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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: HopeandGlory

Thanks Hope. You look cute in that "watering the vines" outfit! LOL


81 posted on 08/03/2004 5:13:37 AM PDT by beachn4fun (NO.....I do not suffer fools gladly!)
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To: beachn4fun
GM, beachn,

free dixie,sw

82 posted on 08/03/2004 5:14:49 AM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

I'm here.


83 posted on 08/03/2004 5:15:42 AM 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: tomkow6
LOL...whatever it takes!


84 posted on 08/03/2004 5:16:04 AM PDT by beachn4fun (NO.....I do not suffer fools gladly!)
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To: Old Sarge

Morning Sarge. So far Alex is having less of an affect here on the east coast than the Terror threat. But, one must keep an eye out for both!

Kudos to the Missus. I want to try my hand soon at doing my own jellies. I just have to start getting all the essentials together before I'm ready. I do have a sister who does jellies, so I can always yell for help should I flop! LOL.


85 posted on 08/03/2004 5:23:42 AM PDT by beachn4fun (NO.....I do not suffer fools gladly!)
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To: stand watie

Good morning to you. Whatz up?


86 posted on 08/03/2004 5:25:10 AM PDT by beachn4fun (NO.....I do not suffer fools gladly!)
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To: LaDivaLoca; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; tomkow6
Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday !


Click for Dallas, Texas Forecast


Have a cup while you Freep !




For those who prefer hot chocolate.....


87 posted on 08/03/2004 5:25:28 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: Old Sarge; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Radix; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LaDivaLoca; Fawnn; ...
Good morning to every at the Canteen. Back in the work mode and will be around most of the day. Looks like we may hit 100 today or tomorrow and the AC is on high.




88 posted on 08/03/2004 5:44:39 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The RAT ticket got a lead balloon bounce from their convention. I want more f***ing balloons.)
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To: beachn4fun
not much. duckie is, thankfully, sound asleep! (her sleep patterns are becoming normal again! mine are NOT! !@#$%^&*!)

free dixie,sw

89 posted on 08/03/2004 5:48:52 AM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: bentfeather; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 2LT Radix jr; Radix; LaDivaLoca; Severa; Bethbg79; ...

Diamond Girl

90 posted on 08/03/2004 5:50:42 AM PDT by tomkow6 (........??????????)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Good morning to you. Gee, that breakfast iz making my tummy growl! I may have to go find a mid-morning snack! BTW, I had a breakfast burrito last week!


91 posted on 08/03/2004 5:53:09 AM PDT by beachn4fun (NO.....I do not suffer fools gladly!)
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To: LaDivaLoca; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; bentfeather; Fawnn; beachn4fun; ...
Good morning Troops and Canteen!

How is everyone today?

MoJo and family awaits Alex!

We are all set. It won't be so bad for us. Just a lot of rain and wind.

However, the people in the Outer Banks, NC are going to need some prayer!

Thank God  Diva Betsy Ross isn't at home. I'm glad she's on vacation.

We'll have to get her ready for Hurricane season when she returns home.

GET READY BEACHY!! IT'S COMING YOUR WAY!

*HUGS*



 

92 posted on 08/03/2004 6:04:03 AM PDT by MoJo2001 (I got everything but the part after "Now listen closely...")
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Old Sarge; beachn4fun; StarCMC; tomkow6; kjfine; bentfeather; MoJo2001; ..

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING CANTEENERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY the new computer has totally replaced the old boat anchor, no more waiting 5 minutes for every page to open. And I might even get some work done, (unless I can get a minion to do it, of course......It's good to be King!!) work??? oh yeah, thats why I'm here.....pasky memory sometimes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


93 posted on 08/03/2004 6:11:47 AM PDT by USVet6792Retired (Can I just shoot him? It's only a liberal!)
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To: MoJo2001

Mornin', MoJo!


94 posted on 08/03/2004 6:16:39 AM PDT by tomkow6 (........??????????)
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To: tomkow6

Morning Bro!!

Wanna come surfing with me today?? Should be some great waves today. LOL!


95 posted on 08/03/2004 6:17:13 AM PDT by MoJo2001 (I got everything but the part after "Now listen closely...")
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To: Old Sarge

<<<<<<<<<<<,KJ/USVET: Looks like we're in for another blow tomorrow - are we playing Power Outage Bingo again?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I sure hope not, I dont want my new toy to get hurt. And HOW did you trash a weed-eater in ONE night. Should we start calling you Tim? Or Mr. Taylor?


96 posted on 08/03/2004 6:17:27 AM PDT by USVet6792Retired (Can I just shoot him? It's only a liberal!)
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To: beachn4fun

A Jelly-flop??????


97 posted on 08/03/2004 6:18:39 AM PDT by USVet6792Retired (Can I just shoot him? It's only a liberal!)
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To: USVet6792Retired

Mine


98 posted on 08/03/2004 6:20:41 AM PDT by USVet6792Retired (Can I just shoot him? It's only a liberal!)
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To: USVet6792Retired

Mine


99 posted on 08/03/2004 6:21:03 AM PDT by USVet6792Retired (Can I just shoot him? It's only a liberal!)
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To: USVet6792Retired

MINE


100 posted on 08/03/2004 6:21:05 AM PDT by tomkow6 (........??????????)
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