Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.s3.1

c8.s3.1

The causes of war in ancient India could be classified under the following heads :—(1) It was the age of chivalry, and what worthier cause could there be than rescuing a damsel in distress or a maiden whom the knight-errant loved but who was to be married to others. Any insult to the women, however, had also to be avenged and this led to wars. The Paṇhavāgaraṇa mentions Sītā,⁵⁹ Dovai,⁶⁰ Ruppiṇī,⁶¹ Paumāvaī, Tārā,⁶² Kāñcanā,⁶³ Rattasubhaddā,⁶⁴ Ahinnikā, Suvaṇṇaguliyā,⁶⁵ Kinnarī, Surūpā, Vijjumai and Rohiṇī,⁶⁶ who were the causes of wars. Similar wars took place for Mallī⁶⁷ and Miyāvatī.⁶⁸ (2) The second cause of war was the aggressive spirit of certain rulers. The cause if analysed was not so trivial as the wish to possess certain jewels, etc., which found expression in forcing the weaker side to accept the will of the stronger side. There was a fight between Pajjoya and Dummuha over a diadem,⁶⁹ between Nami and Caṇḍajasa over an elephant,⁷⁰ between Kūṇiya and Ceḍaga over an elephant and the necklace.⁷¹ (3) The boundary dispute or the rise of a neighbouring state sometimes brought about war. (4) The war of Cakravartins, however, was fought not for aggrandisement but for the strength of the central government.