War in Ancient India c7.s1.t4.53

c7.s1.t4.53

In this connexion it is interesting to consider the oft-repeated statement that horses are non-Indian. It is not the whole truth. They were known to the Asuras of Vedic literature. There is a legend narrated in the third book of the *Hariharacaturanga* (though this is a work of the late 12th century A.D., the tradition recorded is very ancient). Once Brahmā performed a sacrifice out of which came a white horse with wings. It again came out as Uccaiśravas during the mythical churning of the milk ocean. Bali, the asura chief, took it for his use and with it as his riding animal he was able to achieve many impossible things. The Devas noticed the value of such a riding animal and appealed to the Creator for its possession. Out of the tears of the latter in the Dakṣayajña came forth horses which were divided into four castes and many other sub-castes. Dakṣa felt them to be a nuisance and cursed them to find their abode on the earth deprived of their wings. Thenceforward the horses became the riding animals of gods and men. These horses went to the Himalayan slopes where the hermitage of the sage Śālihotra was. The latter protected them as his own sons and presented them to gods like Indra, Agni, Varuṇa, as well as to kings on the earth. If there is any historical truth underlying this legend, it is that the Asuras were the first to know the use of horses and that the Devas learnt it afterwards.⁷⁴