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

A Tribute to Hindusim ^ | August 3, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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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

[MoJo2001]

Just music click!
Something for you to swing to blackie!

 

[MoJo2001]

Diva!!
You're here! You're thread yesterday KICKED BUTT! WooHoo!!

*HUGS*

WE miss you!!

Oh by the way, there's a Hurricane over by your house. Never fear! We'll save your stuff if it comes up here. Hehe!

[Spotsy]

No fan can cool me down now ladies!

[Abigail Adams]

Hi MoJo!

Say, did you get to see the big carriers come in last week? I was just curious!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks Mojo! I sure do appreciate it! I knew I should have waited to buy that new couch..... Hope the stain protector is good for rain! Oh NO!!! My first hurricane and I am missing it! ( Good thing too!)

[Fawnn]

WOW!!! You're actually here -- up close and in person!!!???

(I guess I'll actually get to "see" you once I catch up the thread. ... Of course, by then, you'll have disappeared again.) ;)

[blackie]

I'm great Mojo ~ Barb says hello ~ Hugs!

[Spotsy]

DIVA!!! So good to see you. Can't wait to have you back. Come on back for MoJo's Hurricane Block Party!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Pretty font! Hugs to you Spotsy!!! I have to go pick my son up from the clubhouse here! I will see you soon! Have a good one everyone!

[MoJo2001]

We sure did! It was awesome.
Which one was your Sailor. I met a lot of Sailors.

One of our Sailors is going to be transferring to The Sailor's command. Maybe it's yours.

*HUGS*

[Bahbah]

I thought you all would like to see this.

Posted on 08/03/2004 11:24:18 AM CDT by glaseatr


Sorry for the vanity post, but I had too.
I read a letter to my local paper this morning and had to respond to this..hem fine American
His letter.

As we approach the anniversary of 9/11. I'm afraid we shall reach another 9/11 before that date.

911 of our finest young men and women will have died in Iraq, and more than 5,000 have been wounded.

They might not be related to you, but they are like sons and daughters to me.

No matter what yourpolitical beliefs are, they must know they have all suffered and died without just cause.

Could you look their mothers in the eye and say otherwise?

I ask that you think of this when you vote in November.

Here's what I wrote in response.

John Whalen asked a question in his letter, Unjust war in Iraq. Printed Aug 3, 2004. The question Mr. Whalen asks is "Could you look their mothers in the eye and say otherwise?" Referring to his notion that "you must know they have all suffered and died without just cause."



What makes this cause just? Several things come to mind. The fact that from the end of the first gulf war our pilots were being shot at almost daily. The fact that sadam gassed the Kurds killing several thousand people, women and children were hardest hit. The fact that Sadam never fully complied with any United Nations resolutions. The fact that we lost almost 3,000 Americans in just a few hours. And I can go on and on.



To answer Mr. Whalen question, can I look a mother in the eyes. My answer is. I already have. I have had to look a wife, mother, father, brother, aunts, uncles, and dear friends in the eyes and tell them that Adam did not die in vain. That I believe our cause is just, that we will win the day.



You see Mr. Whalen, Adam was my nephew. He was killed on April 29th of this year in Iraq when his Hummer was hit with an RPG. Adam died doing what honorable men do, defending people who can't defend themselves.



Our family's thoughts are always on Iraq. Not because of Adam, because he's home. But because of our other family member still serving in Iraq, My nephew Chris. And dear friends who are getting ready to deploy for the first time, and one very special young man, Pete Southerland.



Pete was wounded during a battle on April 3, 2004. During the battle my nephew took actions that saved his and several others lives. Pete will be going back to Iraq on the 19th of this month to be with his unit. Here is a honorable young man who having been wounded still knows our cause is just, and we will win the day.



Mr. Whalen, it is actions like these, by honorable young men and women that make it possible for people like you to ask questions, or make insane comments. Think of this when you vote in November. If the young men and women who are doing the heavy lifting think the cause is just, wouldn't they know best?



Dave Stacy
Proud Uncle of SGT. Adam Estep and SP4 Christopher Estep.
Brentwood.

[MoJo2001]

Don't you worry Diva. There are two more on it's way. WooHoo!!

We'll have Hurricanes and watch the Hurricanes blow threw.

DO NOT FORGET TO PURCHASE A GENERATOR FROM HOME before heading back to NC. It's cheaper in Michigan than down here. That's for sure.

*HUGS*

[SevenofNine]

YEAHHH
Hey as Cali Girl any good hurricane is good for one thing

SURFINGGGGG

See they tell you evacuate do you think the surfers understand

NO

Well Wash TImes is reproting that North Korea is spent majorty of economy ON THEIR MILTARY

Gee DUH NO SUPRISE THERE

Rack Israelis while we sleep last night according to Hareetz wire they busted plan by miltant blow up one of Jewish temple near TEMPLE MOUNT and Temple Mount

THAT NOT COOL

[SevenofNine]

YEAHHH
Hey as Cali Girl any good hurricane is good for one thing

SURFINGGGGG

See they tell you evacuate do you think the surfers understand

NO

Well Wash TImes is reproting that North Korea is spent majorty of economy ON THEIR MILTARY

Gee DUH NO SUPRISE THERE

Rack Israelis while we sleep last night according to Hareetz wire they busted plan by miltant blow up one of Jewish temple near TEMPLE MOUNT and Temple Mount

THAT NOT COOL

[MoJo2001]

Barb is so awesome!!


Are you and Barb going to see Jim Robinson when he's in your neck of the woods?

*HUGS*

[MoJo2001]

LOL!!

Surf's up around here.

Although, the best waves I've ever seen were in Tahiti. Which reminds MoJo...I WANNA GO TO TAHITI!!

[Spotsy]

Take care Diva!
Enjoy!

I still have your "I want you to be free!"
with the accompanying pics of my favorite men,
Reagan and Dubya, on my computer.
What a wonderful message.

HUGS,

Spotsy

[MoJo2001]

We're going to have to make Spotsy come to the Coast for that.

How about it DBR? Let's have Spotsy out for a Hurricane Party! WooHoo!!

[tomkow6]

Hi, Abigail Adams!

Welcome to the Canteen!

Wanna buy a burka?

 

[MoJo2001]

Click for a CINC music dedication!!