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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.t1: Chariots

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.t1

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English

Chariots

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A chariot was a very important means of conveyance in olden days. Unfortunately, no details as to its construction are given in Jain literature. We are told that a chariot was equipped with umbrella, standards, bells, flags, ornamental arches (*torana*), a musical instrument (*nandighosa*) and with a net of small bells; it was made of *tinisa* wood growing in the Himālaya, decorated with many patterns and inlaid with gold. Its spokes and axles (*dhurā*) were firm and its felly (*nemi*) was of iron. Excellent horses were yoked to it and it was provided with an accomplished charioteer. It was furnished with quivers each containing hundred arrows, armours, helmets, bows, and other weapons.²

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² *Ovā sū*, 31, p 132, *Ava cū*, p 188, also see *Rāmāyaṇa*, III, 22 13 ff, *Mahābhārata*, V, 94. 18 ff.

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Two varieties of chariots are mentioned, namely, *yānaratha* and *sangrāmaratha*. The former was an ordinary chariot whereas the latter had a wooden seat looking like a sedan-chair (*phalaka*).³ The king's chariot's bore special names. For instance, the chariot of Pajjoya was called *Aggibhīru* (fire-proof) and was considered one of the four jewels.⁴

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³ *Anu. Tī*, p 146 In the Kautilya's *Arthaśāstra* (p 156) there are mentioned no less than seven different sizes of chariots There are also mentioned six varieties of chariots for different purpose. The *devaratha* was the chariot for the idols, the *pustaratha* was the festal chariot, the *sangrāmika* the war chariot, the *pariyānika* that was used ordinarily for travelling. There was another class of war-chariots called the *starapurābhyāmka*. Then there was the *venayika* of chariot used in the period of training.

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⁴ *Ava cū*, II, p 160.

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