War in Ancient India c7.s4.24

c7.s4.24

1. Perundanattu Ānaiyātkal (elephant corps).
2. Paṇḍita Śora-Terinda-Viḷḷigal (bowmen).
3. Uttama Śora-Terinda-Andalagattālār.
4. Nigarili Śora-Terinda-Udanilai Kudiraich-chevagar (horsemen).
5. Mummaḍi Śora-Terinda-Ānaippāgar (mahouts).
6. Vira Śora-Aṇukkar.
7. Parāntaka Kongavālār. 8-9. Mummaḍi Śora, and Keralāntaka Terinda Parivārattār (servants).
10. Mūlaparivāra Viṭṭeru (standing army).
11. Singalāntaka Terinda Parivārattār (servants).
12. Śirudanattu Vaḍugakkālavar.
13. Valangai-Parambaḍaigalilār. 14-27. Perundanattu, Śirudanattu, Aragiya-śora-terinda, Aridurgalanghana, Chaṇḍaparākrama Terinda, Iḷaiya Rājarāja Terinda, Kṣatriya Śikhāmaṇi Terinda, Rāja-Nittavinoda Terinda, Rājakanthirava Mūrtavikramābharaṇa, Rāja Terinda, Rājavinoda Terinda, Raṇamukha Bhīma Terinda, Vikramābharaṇa Terinda-Valangai Velaikkārar. It is not easy to exactly identify these Velakkāra troops. These were largely drawn from the Right Hand classes. It is significant that the Left Hand classes do not figure among the regiments which from the extensive nature, seem to be a people's army. However that may be what interests us is the term Velakkārar. They were probably a volunteer corps as has been suggested, raised temporarily for a certain contingency. What is more interesting is that the Velakkāra troops are mentioned in the Mahāvamsa and in the service of King Vijayabāhu (A.D. 1065-1120). Here they were mercenaries raised with a definite object viz. for an expedition against the Choḷa country. In the light of this are we tempted to identify the Velakkārar of Rājarājadeva as mercenaries. There is however no evidence of Rājarāja raising mercenary troops. His troops were all regular soldiers. We therefore agree with the suggestion that originally regular troops, these Velakkārar, eventually developed into mercenaries (See S.I.I. II. p. 10). All were recruited from the Right Hand classes of the kingdom.