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FReeper Canteen ~ Part IV of War in Ancient India ~ August 3, 2004
A Tribute to Hindusim ^ | August 3, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

Posted on 08/02/2004 8:02:50 PM PDT by 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





TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: ancientwarfare; canteen; freepercanteen; india; war; weapons
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To: Fawnn
I think I heard yesterday (it was Monday and I'm not responsible for anything I hear) that he will be on Sean Hannity's radio program for an hour and a half. Sean comes on here in one hour. But as I think about it, does he not come on after Rush? That would probably be now on the right coast.
321 posted on 08/03/2004 12:01:46 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Hannity is on now. Thanks for the reminder! I'm going to go to the Web site so I can listen now!


322 posted on 08/03/2004 12:03:25 PM PDT by Fawnn (Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person)
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To: StarCMC

Oh.. I can get myself into plenty enough trouble..

*chuckle*


323 posted on 08/03/2004 12:03:33 PM PDT by Darksheare (Tagline Abuse is an under-reported crime. Please help abused taglines today. Call 1-999-TAG-ABUZE.)
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To: Darksheare
me/us too!

free dixie,duckie/sw

324 posted on 08/03/2004 12:06:30 PM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: Fawnn

Hi, Braden!

Welcome to the Canteen!

Wanna buy a burka?

 

325 posted on 08/03/2004 12:07:13 PM PDT by tomkow6 (........Harry Potter?)
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To: Fawnn
Hi, fawnn!

XXXX/OOOOO, duckie/sw

326 posted on 08/03/2004 12:09:07 PM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
HI, Kathy!

x0x0x0x0x, duckie/sw

327 posted on 08/03/2004 12:09:57 PM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: Spotsy

Oh, that's okay! Actually, it didn't go in my mailbox. I do like the flag! When I said I am sometimes overwhelmed by the graphics, I mean when I'm scrolling through the thread to read the comments. They are funny, though!


328 posted on 08/03/2004 12:14:30 PM PDT by Abigail Adams
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To: Fawnn; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; Accountable One; AKA Elena; Alabama_Wild_Man; Alamo-Girl; ...
Prayer ping. See post 317.

Please post your replies to Fawnn


Fawnn, my prayers going up for Braden's cousin and BradenHe is such an unselfish little boy to do this for his cousin! God Bless him!

Blessings,
trussell


If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

329 posted on 08/03/2004 12:14:58 PM PDT by trussell (K'nigget. Lady Espiona, Official Sneaky Beeyotch and Vengeful Popper of Lies and Exploder of Retread)
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To: Fawnn

Offering my prayers


330 posted on 08/03/2004 12:16:06 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Please answer our prayers)
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To: Darksheare

Of that I am sure!! ;o)


331 posted on 08/03/2004 12:19:10 PM PDT by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: stand watie

No hanky panky over there!! ;o)


332 posted on 08/03/2004 12:20:31 PM PDT by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: trussell

Prayers.


333 posted on 08/03/2004 12:23:00 PM PDT by TXBSAFH (Power corrupts..... Absolute power can be fun.)
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To: stand watie

LOL!
Ssssssh!
(Gotta keep THAT secret!)


334 posted on 08/03/2004 12:23:20 PM PDT by Darksheare (Tagline Abuse is an under-reported crime. Please help abused taglines today. Call 1-999-TAG-ABUZE.)
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To: Spotsy

It was true. I was in New Orleans for a few days.


335 posted on 08/03/2004 12:24:33 PM PDT by armyboy (Posting from Ft. Livingroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! soon I'll be depoyed at Camp Refrigerator)
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To: StarCMC

Well..
..I WAS up for 'auction to the lowest bidder' once..
And did try to find out how much shipping myself to Alaska would cost.
And..
..I probably should stop right now.


336 posted on 08/03/2004 12:24:36 PM PDT by Darksheare (Tagline Abuse is an under-reported crime. Please help abused taglines today. Call 1-999-TAG-ABUZE.)
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To: beachn4fun

I was in New Orleans


337 posted on 08/03/2004 12:25:44 PM PDT by armyboy (Posting from Ft. Livingroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! soon I'll be depoyed at Camp Refrigerator)
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To: StarCMC
LOL!

free dixie,duckie/sw

338 posted on 08/03/2004 12:26:53 PM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: armyboy

I love that town! I spent a week there one night.....


339 posted on 08/03/2004 12:27:05 PM PDT by tomkow6 (........Harry Potter?)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

nope.. I just went to New Orleans.


340 posted on 08/03/2004 12:27:18 PM PDT by armyboy (Posting from Ft. Livingroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! soon I'll be depoyed at Camp Refrigerator)
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