War in Ancient India c13.5

c13.5

It is the work of Kuruvājapeyayāji Godāvaramiśra, the minister of Mahārājādhirāja Gajapati Pratāparudradeva. Thus the work belongs to the 15th century A.D. (or the early 16th). Its study is valuable in that it indicates the continuity of traditional methods and prescriptions, and in this connexion furnishes additional information from sources known to the author at the time of composition. This manuscript of the Hariharacaturanga is divided into eight books. The first four deal with the fourfold force in the order of elephants, chariots, horses and infantry. While those sections on elephants and horses occupy nearly 90 pages respectively, the information under the headings of chariots and infantry is meagre and occupies about four pages in the manuscript. The last four books deal respectively with dhanurvēda, rājanīti, dhanurvidyā and krīḍayuddha. (This last is a period of training or apprenticeship after the period of study is over). In the opening lines of Book V the author expresses his indebtedness to previous works on the Dhanurvēda and in this connexion mentions four works—the Auśanasa Saṁhitā, Viracintāmaṇi, Koḍaṇḍacaturbhujam and Sārasangraham, all of which are probably lost to-day. Towards the end of the sixth book, another work, called Jayacintāmaṇi is referred to. It is said to be a work bearing on astronomy and astrology, and the king is advised therein to set out on an expedition at an auspicious time.