Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c8.s1.t1.24

c8.s1.t1.24

Sharma (1960, pp–12–13) thinks that, "Vedic literature offers convincing evidence of the existence of a number of towns in the Gangetic valley, towns like Asandivant the royal city of Janamejaya and Parikshita, Kampila, Ayodhya, and Kausambi are prominently mentioned Panini and Jatakas present a picture of the central Gangetic valley dominated by numerous towns and cities, many of which were evidently fortified. The word pura, denoting rampart, fort or stronghold, is of frequent occurrence in Vedic literature. Deities like Indra and Agni are invoked to destroy enemy's forts, many of which were wide and broad, and had ramparts of mud or Sunbaked bricks, probably also with stone facing. The word Dehi, referring to defensive enclosures or ramparts of hardened earth with palisades and a ditch, occurs in the R.V. (RV. VI. 47.2 A passage in the Satapatha Brahmana shows that moat or ditch was also known in the period. Panini mentions towns, town planning, fort, rampart, moat, gates and watch towers (Agrawal V.S. p. 137). Kautilya (Samasastry, Arthasastra of Kautilya II, 3.51) has given elaborate account of types of the forts, the site for fortification, of rampart, towers, staircases and moats etc. He refers to prākāra or Vapra. According to Pāṇini prākāra was made of bricks and in the light of Pāṇini's prākāra in Kauṭilya may denote revetment of baked bricks against rampart or vapra. The description of Pāṇini and Kauṭilya accords well with the references in Kauśāmbī with the rampart, reverment of bricks, guard rooms and towers flanking a passage through them."