Warfare in Ancient India/ organizational and operational dimensions Thapliyal, Uma Prasad

INTRODUCTION: INDIAN WARFARE:
SOME DETERMINANTS
Conceptual Framework; War Galore; Motivation; Just
Wars; Pre-State War; Large Armies; The Affluence;
Trade Factor; Neglected North-West; Geographical Syn
drome; The Terrain; Fortification; Refusal to Learn
1. WARFARE IN ANCIENT INDIA: A SURVEY
Chalcolithic Age, Vedic Age, Later Vedic Age; Epic
References; Age of Mahajanapadasr, Persian Invasions;
Invasion of Alexander; Nanda-Maurya Period;
Satavahanas; Foreign Invasions; Gupta Period;
Vakatakas; Hunas; Post-Gupta Period; Vardhanas; Post-
Harsa Period; Pratiharas; Peninsular Wars [Pallavas;
Calukyas; Rastrakutas; Colas; Pandyas; Ceras]; Puranic
Wars; Points to Ponder
2. MILITARY ORGANIZATION
Classification of Armies \Maula-bala\ Bhrtya-bala\
^reni-bala\ Mitra-bala\ Dvisad-bala\ Atavl-bala\ Other
Classifications; Mantra-bala\, Caste System and Mili
tary Service; Evolution of Arms; Functions of Arms;
Development of Various Arms [Infantry; Chariot Corps;
Decline of Chariot; Elephant Corps; Cavalry; Treasury
and Counsel; Navy; Air Arm]; The Logistics [Epic
Descriptions; Maurya System; Gupta Age and After];
Army Formations: Vedic and Epic Times [Strength of
Formations; Greek Accounts; Evidence of Arthnsaslra,
Views of ^ukrawt/y. Command Structure; Scnapatj [Im
portance; Consecration; Selection; Powers, Qualities and
Privileges]; Other Ranks [Ranks in Arthasastra;
Sukraniti; Nitiprakasikay Salaries of Soldiers [Vedic
System; Epic Times; Arlliasaslra on Salaries; Views of
Sukraniti", NItiprakasika\\ Pension; Defence Production
[Early System; System in Arthasastra\ Greek Aceounlsj;
Salutation; Women in Arms
3. CONDUCT OF WAR
Kala Factor; Dcsa or Bhumi Factor; Svahahi Factor;
^atrubala¥acior\ MandalaFacior, UpayacauistayaiVonx
Means) ySama\ Dana\ Bhcda\ Danda\ Maya\ Upeksa\
Indrajala\\ Danda as Last Option; Sadgunya (Six Mea
sures) \Sandhi\ Vigraha\ Yana\ Asana\ Samsraya\
Dvaidhlhhavay, ^aktistrividha\ Rajaduta\ Sangraina-sajja
[Vedic Soldier;-Epic Soldier; Maurya Soldier; Foreign
Influence; Puranic Evidence]; Mounting of Dhvaja\ Mili
tary Rituals; Army Camp [Sivira in Epic; Arlhasastra\
Kamandaka NItisara\\ Omen; Army on the March
[Length of March]; Choice of Battlefield; The Battles;
Last Rites; Prisoners of War; Spirituous Liquors [Vedic
Times; Epic Times; Arthasastra. etc.; Puranic Litera
ture]; Military Intelligence; Medical Services; Military
Engineers, Military Signals; Concept of Dharmayuddha:
Dharmavijaya\ Morale Factor
4. STRATEGICAL AND TACTICAL CONCEPTS:
VEDAS, EPICS AND SMRTIS
Meaning of Vyuha\ Vedic Age; Vyuhain Epics; Choice
of Array [ Vajra-vyuha\ Sarvatobhadra-vyuha\
Krauhcaruna-vyitha\ Maha-vyuha\ Garuda-vyuha\
Ardhacandra-vyuha\ Vyala-vyuha\ Makara-vyuha\
Krauhca-vyuha\ Syena-vyuha\ Sucimukha-vyuha\
Mandala-vyiiha-. Srhgataka-vyiiha. Sakata-vyCiba. CakiavyCiha',
Cakra-Sakata-Padina-Si!ci-vyuha]\ Vyuha in
Ramayana\ Vyuha in Jatakas, Vyuha in Smrtis; Battle
Array of Porus; Military Thinkers of Epic Times
[^ukraearya; Brhaspati; Yudhisthira; Dhrstadyumna;
Arjuna; :^ikhandin; Bhisma; Dronacai^a; Karna; Rama;
Ravana]
5. STRATEGICAL AND TACTICAL CONCEPTS;
ARTHASASTRA AND 7V/77WORKS
Four Means; Deployment of Forces; Battle Formations
[Sama-vyuha: Visama-vyuha: Misra-vyuha; Suddhavyuha\\
Bala Factor; Prakrti Vyubas\ Danda-vyuha
{Pradara-vyuha\ Drdhaka-vyuha\ Asahya-vyuha\ Syenavyuha\
Capa-vyuha\ Capakuksi-vyuhar, Pratistha-vyuha\
Supratistha-vyuha\ Sanjaya-vyuba\ Vijaya-vyuba\
Stbunakama-vyuba\ Visala-vijaya-vyuba\ Camumukbavyuba,
Jbasasya-vyuba, Sucl-vyidia, Valaya-vyiiba,
Durjaya-vyuba]\ Bboga-vyuba \^akata-vyuba\ Makaravyuha\
Paripantaka-vyuba\\ Mandala-vyuba
\Sarvatobbadra-vyuba\ Durjaya-vyuba\\ Asambatavyuba
[ Vajra- or Godba-vyuba; Uddbanaka- or
Kakapadl-vyuba\ Ardbacandra- or Karkatakasrnglvyuba]-.
Miscellaneous Arrays [Arista-vyuba, Acalavyuba,
Apratibata-vyuba]\ Kamandaka Niti on Vyuba\
Agni Parana on Vyuba\ Sukraniti on Vyiiba\ Guerrilla
Warfare; Later Developments; Foreign Influence
6. WEAPONS AND ARMOUR
Chalcolithic Age; Vedic Age; Use of Iron; Classifica
tion of Weapons [Mababbarata\ Anbasastra\ Agni
Purana\ Dbanurveda\ $isupalavadba\\ Bow; Arrow;
Quiver; Mounted Archer; Stirrup; Bridle; Saddle; Sword;
Sheath; Spear; Mace; Noose; Battle-axe; Thunderbolt;
Machines; Shield; Armour; Foreign Impact; Divine
Weapons; Fire Arms
7. FORTIFICATION AND SIEGE-CRAFT
Importance of Fort; History [Vedic and Post-Vedic
Period; Mabajanapada hgc\ Maurya Period; Artbasastra
on Fort; Epic and Puranic View; Greek and Kusana
Innovations]; Sanci Evidence [Forts of South India];
Fort Types \Gin-durga\ Jala-durga\ Dhanva-duigg
Vana-durga\ Mahi-durga, Manusya-diirga\\ Security of
Fort; Siege-craft
8. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Dhanurveda\ Importance of Training; System of
Education \Asramasr, Taxila Centre; Village Centres,
State Centres; Viharasr, Guru Tradition]; Scope of Train
ing [Hunting]; Training in Weapons [Bow; Sword; Mace;
Short Sword; Shield; Noose; Movements]; Training of
Animals [Elephants; Horses; Camels; Dogs]
9. MILITARY SYMBOLS AND CEREMONIALS
Dhvaja [Symbol of Faith]; Early Dbvajas [Vedic Age;
Epic Times; Nanda-Maurya Age; Gupta Age; Post-Gupta
Period]; Pataka\ Related Customs \Dhvaja-Mahotsava\\
War-God; Military Ceremonials [ Vajapeya; Rajasuya:
Asvamedha;NIrajana;Salru-bali\\\{onom?,and Awards
[Spoils of :War, Heavenly Bliss, Memorials, Cash
Awards, Land Grants, Fillet of Honour, Enhanced Pay
and Promotions; Royal Emblems and Titles]; Martial
Music [Vedic Age; Epic Times; Maurya Period and
After; Puranic Evidence; Seventh Century and After;
Bardic Tradition]; Some Musical Instruments {Dundubhr,.
^amkha; Turya]
10. CONCLUSION
Social Framework; Political Bearings; Unending Wars;
Organizational Set-up; Exaggerated Numbers; Salaried
Soldiers; Pursuit of War; Strategy and Tactics; Imple
ments of War; Defensive Mentality; Education and Train
ing; Ceremonials; Revolutionary Changes; Foreign
Impact; Social Consequences; Dismal Showing