War in Ancient India c6.s6.4

c6.s6.4

A careful study of the various types of sculptures found in various parts of India from far-off Gāndhāra to South Indian temples, is invaluable to a student of Hindu military History. Cunningham¹²⁹ says: ‘ With regard to the use of sculptures, although no certain examples now remain of an earlier date than the time of Aśoka, yet I can point to the statement of Curtis that an image of Hercules was carried in front of the army of Porus as he advanced against Alexander. This worship of Hercules is also mentioned by Strabo on the authority of Megasthenes as prevailing in the plain country while the people of the hill worshipped Bacchus. But from the post-Aśoka period we find a rich and wonderful development of this great art. It may be that during the comparatively brief interval of peace during Aśoka’s reign that the manufacturers of weapon and other war-arms as well as the artisans took to this important work, much of it being absorbed by the State. The devout followers of Buddhism took great interest in getting the various Buddhist shrines ornamented and painted. The result was good and striking reliefs in the place of frescoes. ‘ These circumstances explain ’, says E. B. Havell, ‘ the peculiar characteristics of the Bhārhut, Sāñchī and Amarāvatī sculptures ’. ¹³⁰