War in Ancient India c9.s3.5

c9.s3.5

Going back to the *Rg Veda Samhitā*, we find tribes living in fortifications known by the name ‘pūr’, an earth-work strengthened by a palisade or, possibly, occasionally by a stone wall.³⁹ There are numerous references to such kinds of fortress buildings which were besieged and destroyed by the invading hosts. In the later Brāhmaṇa literature also there is a distinct reference to the existence of forts. In the annual sacrifice portion of the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa* the three Agnis or fires are described as forming three forts to prevent the Asuras from disturbing the sacrifice.⁴⁰ These, being afraid of these fires, with Agni in front and behind, took to flight. Thus the Asuras and the Rākṣasas were exterminated. Here, even the idea of setting fire to the buildings as a last resort receives emphasis. In the *Kauṣitaki Brāhmaṇa* the Upāsadas are described as the citadel of the Asuras, the enemies of the Devas.⁴¹ Here, these take refuge against the gods. They make citadels of iron⁴² in this world, of silver in the atmospheric regions, and of gold in the sky beyond. It may therefore be said without any fear of contradiction that the use of forts was well known to the people of the Vedic age.