 posted on 08/02/2004 8:54:53 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds Re-elect George W Bush)

kitty update

momma cats 4 are a little over 5 weeks and cute as buttons
still not eating but momma cat will cut them off soon

run-a-muks 4 kitties are not even a week old

ALL doing well!

Mr Goat and Scooter doing well also.

20 posted on 08/02/2004 8:58:13 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (I just pay the rent. The cats, dog and goat let me live here.)

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