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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.s2: Warfare

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.s2

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English

Warfare

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The art of warfare together with its various tactics, stratagems and practices, was well known in those days. The *Uttarādhyayana cūrṇi* mentions vehicles, chariots, horses, elephants, foot-soldiers, shields (*āvaraṇa*), weapons, tact (*kusalatta*), diplomacy, competency, perseverance, good physique and health as necessary for carrying on a war.⁴⁶ Camps (*khaṇḍhāvāraṇivesa*) were an important conjunct of warfare.⁴⁷

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¹⁹⁰ Also see *Mahābhārata*, V, 152.

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A distinction is made between *juddha* and *sangāma*. In the former there was no order in fighting, while in the latter battle formations were used (*vūha*).⁴⁸ The *sagadavūha* (waggon array) and *garudavūha* (eagle array) are mentioned in the *Niryavaliyā*. The army of Cedaga formed the former while that of Kūṇiya the latter.⁴⁹ The *cakka*, *daṇḍa* and *sūci* *vūhas* are also mentioned.⁵⁰ Two types of battles are mentioned: (1) battles in which war-engines were employed (*mahāsilākantaka*),⁵¹ (2) battles in which chariots and pestles were used (*rahamusala*). It is said that in these battles a huge number of people were killed.⁵²

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⁴⁸ Jambu, Ṭī 2, 24.

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⁴⁹ I, p 28. Kautilya mentions details of various battle arrays which also include *garuda* and *sakaṭa* *vyūhas*. It is called an eagle-like array when, having formed the wings, the front is made to bulge out, when it consists of two lines in front and has its wings arranged as in the staff-like array, it is called a cart like array (*Arthaśāstra*, pp 403 f; also see *Manu*, VII, 187 f, *Mahābhā*, VI, 56, 75, also Date, *The Art of War in Ancient India*, p. 72 ff).

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⁵⁰ Ovā., 40, p 186, *Panha*., 3, p 44

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⁵¹ According to Monier William's *Sanskrit Dictionary*, *Mahāsilā* is a kind of weapon (a *śataghni* with iron nails)

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⁵² According to Abhayadeva, however, *Mahāsilākantaka* is so called because in this battle even a thorn (*kaṇṭaka*) acted like a big stone (*mahāsilā*), *Rahamusala* was so called because a single chariot equipped with a mace (*musala*) moved about which effected a great execution of men (Bhag, 7 9). Also see *Harivamsa*, II, 42 21, II. 39. 75.

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Siege-warfare was the usual practice. The aggressive king would besiege the neighbour's state and challenge him either to surrender or to prepare for the battle. Sometimes the seige continued for a considerable time. Kūṇika is said to have besieged the city of Vesāli for a long period.⁵³ King Sālivāhana used to lay siege to Bharuyakaccha every year.⁵⁴ It is stated that when Jiyasattu and other kings besieged Mihilā, king Kumbhaga closed the city gates and the citizens could not move out.⁵⁵ It is for this reason that the cities of those days were strongly fortified. The fortifications consisted of walls (*pākāra*), battlements (*gopura*), towers (*aṭṭālaga*), moats and trenches (*ussālaga*, com. *khādikā*) and *sayagghi* for defending a town.⁵⁶

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⁵³ *Āta cū*., II, p 173.

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⁵⁴ Ibid, p 200 f.

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⁵⁵ *Nāyā*., 8, p. 112.

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⁵⁶ *Uttarā*., 9, 18, *Ovā*., 1, p. 5.

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Strategy and diplomacy played an important part in this type of warfare. Men of shrewd commonsense and profound wisdom brought into play their endless manoeuvres and novel tactics to cause the other party to surrender. We are told as to how Abhayakumāra, by a clever subterfuge which consisted of burying the counterfeit coins in the enemy's camp, created suspicion in the mind of Pajjota about the fidelity of his soldiers and thus foiled his attack on Rāyagaha.⁵⁷ A regular system of espionage was another feature of siege-warfare. Spies were regularly employed to watch the activities of the enemy. They joined the enemy's people and found out their secrets. We have seen how Kūnika employed hermit Kūlavālaya to cause the citizens of Vesāli to destroy the mound and secured victory over Cedaga.⁵⁸

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⁵⁷ *Āva cū*., II, p. 159.

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⁵⁸ Ibid., p 174.

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