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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

 
 

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

 
 

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

 
 



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: MS.BEHAVIN

I will be at the fair it will be different .This is my last year doing it. I am retireing from the fair.


581 posted on 08/03/2004 8:54:47 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

Thanks very much, and you too! My pleaseure to be here with you all supporting our troops!


582 posted on 08/03/2004 8:55:15 PM PDT by laurenmarlowe (So many heroes and not enough time to thank them all)
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To: Spotsy

Thanks, Spotsy!!!
I missed you!!
How have you been?????
Ms.B


583 posted on 08/03/2004 8:55:41 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds Re-elect George W Bush)
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To: trussell

Trussell,

That is great news! Thank you Lord.
Running your bookstore too?


584 posted on 08/03/2004 8:56:56 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

Topsham or Litchfield Fair?
Ms.B


585 posted on 08/03/2004 8:57:01 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds Re-elect George W Bush)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

Good Evening Ms. Poohbear.
Did you work tonight?


586 posted on 08/03/2004 8:57:43 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

I'm out the door for home. Back in a bit. Glad you had a good day.


587 posted on 08/03/2004 8:57:50 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

topsham


588 posted on 08/03/2004 8:57:53 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

When does it start??
I have some time off next week...
Ms.B


589 posted on 08/03/2004 8:59:24 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds Re-elect George W Bush)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

I'm much better now that the charade in Boston is over.
Grrrrr!


590 posted on 08/03/2004 8:59:32 PM PDT by Spotsy (The news media should report the news, not manufacture it)
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To: Spotsy

Not "my" store...that one is in town. I am working the one 15 miles inside the park. Busier, harder on my old tired legs, and back. But it is nice to know I have a job, and I am making the money to pay the bills!


591 posted on 08/03/2004 9:01:44 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: Kathy in Alaska

Been looking for number in the MO voting today. Looks like we are overwhelmingly gonna win the marriage ammendment (marriage=1 man + 1 woman - DUH!) and gambling boat in Branson looks like it's going down, too. The casino's were VERY sneaky in their campaign - I'm hoping the folks of MO really saw thru it as it looks so far like they have.

Now I need to find some numbers on the republican primary for county executive....


592 posted on 08/03/2004 9:02:00 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: MS.BEHAVIN

Guess what daisy gave me as a presant this morning? 2 baby mice One on the bathroom floor and one in the bathroom sink both were dead.Yuck.


593 posted on 08/03/2004 9:02:57 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

It starts Sunday and ends on sat.the 14th


594 posted on 08/03/2004 9:06:20 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

mine


595 posted on 08/03/2004 9:06:58 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

mine


596 posted on 08/03/2004 9:06:59 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

mine


597 posted on 08/03/2004 9:07:00 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

mine


598 posted on 08/03/2004 9:07:01 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 594 | View Replies]

To: Ms.Poohbear

mine


599 posted on 08/03/2004 9:07:01 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
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To: Ms.Poohbear

mine


600 posted on 08/03/2004 9:07:02 PM PDT by Ms.Poohbear (God Bless our troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 594 | View Replies]


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