Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.t3: Cavalry

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.t3

Language: English

Cavalry

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The third constituent of the four-fold army was the cavalry. The great value of the horses at the time of Kautilya lay in their quick movement and they were regarded as specially useful for guarding advanced positions, for protecting the treasury and commissariat, for cutting off the enemy’s supply, for delivering attacks against the enemy’s forces and for pursuing a retreating foe.²⁴

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²⁴ Arthaśāstra, p 398 f.

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Three varieties of horses are mentioned, viz., aśva, aśvatara, ghotaka.²⁵ An aśva was a well-bred horse from Pakkhalī (vālhīka according to Haribhadra) ; it was a clean animal²⁶ ; an aśvatara or a mule was born of a different species other than its own ; such mules came from Dilavāliya ; the ill-bred horses were known as ākīrṇa.²⁷ Kanthaka was another variety of horses found in Kamboja whom no noise frightened and who exceeded all other horses in speed.²⁸ The Thaṇāṅga mentions four varieties of kanthaka.²⁹ The mares which foaled horses every year,³⁰ were known as ṭhāiṇī (ṭhāṇī in Marāṭhi.)

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²⁵ Das cū, 6, p 213

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²⁶ Jambu, 2, p. 110, f , also Rāmāyaṇa, I, 6 22.

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²⁷ Uttarā sū, 11 16, Thā, 4. 327, for eight defects of a horse see Khaluṅka Sutta, Anguttara, IV, p 190 f.

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²⁸ Uttarā sū, 11. 16 and the com.

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²⁹ Com 4 327. Kanthaku is also mentioned in the Dhammapada A., I, p. 185.

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³⁰ Brh Bha, 3 3059 f

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The horses were equipped with armour and horse-carpet ; the crests imparted them a grim look and their waist was decorated with small mirrors (ṭhāsaga). The saddle of the horse was known as thillī. The horsemen were armed with weapons.³¹

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³¹ Vuā, 2, p 13, Ovā 31, p 132

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Horses were trained. Haribhadra refers to the training of Bahalī horses.³² Vāhyālī was the place for training horses.³³ The horse-trainers (assamaddaya) are mentioned; they trained the horses by using different kinds of muzzles for mouth, ears, nose, hair, hoofs and thighs, by bit of a bridle (khalīṇa), tying with a rope to the post (ahilāṇa), by saddling (paḍiyāṇa), brandishing (aṅkaṇa), caning (vittappahāra), beating with sticks (layappahāra), whips (kasa), lashes (chiva),³⁴ goad and thongs (toṭajuṭṭa).³⁵

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³² Ava Ti, p 261, also Rāya Sū, 161.

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³³ Uttarā Ṭī, 9, p 141.

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³⁴ Nāyā., 17, p 205, also cf Majjhima, I, p. 446.

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³⁵ Uttarā, 19 56

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Riding (assavāhaṇyā) was a luxury.³⁶ Jumping (laṅghaṇa), circular movement (vaggaṇa), gallop (dhoraṇa) and other forms of riding are mentioned.³⁷ Horses were kept in the stables (assasālā).³⁸ Meadow-grass (javasa) and husk (tusa) were given as fodder to horses.³⁹

Linked texts (4)

Bhaddālisutta — Pāli
Assājānīyasutta — Pāli
Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa — Vālmīki, Sanskrit