War in Ancient India c7.s1.t4.6

c7.s1.t4.6

The next important force of war consisted of elephants. From very early times the elephant was used in peace as a vehicle and in war as a combatant.⁴⁵ It was an excellent means of transport over rugged tracts. The numerous representations of the animal on coins and in architectural and sculptural works from Gāndhara to Rāmeśvaram as well as in Indonesia are an indication of the esteem in which it was held by the ancient Indians, clearly on account of its usefulness. There is a reference in the *Ṛg Veda* to two elephants bending their heads and rushing together against the enemy,⁴⁶ which is a fairly early reference to the animal being used in war. In the earlier texts of this Samhita the elephant is spoken of as a wild animal with one hand, while in the later ones it is designated as ‘hastin’.⁴⁷ By the time of the *Yajur Veda Samhita* the art of training elephants had become common.