Wars of Ancient India (PART-2)

Hello Everyone !!!

The Laws of War in Ancient India :

1. Fighting must begin no earlier than sunrise and end exactly at sunset.

2. More than one warrior may not attack a single warrior.

3. Two warriors may duel, only if they carry the same weapon and are on same type of mount (on foot/ horse/ elephant/ chariot).

4. No warrior should kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered.

5. One who surrenders becomes a prisoner of war (PoW) and will then be subjected to protections of a PoW.

6. No warrior should kill or injure an unarmed warrior.

7. No warrior should injure or kill an unconscious warrior.

8. No warrior should injure or kill a person/ animal not taking part in the war and the old person.

9. No warrior should kill or injure a warrior whose back is turned away.

10. No warrior should attack a woman.

11. No warrior should attack an animal not considered a direct threat.

12. The rules specific to each weapon must be followed.

13. Warriors should not engage in any unfair warfare.

The Martial Arts Taught : 

1. Vajra-mushti, Loh-mushti (boxing with iron ring)

2. Kalaripayattu

3. Silambam

4. Boxing

5. Wrestling

6. Marma-adi (fighting with pressure points)

Agni Purana : (Ch. 249-52)

The earliest extant manual of Dhanurveda is in the Agni Purana. 

It divides the art into weapons that are thrown or unthrown.

1. Thrown class :-- (12 weapons in 4 categories)

a) Yantra-mukta--        Projectile weapons by machines using fire, gas or electric.

b) Pani-mukta--           Weapons thrown by hand

c) Mukta-sandharita-- Weapons that are thrown or drawn back.

d) Mantra-mukta--       Weapons thrown by chanting mantras or magic incantations (6 types)

2. Unthrown class :-- (118 weapons in 3 categories)

a) Hasta sastra--    Melee weapons that do not leave hands             (20 types)

b) Mukta-amukta-- Weapons that can be thrown or used in-close    (98 types)

c) Bahu-yuddha--   Unarmed combat

3. Ranking of the type of Fight :--

a) Duel with Bow & arrow.

b) Fight with Spear

c) Fight with Sword

d) Wrestling/ unarmed combat

• 32 types of martial arts described.

The Equipment used to Defend :

1. Helmet

2. Armour

3. Neck armor

4. Shield

An Akshauhini :

It was an ancient battle formation consisting of :--

• 21,870 chariots
• 21,870 elephants 
• 65,610 cavalry
• 1,09,350 infantry soldiers

In each of these large groups, the digits add up to 18.

to be continued...

Thanks for Reading !!!