FReeper Canteen ~ Part I: War in Ancient India ~ July 13, 2004

A Tribute to Hinduism.com ^ | July 13, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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Part I: War in Ancient India

The history of ancient India is largely a history of Hindu culture and progress. Hindu culture  has a distinct claim to a higher antiquity than Assyrian schools would claim for Sargon I and as much or even higher antiquity than Egyptian scholars would claim for the commencement of the first dynasty of Kings. One aspect of this culture consists in India's political institutions which were almost modern. Modern warfare has developed on mechanical lines, giving less scope for the qualities of courage and individual leadership. The value and importance of the army were realized very early in the history of India, and this led to the maintenance of a permanent militia to put down dissent within and arrest aggression from without. This gave rise to the Ksatriya warrior caste, and the ksatram dharmam came to mean the primary duty of war. To serve the country by participating in war became the svadharma of this  warrior community. 

Hindu military science recognizes two kinds of warfare - the dharmayuddha and the kutayuddha. Dharmayuddha is war carried on the principles of dharma, meaning here the Ksatradharma or the law of Kings and Warriors. In other words, it was a just and righteous war which had the approval of society. On the other hand, kuttayuddha was unrighteous war. It was a crafty fight carried on in secret. The Hindu science of warfare values both niti and saurya i.e. ethical principles and valor. It was therefore realized that the waging of war without regard to moral standards degraded the institution into mere animal ferocity. A monarch desirous of dharma vijaya should conform to the code of ethics enjoined upon warriors. The principles regulating the two kinds of warfare are elaborately described in the Dharmasutras and Dharmasastras, the epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata), the Arthasastra treatises of Kautalya, Kamandaka, and Sukra. Hindu India possessed the classical fourfold force of chariots, elephants, horsemen, and infantry, collectively known as the Caturangabala. Students also know that the old game of chess also goes by the name of Caturanga. From the references to this game in the Rg Veda and the Atharva Veda and in the Buddhists and Jaina books, it must have been very popular in ancient India. The Persian term Chatrang and the Arabic Shatrang are forms of the Sanskrit Caturanga. 

According to Sir A. M. Eliot and Heinrich Brunnhofer (a German Indologist) and Gustav Oppert, all of whom have stated that ancient Hindus knew the use of gunpowder. Eliot tells us that the Arabs learnt the manufacture of gunpowder from India, and that before their Indian connection they had used arrows of naptha. It is also argued that though Persia possessed saltpetre in abundance, the original home of gunpowder was India. In the light of the above remarks we can trace the evolution of fire-arms in the ancient India. (source: German Indologists: Biograhpies of Scholars n Indian Studies writing in German - By Valentine Stache-Rosen. p.92). Terence Duke, author of The Boddhisattva Warriors: The Origin, Inner Philosophy, History and Symbolism of the Buddhist Martial Art Within India and China, martial arts went from India to China. Fighting without weapons was a specialty of the ancient Ksatreya warriors of India.

Introduction

The value and importance of the army were realized very early in the history of India, and this led in course of time to the maintenance of a permanent militia to put down dissensions. War or no war, the army was to be maintained, to meet any unexpected contingency. This gave rise to the Ksatriya or warrior caste, and the ksatram dharman came to mean the primary duty of war. To serve the country by participating in war became the svadharma or this warrior community. 

The necessary education, drill, and discipline to cultivate militarism were confined to the members of one community, the Ksatriyas. This prevented the militant attitude from spreading to other communities and kept the whole social structure unaffected by actual wars and war institutions. Says the Arthva Veda: "May we revel, living a hundred winters, rich in heroes." The whole country looked upon the members of the ksatriya community as defenders of their country and consequently did not grudge the high influence and power wielded by the Ksatriyas, who were assigned a social rank next in importance to the intellectual and spiritual needs of the society. The ancient Hindus were a sensitive people, and their heroes were instructed that they were defending the noble cause of God, Crown and Country. Viewed in this light, war departments were 'defense' departments and military expenditure were included in the cost of defense. In this, as in many cases, ancient India was ahead of modern ideas.

Chivalry, individual heroism, qualities of mercy and nobility of outlook even in the grimmest of struggles were not unknown to the soldiers of ancient India. Thus among the laws of war, we find that (1) a warrior (Khsatriya) in armor must not fight with one not so clad (2) one should fight only one enemy and cease fighting if the opponent is disabled, (3) aged men, women and children, the retreating, or one who held a straw in his lips as a sign of unconditional surrender should not be killed. It is of topical interest to note that one of the laws enjoins the army to leave the fruit and flower gardens, temples and other places of public worship unmolested.  

Next Tuesday, Part II of War in Ancient India

[tomkow6]

"Are you happy now?? "

NOPE!

Need MORE CHAOS!!!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, TM, for the daily fresh coffee and inspiration for our troops.

[StarCMC]

Good morning armyboy - slow day in here, eh??

Whatcha doin' today?

[Fawnn]

Trip delayed (because daughter decided to take the grandbabies swimming this morning instead of this evening), so I have time to:



Kathy in Alaska!!! #50!!!
beachn4fun!!! #100!!!
bentfeather!!! #150!!!
tomkow6!!! #200!!!

[Fawnn]

It's hot here. Maybe a shower or two later this week.

How very tomkow-ish of you. (When it's hot, most people shower more frequently than that.) ;)

[tomkow6]

Ahhhh! Such NICE, FULL, ROUND WooHoos!

[tomkow6]

WHY?

[Fawnn]

Without factoring in recent Chicago temperatures, have the Cubs won enough games yet for you to take a BATH!? ;)

[StarCMC]

Click here - you gotta see these pics!

[Lady Jag]

[armyboy]

i'm nt doing much, i'm just relaxing and surfinn the net

[StarCMC]

SOunds like a good plan to me. Too hot here to do anything else! LOL!

[kjfine]

LOL!!! That looks like an angelic pig.

[tomkow6]

When the CUBS go to the World Series, & NOT A SECOND SOONER!

That's gonna take ALOT of personal sacrifice on my part to go thru with this foolish thing my "voices" uttered!

Perhaps, I can't be held responsible for the utterances of my "voices"???

[MeekOneGOP]

Nice design on that early radio ! :^D

Is that beer chest on the left full of beer and ice ? I'm ready to party.

Turn that radio UP, girls !!

[MeekOneGOP]

Near record, huh ? Must be Global Warming, huh ? LOL!

We're goin' for around 98 today, with a heat Index of 105.

They are calling for 100 the next 2 days. Summer's here now.

Dad came up yesterday and he gave us some tomatoes from his garden. I love
'maters ! And they are SOooo much better home grown like that too.

[StarCMC]

Well ya'll - gotta feed the munchkins, and then get out the door so I'll see ya later this afternoon.

[SevenofNine]

Good morning Canteen members
OMGGGG I saw report off Fox and Friends where Sky News interview camp full of kiddie bombers in Gaza you remember Summer camp back in da day OMG I saw a kid that got be old as 9 years old

Also another report off World Tribune North Korea is saying they not going for US proposal to stop nuke experiment also North Korea just announced they try make deal with China give fuel for their nuke carrier planes

They have nuke carrier planes how they score those

Also Debka is reproting that Jerselrum Post report that Israelis are consider build road bridge around the wall near infamous Israel fence that everybody b**** about

And breaking news off Sky news Phillipines just announced to save that hostage who may be dead already they going pull out of Iraq few weeks earlier

What happen to the country that drove Japanese crazy

Douglas McArthur be spinning in his grave

Tomkow get ready for Chicago Bear as your senator report off Wash Times Mike Dikita is consider run for Senate to replace my username alterego ex husband fall from grace as Senator

I got question Tomkow

Demos party vs Dikta

How many points dude

You know that SNL reset

[tomkow6]

Probably never happen with Ditka....wife Dianna says she'll DIVORCE him if he runs!

[Fawnn]

Perhaps, I can't be held responsible for the utterances of my "voices"???

It sounds like you have at least one wise voice among the others. My advice is to listen to THAT ONE! ;)

I'm outta here! Laterssssssssssssssssssss