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Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c18.s1: A Critical Coordination

Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c18.s1

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A Critical Coordination

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The detailed descriptive canonical account about the building up of the forts (Fig.78) given in Kautilya's *Arthaśāstra*, as briefly given in the Appendix, is not without any basis. The Harappan fortifications (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) have within, the main roads at the principal axis intersecting at the centre, oriented to the cardinal points, with many parallel lanes. This kind of planning of the streets had resulted in numerous blocks aligned systematically in rows. Further, the northern part served as the citadel. Now, when compared with the plan of the Harappan fortifications (Fig.5), one will be amazed to see the close similarities in the essential layout of the forts in practice during the Harappan times and in theory suggested by Kautilya. Kauṭilya, being a more scholar-politician, speaks of the princip^e\^ls in general. We find further in the comparison that there is a considerable advancement in the methods of the construction and layout of forts during the time of Kautilya. The most singular and very important addition to be noted is enclosed of a fort by moats (Fig.80 and Fig. 81) alongside the wall, on the outside. Besides, provision of circular bastions in many numbers at regular intervals guarding the gateways is another noteworthy feature. These developments are obviously due to the advancement of the technology of making of and varieties of weapons.

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The Harappans used (Fig.92) spears, shaft-holed-axes bows, arrows,celts, swords etc. of bronzes sparingly. But as well-known from Kautilya that the Mauryan period was highly advanced in technology and Iron was profusely used. The weapons (Fig.93) are of varieties and far more effective.

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Now, the Mauryan fort is not completely excavated and laid bare (Mishra,V.K. and Altekar,A.S., 1959, pp. 6-8) for understanding the theoretical guide lines of Kautilya. Hence Kautilya's canons are extremely important to know to what extent it has been useful for the builders of forts in the succeeding ages. For this kind of understanding it is, therefore, necessary to have the conjectural drawing as enunciated in the text. The same (Fig.78) prepared by me is given below.

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The architectural drawing (Fig.78) displays a circular fort divided by three principal parallel roads. One set being oriented east-west and the other set north-south. They, therefore, divide the interior area into 16 blocks and these roads pass through the fort and across the moats on the outside. Thus there are 12 gateways at the intersection of the fort walls and the roads at regular intervals. The fort is enclosed by three concentric moats at regular intervals.

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Kautilya gives even the measurements of the moats, fort-wall etc. (Fig.78). The outermost should be of 14 Dandas, the intermediate 12 and the innermost 10. Inbetween the moats there is a bund (embankment) of 2 Dandas wide. It may be noted that the width of the moat decreases by 2 Dandas from (decreases by 2 Dandas from) the outermost to the innermost. It has been after a careful study by experts in Silpa texts like Shama Sastry,R. and Acharya,P.K. etc. that a 'Danda' is found to be equivalent (Shama Sastry,R., 1956, Re.Ed. PP.60-61) to 6 feet or 1.80 metres.

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The main entrance is from the east; and the two blocks in the interior flanking the main central road should be of burial grounds, they in turn are flanked by stables of cows and horses and the settlements of the people of low castes. The place at the centre is meant for temples; and the Citadel for the royal family etc. is to be located in the north-west block abutting the central area.

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Coming to the structural details, the moats should have sloping sides from top to the middle point and then vertical sides to the bottom. The fortwall must have at the bottom trap-passages filled with all kinds of injurious instruments at different points. The construction of the fort wall is of two types: One is about 6 Dandas wide with vertical sides having plain wall walk on the sides with parapet-walls at the both the edges. The outer parapet-wall is doubly higher than the inner. The other type is that the lower half of the wall is vertical on sides and the upper half is bulgeous. On the inner side of the fort wall is a ramp well set by the tramplings of the elephants.

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With this brief description of and reference to the conjectural drawing (Fig.78), let us try to understand the safety measures for the inmates of the fort and ununderstandable dangers to enemies implied in planning. First of all the moats (Fig. 79 and Fig. 80) are very wide and three in numbers; the total width is of 46 Daṇḍas including the space between the innermost moat and the fort wall. There is some strategic importance in having such a distance from the edge of the outermost moat to the fort. It is more or less a fact that if an arrow is shot with utmost force aimed at a particular person it can go straight to a distance of about 60 m. and then in the meanwhile owing to the gravitational force it gradually slides down. Therefore, when enemy is at the point of the outermost moat his shots with arrows, spears etc. towards the protectors of the fort would miss the object and become ineffective. Secondly the moats are so wide that it would not be easy to cross; further in the moats generally are reared crocodiles and other acquatic creatures fatal to those who fall in. So crossing moats even swiftly is wrought with many dangers. Enemies are forced to follow the main streets. When enemies try to squeeze in by the roads naturally they are not having enough space to move about and are practically trapped and hit by the protectors guarding the gateways. Suppose soldiers try to get along the bunds, the upper parts of the moats are sloping inwards and even a slight slip would throw them into the moat. Even if they succeed to approach the gateways and try to steal a way through the fort, they are enticed by the underground passages. The enemies who try to crawl in through the passage (Fig.82 and Fig.84) would actually get their knees broken and their body scratched/and torn with the pointed sharp instruments scattered Other kinds of Forts

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Kautilya also deals with other kinds of forts, for example: Jaladurga (Fig. 87). This is to be built in a roughly hexagonal layout, with harbours on the opposite sides and soldiers guarding the entrances in the other opposite sides. With the temple at the centre, the main streets run in a radial way surrounded by paramount buildings such as royal palaces, mansions of ministers, public offices, buildings of nobles, houses of Brahmanes. These in turn are surrounded by soldiers.

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Thus from Kautilya's concept of the fort, we can understand that almost all the basic safety measures for the inmates and fatal obstacles (Fig. 82 and Fig. 84) to the incoming enemies have been thought of, thus giving a very secure planning of a fort. It is not that the fort should be constructed exactly in the way that has been enunciated by him; in fact he did not obviously mean it. What is noteworthy is that, all possible measures most favourable to subjects and fatal to enemies have already been suggested in this concept.

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This treatise has proved to be an excellent guide for the builders making some necessary alterations and additions, depending upon the site selected for, the local resources on the one hand and the techniques and weapons of war on the other. Hence, in the study of the actual forts one cannot find an exact replica of the concept in it, but does find the necessary precautionary devices modelled after this concept.

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Among the writers subsequent to Kautilya, sage Mānasāra (C. 450 A.D. – 550 A.D.) is probably the foremost. He discusses the forts of different orders and thus numerically more comprehensive than Kautilya. He grades the important strategic places in a kingdom as follows:

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1. Khēṭa fort (Fig. 89)
2. Kubjaka fort (Fig. 89)
3. Drōṇa fort (Fig. 90)
4. Giridurga, and (Fig.89)
5. Rājadhānīya fort. (Fig.91)

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Now, Khēṭa: (Fig.89) is usually a trading centre to be protected well in the interest of the prosperity of the kingdom. In general,it should be oblong semi-octagonal in plan on the bank of a river with 3 concentric fortifications. On one side is a river and on the other, a land. The entrances are from the land side and from the Ghat on the river facing each other. From the entrance on the land side two more streets run diagonally to the outermost fortification upto the junction, where there are the gates. At the main entrance on the land side, the gate opens a road round the temple and within the fortification the space is meant for traders and agriculturists. In the space in the middle and innermost fortification are the working class i.e. Sudras. In the space between the middle and outermost, on the river side are markets and godowns. The outermost fortification generally has octagonal bastions at the corner-angles. The four entrances in the outermost fortification are flanked by square bastions.

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The next in order is the fort of Kubjaka town (Fig.89) - small town probably meant to be an official Headquarters. This type of fort is also generally located on the river side with oblong layout having partial octagonal projections on the river side. The main streets run across the principal axis with parallel lands dividing the habitation area into well aligned blocks. It recalls the layout of Harappan town (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5). At the centre is located as usual a temple surrounded by palace, office-buildings and mansions of the officers. In the next blocks of the next round are scattered Ministers, Brahmanas and soldiers. And in the remaining blocks are the public of different categories located in particular areas.

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Another type of fort i.e. probably meant for a provincial Headquarters is Drōna durga (Fig.90). It is trapezium in plan having two concentric fortification walls surrounded by series of moats i.e. ditches. The external fortification wall has got 4 bastions at regular intervals. And the main entrance is located at the centre of the longer parallel wall. The interior, as in the case of Kubjaka durga (Fig. 89) is divided into 4 blocks by the main streets running along the principal axis. The area within the inner fortification wall is divided into regular blocks by lanes. At the centre is a temple and in the blocks are palace, public offices, residential buildings of brahmanas. They are in turn surrounded by the army, traders servants and markets.

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The strategic hilly area is recommended for circular fort consisting of two or three concentric fortifications with main streets running in radial way from the centre where a temple is located. The fort must be on the summit of a hill with deep valley all round which in turn is surrounded by hill ranges. It is Giridurga (Fig.88).

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Finally, Mānasāra discusses the fort to be built in Rājadhānī (Fig.91) of an emperor. The general layout must be oblong measuring about 7500 Rods x 5000 Rods (i.e. 7½ miles x 5 miles or 12 kilometres x 8 kilometres). These measurements indicate the Rājadhāni fort to be a very vast extensive township. There are four concentric oblong fortification walls, the innermost encloses the principal temple of the Rājadhāni. On the exterior side of the walls are imposing niches meant for alternately Śiva and Vishnu images for worship. From the temple run the main streets along the principal axis. It is surrounded by royal palace, public halls, quarters for ministers and state officers and residential buildings of Brāhmanas, within the second enclosure.

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In the space between the II and III fortification walls are important buildings for Kshatriyas, ministers, armies, physicians, markets etc. and between the III and IV fortification walls are traders artisans etc. and guards-men are at the entrances, and on the inner side of the outermost fortification wall are barracks for soldiers.

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So, by the time of Mānasāra, we maynote the intricate development of fort architecture in relation to the strategic importance in a kingdom. Thus there has been already a well developed system and plan through the construction of forts of various kinds for the protection of the important areas of the kingdom.

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A study of these treatises would, therefore, give us a very comprehensive picture of the different kinds of forts for respective places of relative importance.

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Thus the early works exhaust almost all defensive contrivences, the later works more or less repeat the above types in varying styles. Thus, a review of relevant sections of these two works would provide the necessary clues for understanding the development of fort architecture through the ages in practice. With this background let us examine the forts under study.

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