FReeper Canteen ~ Part XIII of War in Ancient India ~ October 5, 2004

A Tribute to Hinduism ^ | October 5, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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ANCIENT WARFARE





Part XIII: War in Ancient India

The foregoing survey may convince an impartial student of history that the ancient Hindus had evolved precepts on fair fighting which formed a chivalrous code of military honor. 

On the whole, however, it would seem that wars in ancient India were characterized by less violence and savagery than wars elsewhere. There is no recorded instance of such wanton and cold-blooded atrocity as Athens perpetrated against Melos, Corcyra and Mytilene, or the wearers of the Cross against the defenders of the Crescent in 1099 A.D. Such incidents of war as the indiscriminate slaughter of all men of military age or the enslavement of women and children of the conquered state were hardly known.  On the whole, the chiefs were considerate of each other's rights. 

This was also the Kautilyan ideal of dharmavijayan, and the typical Hindu method of creating unity out of diversity in the political sphere. It was a well-established maxim of statecraft that a victor should acquiesce in the continuance of the laws, beliefs and customs of the vanquished peoples, and that instead of seeking to extermination of the defeated dynasties, he should be content with submission and tribute. It is also the reason why some of the princely families in India can boast of an ancestry unequalled by any royal house in Europe. 

It is of paramount importance to remember that in India the social, economic and religious life of the people pursued their course irrespective of the activities of the state. As early as as the 4th century B.C. Megasthenes noticed a peculiar trait of Indian warfare. 

"Whereas among other nations it is usual in the contests of war to ravage the soil, and thus to reduce it to an uncultivated waste, among the Indians, on the contrary, by whom husbandmen, the tillers of the soil, even if battle is raging in the neighborhood, are undisturbed by any sense of danger, for the combatants on either side, in waging the conflict, make carnage of each other but allow those engaged in husbandry to remain quite unmolested. Besides they never ravage an enemy's land with fire nor cut down its trees." The modern "scorched earth" policy was then unknown. 

Professor H. H. Wilson says: "The Hindu laws of war are very chivalrous and humane, and prohibit the slaying of the unarmed, of women, of the old, and of the conquered."

At the very time when a battle was going on, be says, the neighboring cultivators might be seen quietly pursuing their work, - " perhaps ploughing, gathering for crops, pruning the trees, or reaping the harvest." Chinese pilgrim to Nalanda University, Hiuen Tsiang affirms that although there were enough of rivalries and wars in the 7th century A.D. the country at large was little injured by them. 

Colonel James Tod, author of  Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan: or the Central and Western Rajput States of India South Asia Books; ; 2 edition (April 1998) ISBN 8120803809 wrote: "To spare a prostrate foe is the creed of the Hindu cavalier, and he carried all such maxims to excess."

What were the causes which led to the downfall of the Hindus? Why did the Indian states fall prey to the Muhammadan Turks in the 11th and 12th century?

King Asoka wanted to convert his empire into an open-air Buddhist monastery, at the expense of Hindu taxpayers whose interests in turn were marginalized. Buddhist principles derided martial prowess and criminally neglected the intrepidity and valor which fought for national independence. The excessive propaganda for unrestricted ahimsa which  King Asoka carried on by his use of political authority throughout his empire, cut at the very root of the Indian empire. 

For a few generations following Ashoka's demise, 'non-violent' Buddhists ate into the vitals of India's external defence, leaving the country vulnerable to a second wave of Greek attacks. 

According to Priyadarshi Dutta: 

"The Greeks, who had concluded a treaty with Chandra-gupta Maurya, moved in to Ayodha before the Kalinga King Kharvela repulsed them. Later Pushyamita Sunga assassinated the last Maurya King and salvaged India. Buddhism vanished from India as a result of Muslim onslaught because none of them had the liver of the likes of say, Guru Govind Singh. While Hindus and Sikhs resisted Muslim onslaught, Buddhist submitted en mass to Islam." 

The Hindu defenders of the country although fully equal to their assailants in courage and contempt of death were nevertheless, divided among themselves. This division and disunion also enabled the crafty Turk invaders from the north to exploit the differences within the country. Hindus were more civilized and prosperous than the Turks. Moreover, the Turks had rude rigor of a semi-civilized barbarians who combined the fierce religious zeal of neo-converts. To spread their faith by conquest doubled their natural zest for battle and endowed them with the devoted valor of martyrs. In addition, the concept of ahimsa tended to create in certain sections of Hindus a deep abhorrence to all forms of violence. 

The Bhagavad Gita's great message: that violence is sometimes necessary, if it flows from Dharma.

Non-violence in thought, word and deed is the ideal of the yogi, as the Gita points out. Violence is never an ideal in a civilized society, but it cannot be avoided. Rulers of society have to employ it for their preservation. Even this terrible action can be performed as selfless service when lawless societies (eg. Muhammadan Turks or Europeans who came to India as invaders) prey upon others out of greed.

The Bhagavad Gita's great message: that violence is sometimes necessary, if it flows from Dharma

For a warrior, nothing is higher than a war
against evil.
The warrior confronted with such a war should be pleased, Arjuna, for it comes as an open gate to heaven.
But if you do not participate in this battle against evil, you will incur sin, violating your dharma and your honor....

- Bhagavad Gita 2.31-33

Books used for this chapter

War in Ancient India - By V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar  
'Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History' - By Veer Vinayak Damador Savarkar 
German Indologists: Biographies of Scholars in Indian Studies writing in German - By Valentine Stache-Rosen.
Sword of Truth: Indian Marine Archaeology and its Historical Context - By Dr. Vijay Bedekar
The Art of War in Ancient India - By P. C. Chakravarti
Re-inventing a political Buddha - By Priyadarshi Dutta
Hindu America: revealing the story of the romance of the Surya Vanshi Hindus and depicting the imprints of Hindu culture on the two Americas - By Chaman Lal with foreword by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. 3d ed. (LC History-America-E) 1966).

Next Tuesday, Part XIV of War in Ancient India

[USVet6792Retired]

Sibyl was sleeping on top of thr fridge and being too close to the edge, she just came crashing down. ROTFLMBO!! Now that's gotta be a rude awakening!

I wonder is she dreamed she was falling?

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the FR Canteen.
Back in the office for three days, and then off for four days.
That is the only good thing about the 4/10 work week.

Check out the link for a great tribute to our troops.
The Pallet Master

[beachn4fun]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE from your American Goddess with the Hawaiian name of Pakelekia. Good morning/afternoon/evening to our AWESOME Military and our Allies. Thank you again and again.

Thank you LaKiWaLoka for your continued support and good works.

Hello! Maxine here. I wanna ask you guyz something. Do you guyz like playin' on the computer? You like lurking at FReeRepublic? You like Troll hunting at FReeRepublic? You wanna help Bush/Cheney win again? You wanna keep the pressure on the news media? Then donate today to the Q4 FReepathon. Keep this baby alive. Cause what am I gonna do if I don't have FR?

[beachn4fun]

Well, you'd better try and hold onto it. There is a member of the Canteen family who has a tendency to steal borrow another's tagline! But, I can't tell you who that would be. However, if you ask, I would be willing to give you a hint! (wink)

[beachn4fun]

Good morning back at ya. Have a great fall day!

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Beachy!

[Arrowhead1952]

I will be keeping an eye on the weather today. We had over 2" of rain this weekend, may get 1 - 4 inches of rain today, so some areas may flood.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. Amen to what you said about keeping FR going. As I stated yesterday the stakes are very high.

Did you know BTW that our state GOP has a message board? It's run by someone who works for US Congressman Ernets Istook. Unfortunatetly, this message board continues to be spammed with out of state Democrat trolls. Thankfully taht's not the case here at FR where we as conservatives have freedom of association and we don't have to deal with trolls like that.

So, to keep this place going, make a pledge of support or if you can't do that bump the threads so those who can dontate will know about these threads. Let's keep FR going during this crucial election season.

I digressed, How's it going for you, Beach?

[laurenmarlowe]

Good Morning Canteen, Good Morning Troops!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Tom.

[beachn4fun]

Whew! Is it much needed rain? Or too much?

We are actually having a few days in a row with no rain. Mostly sunny and in the 60s/70s. I've gotta get started on prepping the outside areas for the winter. Scrubbing dirt and grime off of deck, porch, grill, patio table, etc. Hope I can get to it before we start getting rain again!

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Lauren!

[tomkow6]

 

Spinners - I'll Be Around

[beachn4fun]

HUGS to you EG. You have a right to digress. With elections coming and the liberal trolls coming out of the darkest corners, well you know.

As for me, first big exam tomorrow night, so lots of studying and working word problems between now and then.

And, of course, FR seems sluggish today and I can't seem to get in to contribute. They must not need my money! You Think? LOL. < p> Have you had that labby out for his morning run?

[tomkow6]

 

Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her

[beachn4fun]

Hey tom. #100 is coming around the bend.

[beachn4fun]

Hey tom. #100 is coming around the bend.

[beachn4fun]

Hey tom. #100 is coming around the bend.

[beachn4fun]

Hey tom. #100 is coming around the bend.

[laurenmarlowe]

Good morning to you Tom!