Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ Part XII of War in Ancient India ~ September 28, 2004
A Tribute to Hinduism ^ | September 28, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

Posted on 09/27/2004 7:54:55 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 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






TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: ancientindia; ancientwarfare; canteen; diplomacyandwar; freepercanteen; india
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 361-369 next last
To: bentfeather

mine


301 posted on 09/28/2004 8:04:37 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 296 | View Replies]

To: bentfeather

mine


302 posted on 09/28/2004 8:04:37 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 296 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

MINE


303 posted on 09/28/2004 8:04:42 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 298 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

MINE


304 posted on 09/28/2004 8:04:43 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 298 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

MINE


305 posted on 09/28/2004 8:04:43 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 298 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

Baghdad Bob sure does apply to some of our so called MSM these days.


306 posted on 09/28/2004 8:05:02 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 297 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

the "perfect" mug,



: )


307 posted on 09/28/2004 8:05:35 PM PDT by The Mayor (Right thinking leads to right living.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 280 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

By now, he probably is under water. That's no excuse. He had plenty of time to call me. I nagged him unmercifully for a couple months before he deployed. I have a long history of tracking him down. When he was in high school, he skipped one day to go to a party at the house of a girl he thought I'd never heard of. When I showed up at the door, you can imagine the ribbing he took from his friends. Not to mention the time the cops showed up at his door in Oklahoma to tell him to call his Mom. LOL. He really should know better by now.


308 posted on 09/28/2004 8:05:38 PM PDT by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 292 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross; bentfeather; MoJo2001

I'm out the door for home. Be back shortly.


309 posted on 09/28/2004 8:05:42 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 305 | View Replies]

To: bentfeather

FOILED AGIAN!!! AGH! :]


310 posted on 09/28/2004 8:06:02 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 302 | View Replies]

To: HiJinx

I missed a spit roasted Pig?!!

Man. good times.

I havent used this for pig but try manzanita vice mesquite.

I burns very hot as its so dense, course so is desert mesquite.


But Manzanita is awsome


311 posted on 09/28/2004 8:06:06 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 295 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

Yeah, he knows how I am!


312 posted on 09/28/2004 8:06:07 PM PDT by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 294 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska
BE SAFE MA.. Don't forget your sweater! HUGS!
313 posted on 09/28/2004 8:06:55 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 309 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

Practice makes perfect! :-) I been racing for years! LOL


314 posted on 09/28/2004 8:07:29 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 310 | View Replies]

To: BykrBayb

Oh my.....he REALLY should know better by now. LOL! Well, a Mom's job is to worry. He's had plenty of warnings....years worth.


315 posted on 09/28/2004 8:07:42 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 308 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

My coat is on the front seat of my car. I'll hurry. Bye!


316 posted on 09/28/2004 8:08:19 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 313 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

Yeah, kinda reminds me of when Joe L. was Clintoons press secretary.


317 posted on 09/28/2004 8:08:27 PM PDT by NYTexan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 297 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

Okay Ma, we'll be here.


318 posted on 09/28/2004 8:08:49 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 309 | View Replies]

To: BykrBayb

I will be interested in finding out when you get ahold of the dear boy!


319 posted on 09/28/2004 8:09:36 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 312 | View Replies]

To: NYTexan
heeheee.. that guy was so bad....

This one is my favorite!

320 posted on 09/28/2004 8:12:06 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 317 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 361-369 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson