FReeper Canteen ~ Part XII of War in Ancient India ~ September 28, 2004

A Tribute to Hinduism ^ | September 28, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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ANCIENT WARFARE





Part XII: War in Ancient India

Diplomacy and War

Not withstanding the elaborate rule of war laid down in the epics and the law-books, insisting in the main that to wage war was the duty and privilege of every true Ksatriya, in several cases the horrors of war made the belligerent think of the consequences and avoid outbreak of hostilities by a well calculated policy which we now term diplomacy. 

King seeking counsel

Negotiation, persuasion and conciliation were cardinal points of the ancient Indian diplomatic system, and were effective instruments in averting many a war, which would otherwise have realized in much bloodshed and economic distress. 

The political term for diplomacy is naya, and the opinion of Kautalya, the eminent politician of the 4th century B.C., a king who understands the true implications of diplomacy conquers the whole earth.

The history of diplomacy in ancient India commences with the Rig Veda Samhita, and the date of its composition may be taken as far back as the Chalcolithic period. In the battles the help of Agni is invoked to overcome enemies. He is to be the deceiver of foes. In pursuing his mission to a successful end, the use of spies is mentioned. This bears eloquent testimony to the system of espionage prevalent so early as the time of the Rig Veda Samhita. In the battle of the Ten Kings described in the seventh mandala, we find diplomacy of rulers getting supplemented by its association with priestly diplomacy, which exercised a healthy influence on the constitutional evolution.

International Relations - The picture presented in the epics and the Arthasastra literature seems to be confined to the four corners of Bharatkhanda. The intercourse as envisaged in the literature, shows relations to be more commerical than political in character. 

Strabo quotes Megasthenes and says that Indians were not engaged in wars with foreigners outside India nor was their country invaded by foreign power except by Hercules and Dionsysius and lately by the Macedonians. There were friendly relations of Chandragupta with Seleukos Nikator, of Bindusara with Antiochus, of Asoka and Samadragupta with Lanka, of Pulaskesi with Persians, of Harsha with Nepal and China, of the Cholas with Sri Vijaya. 

"It was always regarded as a legitimate object of the ambition of every king to aim at the position of Cakravartin or Sarvabhuuma (paramount sovereign or of supreme monarch)." This ambition was legitimate and had no narrow outlook about it. It was a fruit to be sought after by every one of the monarchs comprising the mandala. If the king is not actuated by this idea, he falls short of an ideal king according to the Hindu Rajadharma. 

Diplomatic agents - ambassadors

Bhisma mentions seven qualifications as essential in an ambassador: he should come from a noble line, belong to a high family, be skilful, eloquent of speech, true in delivering the mission, and of excellent memory.

Espionage in War - Spies filled an important role in both the civil and military affairs of ancient India. The institution of spies had a greater utility, as the king could take action on the report of the spies. Spies were engaged to look after the home officials, including those of the royal household as well as to report on the doings in the enemy kingdoms. The Rig Veda Samhita, often speaks of spies (spasah) of Varuna. Only men of wisdom and purity were sent on this errand, thus suggesting that they should be persons above corruption and temptation of any sort. In the epics and post-epic literature in general, spies have been described as the 'eyes of the king'. In the Udyoga-parva (33, 34) of Mahabharata, it is stated that "cows see by smell, priests by knowledge, kings by spies, and others through eyes." Spies roamed about in foreign states under various disguises to collect reliable information. In the Ramayana, a king mentions the wise adage that "the enemy, whose secrets have been known through espionage, can be conquered without much effort." The Arthashastra, which predates Christ by centuries, dwells at length on the importance of espionage and the creation of an effective spy network.

Such details may indicate the high development of the science of diplomacy in ancient India. It was the famous Indian strategist of the fourth-century B.C, Kautilya in the Arthasastra, who gave the world the dictum:

 "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"The same style of Indian thought" says Heinrich Zimmer in his book, Philosophies of India, p. 139, admiringly of Kautilya, "that invented the game of chess grasped with profound insight the rules of this larger game of power."

Attitude to war - The Sangam age of the Tamils was the heroic age of the Tamil Indians. If the men of the Tamil land were heroes, then their women were heroines. A certain mother was asked where her son was, and she replied, that she was sure that the tiger that had lain in her womb would be found in the field of battle. War was the pabulum on which our ancient warriors were great in name and fame. A certain lady who gave birth to only one son and who sent hime to the field of battle when there was the country's call for it. Okkurmasattiyar, a poetess, praises a certain lady dresses the hair of her only son and gives him the armor to get ready for action in the field of battle. This may be contrasted with another where a heroic mother heard the disquieting news that her son lost his courage in action and had fled in fear. If it were true, she expressed that she would cut off her breasts that had fed him with milk. With this determination she entered the battle-field with sword in her hand and went on searching for her fallen son. When she saw her son's body cut in twain, she felt much more happy than when she gave birth to him. (source: Puram 277 and 279 - in Tamil ).

Flags - The origin and use of flags can be traced to the earliest Indian literature, the Rig Veda Samhita. The term deaja occurs twice in the Veda. Besides, dhvaja, we meet with a good number of expressions for a banner in Vedic literature. These are Akra, Krtadhvaja, Ketu, Brhatketu, Sahasraketu. It appears that the Vedic host aimed their arrows at the banners of the enemy. The idea was that once the banner was captured, or struck, a claim was made for success in the battle over the enemy. Ketu was a small flag as contrasted with Brhatketu or the big flag. Sahasraketu may be a thousand flag, or as the knight who brought under control a thousand flags of enemies. We are told that banners and drums were counted among the insignia of ancient Vedic kings. In the Mahabharata war, every leader had his own insignia to distinguish one division from the other. Arjuna had the Kapidhvaja or the flag with the figure of Hanuman, Bhisma, Taladhvaja, cognizance of a palmyra tree etc..

Next Tuesday, Part XIII of War in Ancient India

[Mudboy Slim]

ROBOT BARTENDER

A popular bar had a new robotic bartender installed. It could not only dispense drinks flawlessly, but also -- like any good bartender -- engage in appropriate conversation.

So a man enters the bar, orders a drink, the robot serves him a perfectly prepared cocktail, then asks him, "What's your IQ?" The man replies, "150." And the robot proceeds to make conversation about Quantum physics, string theory, atomic chemistry, and so on.

The customer is very impressed and thinks, "This is really cool." But he decides to test the robot. He walks out of the bar, turns around, and comes back in for another drink. Again, the robot serves him the drink and asks him, "What's your IQ?" The man responds, "100." And immediately the robot starts talking, but this time, about football, baseball, cheerleaders, and so on.

Really impressed, the man leaves the bar and decides to give the robot one more test. He goes back in, the robot serves him and asks, "What's your IQ?" The man replies, "50."

And the robot says, "So, you gonna vote for Kerry?"

LOL...MUD

BTW...Lib'rals are DUMB!!

[stand watie]

GM, diva!

hugs, duckie/sw

[blackie]

War in Ancient India and chow with Tonk ~ Bump!

[Arrowhead1952]

Some people look at us strange when we tell them we have to take off to take care of our dogs.

How true. I told someone I had to be a home nurse for the dog, and they looked at me like, "You have got to be joking". That poodle is like a person. She has lost most of her hearing now, but we had to spell words like: ride, ma & pa, and especially doctor. She hates going to the vet.

[StarCMC]

Canteen thread idea there -- thanks USMCobra!!

[StarCMC]

Oh man Gummy - that one needed a hanky alert!! What a woman SHE is - God bless that family!!!

[SevenofNine]

Whoa breaking news off Arab TV Station Al Jabezza Fox news reporting that those two Italian hostages were release just now according to sources

Also another report off Interfax remember Forbes reporter who got whack in Moscow well now report is that Moscow cops busted it two guys who connect to Chechen miltary cell who whack him

According to sources this guy work on story if AL Quada connect to Chechens I think he ran into wrong crowd

Also NY Post reporting CBS is freaking out last Sunday 60 minutes got lowest rating ever in history and CBS evening news with Internt fav liar Dan Rather is still tanking

Get this Raiders vs Bucs game beat 60 minutes

OUCH

[StarCMC]

Woo-hoo!! Our favorite beach house is still standing -- minus some stairs, and I honestly don't know what shape she's in, but she's there!! Here's a link to some pics from Navarre Beach. "Our" house is in the sixth picture down, second house from the left. But there are a LOT of houses missing!!

[GummyIII]

Pictures from a party at my school last week for Joe and his new bride, Kim. Joe is a teacher at our school who left today, called up with his reserve unit for Iraq. He and Kim were getting married next spring, but decided to go ahead.

[StarCMC]

Good morning, OH SILLY ONE!

[Kathy in Alaska]

My goodness, what a handsome YOUNG Marine. Thank you for your service to America.

[StarCMC]

Awwww!! Congrats to them and Godspeed as well!!

[BykrBayb]

Great news! But so many houses missing, and damaged. What a mess.

[StarCMC]

I'm gonna run grab lunch. I promised the kids Quizno's but we finished our errands early and they weren't open yet, so I'm running out again!! See ya'll in a bit!! HUGS!

[StarCMC]

At least the bridge was still standing!! :o)

[CincinattiFreeper]

Fly the Flag Proudly for these young men and their comrades in arms, and harm's way.


Flag Etiquette




1 - The flag should always be...
*To the right of other flags

*To the right in crossed flags (staff in front)

*To the right of a platform

*To the right of the audience - if it is not on the platform



2 - Always salute the flag...

*As it goes by in a parade

*As it is being raised or lowered

*When singing "The Star-Spangled Banner"

*When saying the Pledge of Allegiance



3 - To salute the flag...

*Stand at attention.

Place your right hand over your heart.

Men wearing hats remove their hats with the right hand

and place them over the heart, toward the left shoulder.

People in the armed services salute the flag as they would an officer.



4 - Always raise the flag briskly and lower it slowly.

*Be sure it is free to hang loose and not tangled in the rope.



5 - Always hang the flag so that the end nearest the union (the blue field) is attached securely but the rest of the flag is loose and free.



6 - Always put the union near the top when the flag is flown vertically or north if it is flown horizontally to the ground. (An upside-down flag means a serious emergency.)



7 - Keep the flag folded properly when it is not displayed. fold it double, then make triangular folds starting from the striped end.



8 - Never let the flag touch the ground!



9 - Never use the flag for any other purpose than to represent our country. Never use it to cover objects, decorate objects or clothing, or to carry things.



10 - Display the flag only in good weather, unless it is an all-weather flag. If displayed at night, it must have a spotlight shining on it.



11 - If a flag becomes unusable, it should be burned by itself in a separate container in a dignified manner.

[CincinattiFreeper]

How do you post graphics and pictures in the posts?

[trussell]

I did get the song Star. Ma was able to post it for me.

How are you and the family? Hope everything is going as planned!

[GummyIII]

Use the following code:

<img src=http://urlofpic>

[CincinattiFreeper]

Thanks Gummy, this may sound stupid, but what do I do with the code? I am totally inept on a computer.