128 Chapter- 4
WEAPONS OF ANCIENT INDIA
In early stages of human’s history, man used weapons for
self protection. Stone, bone, horn and the like were used as
weapons. These materials were easily available. The only
purpose of these weapons was protection from wild animals. For
that these natural weapons were adequate. Thus the purpose
and usage of weapon was too limited. But in later stages of
development man lived in socially and geographically different
groups. Domination among the groups was originated. Battle for
domination was very common. Then ancestors developed more
powerful weapons like bow and arrow, sword, spear, mace and
the like. They used these weapons anywhere for victory. They
developed different kinds of arrows. Ārāmukha, kṣurapra,
ardhacandra and the like are some examples. They also
129 developed poisoned and heated arrows. Thus the purpose of
weapon has achieved a wide and extended sense.
When man became a social being, he used the weapons
for daily requirements. Knife, axe, needle and the like are some
examples. Thus the man used weapons not only for protection
but also for daily domestic purposes. Here, the purpose of
weapon was again changed. It became a prominent material for
their day to day life. In the course of time, when the ancestors
achieved progress in the medical field, they developed small
needles, scissors, blades and other surgical equipments, and
such equipments were used to save human lives or to heal the
pain of wounded person. They included these materials under the
category of tools. Here the concept of weapon is seen again
changed. In early stage, weapon was used to destroy the enemy.
Later on, the same weapon was used to save the human life. The
equipment which is useful to the existence of mankind also may
be called as weapon. This chapter narrates some equipments,
130 tools or weapons, which are very useful to the day to day life.
Some weapons are used for punishment of convicts. Aṃkus̓ a and
the like are used for punishment. Some weapons are used in
surgery. Ardhadhāram, adhomukham, antarmukham are used for
surgery. A variety of surgical tools were used in Indian Ayurvedic
therapy. A detailed list of tools, equipments and weapons
mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts are given below. It is not
complete. The use and purpose of some of them are not known.
Even the meaning of some words of such tools referred here is
controversial.
1. अिसः –Asi means Sword. खड्गम् is another Sanskrit word for asi.
Amarakos̓ a refers it as -
तुण्यां खड्गे तु िनि शचन्दर्हासािसिर यः
कौक्षेयको मण्डलागर्ः करवालः कृ पाणवत् । 1
Amarakos̓ a lists a number of terms to denote sword. They are –
खड्ग:, िनि शः, चन्दर्हासः, अिसः, िरि , कौक्षेयकः, मण्डलागर्ः, करवालः, कृ पाणः ।
1
Amarakos̓ a by Amarasiṃha, canto 2 s̓ loka1645-47
131 A detailed account of this weapon is given in the third chapter. This
word also means a holy river which joins into the river Ganga near
Kās̓ i1.
2. अङ्कु शम् –Aṃkus̓ am means a hook, elephant goad.2 According to
Amarakos̓ a अङ्कु शम् means सृिणः3. One who checks as a corrector,
governor,
director, a restraint is aṃkus̓ a. This weapon was used
for punish somebody.4
3. अिव ा –Avidyā means a missile of illusory power5. According to
Amarakos̓ a
avidyā
means
अज्ञानम्,
अहंमित.6
According
to
S̓ abdatāravali avidyā means illiterate, not educated.7 According
to
Sanskrit
means
English
dictionary
of
Monier
Williams,
avidyā
unlearned, ignorance, illusion (personified Māyā).8
1 Student’s Sanskrit English Dictionary (S.S.E.D)by V S Apte p 70
2 S̓ abdatāravali by Sreekanteswaram G. Padmanabha pillai p 57
3 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka1550
4ibid. p-5, see also Sanskrit Malayalam Dictionary (S.M.D) by V. Balakrishnan and
Dr. Leelavathy. P -11
5 ibid.P-111, see also S.S.E.D, p63
6 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 290
7 S̓ abdatāravali p223 8 www. Monier Williams online Sanskrit –English dictionary
132 The word also means spiritual ignorance illusion, illusion personified
or Maya. Brahma alone really exists. अिव ा means that our
ancestors do not teach the techniques of special weapons to one
another. They made weapons of mass destructive power and kept
its technique as secret. So the lack of knowledge of the oppositions
also helps them to win the battle.
4. अिसपुितर्का –Asiputrikā means dagger. The word पुितर्का means a
daughter. It means a doll, puppet or anything little or small of its kind.
It may be a small weapon used by the women.1 According to
S̓ abdatāravali asiputrika means sword or urumi of Malayalam 2
5. अ ध
र् ारम् –Ardhadāram means a knife or a lancet with a single edge.
It is a knife used for surgery.3
र् म् -Antarmukham means a kind of scissors used in surgery.
6.अन्तमुख
Its edge bent inwarded. S̓ abdatāravali refers antarmukham as a
weapon with inwarded edge4.
1 S.S.E.D. P-70, see also S.M.D. P 122-123
2 S̓ abdatāravali p 236
3 ibid. P 203
4 S̓ abdatāravali p 136
133 7. आटॊमुखम् – Āṭomukham means a surgical instrument employed in
bloodletting. The above three surgical knifes अ ध
र् ारम्; अन्तमुर्खम् and
आटॊमुखम् are not used in battle. All these tools were used for
wounding the enemy and later were used in surgery.
8. आरः – Āra means a knife, a shoe maker’s awl, and a knife probe.
This is also a type of knife used for surgery1. According to
S̓ abdatāravali āra means ārakal, corner, and diameter2.
9. आस्तरः - Āstara is a missile like boomerang. The word means a
covering, coverlet, a carpet, bed, mat, spreading (clothes).3
10. इलो –ilo is a Short sword with the shape of a stick.4
11. इषुः – iṣu means an arrow5. S̓ abdatāravali also refers iṣu as
arrow.6 Amarakos̓ a refers iṣu as-
कलम्बमागर्णशराः पतर्ी रोप इषु य
र् ोः ।7
1 S.M.D. P 147, see also S.S.E.D. p-85.
2 S̓ abdatāravali p 280
3 S.S.E.D. P 91, S.M.D. ,P 156
4 ibid p-163
5 Ibid P163, S.S.E.D p 95.
6 S̓ abdatāravali p 323
7 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 1641
134 12. उत्पतर्पतर् – Utpaṭrapatra is a kind of knife with tended blade.
13. एषणः – Eṣaṇa means an iron arrow1. According to S̓ abdatāravali
eṣaṇa means stimulation, provocation and s̕ astram.2
14. ऎन्दर्चकर्म् – Aindracakram means the discus of Indra. According
to S̓ abdatāravali Aindracakram and Aindrāstram are same. It is a
divine astra which was taught to Rāma by Vis̓ vāmitra.3
15. कवचम् - Kavaca means an armlet or Armor.4
16. करपतर्म् –Karapatram means a type of sword, a sew 5
17. कालचकर्ः - Kālacakra or the wheel of time, or the cycle of time is
inclusive birth and death. The word also means of an arrow and
sun.6 There is another word भाग्यचकर्म् –a sacred cakra. Our
ancestors believed that this scared cakra and arrow will help them to
win the battle. कालः is the god of death and his weapon is कालपाशम् |
In some dictionaries, Kālacakra is described as an arrow.
1 S.M.D, p 211, see also S.S.E.D p -123
2 S̓ abdatāravali p 425
3 Ibid p 428
4 S.M.D. P 238. see also S.S.E.D p-140 see also S̓ abdatāravali p 514
5 ibid. P 134. see also S.M.D., P 230.
6 ibid P. 248.see also S.S.E.D p146-147
135 18. कु ठारः and कु ठािरक – Both kuthāra and kuthārikā mean small axe.
This is used for cutting woods.1 The word कु ठः means a tree. Axe is
not in use in battle. This weapon is attributed for common people,
mainly for workers.
19. कु न्तः – Kunta means a spear, a lance, or a barbed dart2. This is the
main weapon in ancient days. Dhanurveda discussed about kunta.
This weapon is used in war by the cavalries. According to
Dhanurveda, Vais̓ ya used kunta in battle. The weapon is inclusive of
a long rod and sharpened knife. According to the length of the stick
and its knife, kunta is divided into many types. A description of it is
given in chapter three of this study.
20. कु िण्डका – Kuṇḍikā. The word means a pitcher, a student’s water
pot or debt.3 S̓ abdatāravali refers this word for water bottle, kiṇdi in
Malayalam and kamaṇdalu.4
1 S.S.E.D.p152. see also S.M.D P 258
2 ibid P 259.see also S.S.E.D p 153
3 S.M.D, p259.
4 S̓ abdatāravali p 596
136 21. कु र्ल - kurdala is a pick-axe or spade1
22. कर्कच: - Krakaca means a saw2. According to Amarakos̓ a
Krakaca is described as used for -
कर्कचो∫ ी करपतर्मारा चमर्पर्भेिदका ।3
23. खेटकम् – The word khetaka means a shield or the club of
Balarama.4 S̓ abdatāravali refers this word as the club of Balarama
and Durga. This word also denotes a shield.5
24. खड्गः - A large sacrificial knife a sword.6 The root meaning of the
the word खड्गः is cutting or dividing. खड्गः is derived from the word
खड् ‘to cut.’ According to Dhanurveda खड्गः is considered as the
royal weapon. The sword is used by Kṣatriya community खड्गं वै
क्षितर्याय च ।
7
According to the quality of metal, weight, length and
1 ibid P 259
2 ibid P 279.
3 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 S̓ loka 1998
4 S.S.E.D. p 176.
5 S̓ abdatāravali p 708
6 . ibid P 174.
7 Vasiṣṭha’s Dhanurvēda Samhita p 5
137 thickness; sword is classified into different types. The ancient people
believed that sword is born from yāgāgni (sacred fire) of Lord
Brahmā. A detailed study of sword is included in the third chapter of
the present thesis.
25. ख ाङ्गः – Khaṭṭanga is a club or staff with a skull at the top, it is
considered as the weapon of S̓ iva and carried by ascetics and
Yogins.
26. गदा - Gadā means a mace. According to Dhanurveda, gadā is
attributed for S̓ ūdra community. This weapon is used in battle. Bhīma
and Duryodhana were very famous in gadāyuddḥa. There is a story
behind the origin of the weapon, gadā. Once Kas̓ yapa prajāpati got a
son named as Gada. Lord Viṣṇu killed him, Gada. Then Vis̓ vakarma
made a weapon from the bone of Gada and that weapon is known as
Gadā. Gadā is also classified by its weight, length, and shape. It is
very difficult to use gadā in battle. It needs a high muscle power.1 The
third chapter of this thesis has a detail study about gadā.
1 Puranic encyclopedia P 371
138 27. गान्धवर्म् - Arjun is said to have received this weapon from the
head of the tribe Tumbari [Gandharvas]. The word meaning is related
to Gandharvas, Singer, and Celestial chorister. The word is also used
to denote a horse.
1
28. गारुडा म् - Garudāstra is considered as a mythical weapon used
by Rama in the battle of Lanka. The meaning of this word is arrow
shaped like Garuda. It may be a missile presided over by Garuda.
गारुड means a medicine (a particular stone) against snake poison.2
That means this गारुडा
is useful against poisoning in battle. This
may have used for transferring medicine from one part to other part of
the battle field.3
29. गॊशीषर्म् -Gos̓ īrṣam is a kind of arrow. This is a type of arrow
having the similarities of cow’s horn or head.4 According to
Amarakos̓ a Gos̓ īrṣam means 1 S̓ abdatāravali p725, see also S.M.D P306
2 ibid p 719
3 ibid p306,.see also S.S.E.D. p 186.
4 ̓
Sabdatāravali p 743
139 तैलपिणकगोशीष हिरचन्दनमि याम् । 1
30. चकर् (सुदशर्नम्) - Cakra is a discus of sharp circular missile weapon.
This is the most powerful weapon of Lord Viṣṇu. In Vedic hymns there
is no narration about this cakra. There are many stories about the
origin of sudars̓ ana cakra.
31. चमर् –Carma means a shield.2 According to Amarakos̓ a carma
means- अिजनं चमर् कृ ि ः
ी भैक्षाकदम्बकम् ।3
It is used or worn by the soldiers for protection from weapons.
32. चापम्, धनुः – The meaning of both words are bow.4 Bow and
arrow were the main weapon in ancient times. Dhanurvēda had a
detailed discussion about bow and arrow. According to Amarakos̓ a
dhanus means-
धनु ापौ धन्वशरासनकोदण्डकामुक
र् म्
इष्वसोप्यथ कणर्स्य कालपृ ं शरासनम् ।5
Amarakos̓ a described the different names of cāpa. They are-
1
Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 1336
2 S.M.D. P 331
3 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 1445
4S.M.D p 333, 421
5 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka1633-34
140 धनुः , चापः , धन्व, शरासनम्, कोद्ण्डम्, कामुक
र् म्, इष्वासः । A detailed study of bow and arrow is given in the third chapter.
33. छु िरका – छु िरका means small knife. Urumi is the common name of
छु िरका in Malayalam. The word छु िरका is derived from छु र् | it means to
cut or divide.1 छु िरका is not much useful in war. It is a weapon for self
defense. A detailed narration is included in chapter three.
34. जम् , तूणीरः – Tūṇīra means quiver2. Amarakos̓ a refers
तूणः, उपासङ्गः, तूणीरः, िनषङ्गः, इषुिध, तूणीः
as the different
names of Tūṇīra .3
35. िजम्भका म् – Jiṃbhakāstra is considered as a mythical missile.
36. तुलगुडा – Tulaguta means a kind or ball used as missile.
37. तॊमर – Tomāra is a kind of lance or javelin4. Amarakos̓ a refers
Tomāra as 1 S.S.E.D p 214
2 ibid p 217, 237
3 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 1644
4 S.M.D. p 282
141 वा पुिं स शल्यं शङ्कु नार् सवर्ला तोमरो∫ि याम् ।1
38. ितर्शूलम् - A trident, a weapon of Lord S̓ iva. This weapon has three
tipped edges in one side. The other end of the long staff is also
sharpened.2
39. ितर्कू चर्क – Trikūrcaka is a short of knife with three edges3
40. दन्तकण्टकम् – Dantakanda is a tooth shaped weapon described in
ancient texts.
41. दण्डचकर्म् – Daṇdacakra is a mythical weapon. This is said to have
used to punish the culprits.
42. दण्डः – Daṇda means stick or staff. This weapon has some
similarity with Gadā. It is a short form of gada in shape.4 According to
Amarakos̓ a danda means-
माठरः िपङ्गलो दण्ड ण्डांशोः पािरपा र्काः ।5
1 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 1653
2 ibid p 287, see also Purāṇic encyclopedia p 529
3 S.M.D p 384
4 ibid P 389
5 Amarakos̓ a canto 1 s̓ loka 207
142 43. िद ा म् - Divine weapon. These weapons are more powerful and
used by the help of mantras. Braḥmāstra, nāgāstra, pās̓ upatāstra etc.
are the examples of divyāstras. िद
means from heaven, divine or
celestial.
44. दघन – Daghana is a kind of club used in dual combat.
45. दन्तशुङ्ग -Dantas̓ unga is a pair of pincers for drawing teeth1
46. धमर्चकर्म् - Dharmacakra is a mythical weapon.
धमर्ः means
religion, customary observance of a caste or sect, religious or
moral merit, virtue, righteousness, good workers (regarded as
one of the four ends of human existence). This astra is used to
punish someone for disobedience.2
47. नखश
म् - Weapon shaped like a claw, cheved, crooked (also can
be fitted to the nails). This can be considered as a very primitive form
of weapon. Man learned the fighting techniques from wild animals. He
1 S.M.D P 390
2 S.S.E.D p 268
143 realized that the animals and birds use their teeth, nail and beak for
fighting. But his teeth and nails are not much stronger to attack. So
man thinks about weapons. First he imitated the fighting techniques of
animals and used animal’s nails, teeth, horn and beak for weapons.
So nakhas̓ astra is a primitive form of weapon.
48. नाराचः –Nārāca means an iron arrow.1 In Amarakos̓ a nārāca
means -
पर् वेडनास्तु नाराचाः पक्षो वाजि षू रे ।2
49. नालीकः - Nālīka is a kind of arrow or spear3 and it is made of iron.
50. नागपाशम्, नागा म् - Nāgapās̓ a or nāgāstra is a sort of magical
noose (used in battle) in the shape of serpent. Both are the different
name of the same weapon. This weapon is considered as a mythical
arrow. An arrow shaped like a serpent is called नागा म्. This weapon
is projected by the help of mantra.
1 ibid p 285
2 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka1642
3 ibid P 285
144 According to Purāṇa, nāgāstra is a weapon of high distructive
power. Ancestors are very interested in नागाराधन. They worshiped
नाग as the ornament of Lord S̓ iva. Actually fear is the base behind the
नागाराधन. From this fear he used नागपाशम् as a weapon against his
enemies. They used snakes into the enemy’s camp for victory.
The
following story about the astra is told in the Yudhakāṇda of Kamba
Rāmāyaṇa.
In olden times there was a very powerful and mean hearted
Asura called Nāga. Brahma resorted to virulent black magic to kill
Nāga, and from the fire pit arose a terrible goblin called Nāgapās̓ a. It
was deputed to kill Nāga and the Trimūrtis followed it. Nāgapās̓ a went
to the city of Nāgāsura called Vīramahendra, ascended its tower and
made a terrible noise the echo which caused abortion in all the
pregnant nāga women. Many children fainted and many died.
Nāgāsura deputed his army chieftain Vīrasena with an army to kill the
nāga goblin. At the sight of the army the goblin raised another terrible
145 cry, which blew off Vīrasena and his army, reducing them to powder.
Then the minister of Nāgāsura with a big army attacked the goblin.
But the minister was devoured by him, and the army, annihilated.
Enraged at this defeat of his minister, Nāgāsura attacked the goblin
with an army of corers of soldiers. But in seconds the goblin devoured
the mighty army. At last Nāgapās̓ a and Nāgāsura engaged
themselves in a duel which lasted for years. Ultimately the goblin
swallowed up Nāgāsura also. Then he went to the Trimurtis and
saluted them. They granted him many boons, and S̓ iva, in excess of
joy, wore it as one of the ornaments round his neck. Sometime later
Nāgapās̓ a set out on a tour to see the fourteen worlds, and Siva
specially instructed him not to visit the Salmali Island. He visited the
various worlds earning all knowledge and started for mount Kailāsa.
On his way he saw Salmali island, the abode of nāgas, and in
violation of S̓ iva’s instructions, he entered the island. The nāgas there
did not honour him and his false pride made him tremble with rage.
Then the nagas of the island told him thus: "We have a powerful
146 enemy, who visits us every month, and unless we feed him
sumptuously he will devour all of us for food. He is to come today, and
if you are capable enough, you defeat and drive him off and save us.
If you do so, we shall crown you as our King and honour you." The
powerful enemy of the nagas was Garuda and he came. All the nagas
ran off at his sight. Garuda then attacked the goblin Nāgapās̓ a, who
was standing unperturbed before him. There being no chance of
victory for the goblin he ran away and took refuge with S̓ iva. Garuda
also followed him, and demanded of S̓ iva his enemy, the goblin. S̓ iva
told Garuda thus: "If, in future he (the goblin) interferes with anybody
connected with you, you may either punish or eat him. Do not do
anything with him now". Garuda agreed to the above proposal of S̓ iva.
From that day onwards Nāgapās̓ a lived in Vaikuntha entwined with
nooses. He became the arrow called Nāgapās̓ a or nāgāstra.1
51. िनि
शः - िनि शः is a sword of thirty angulas. In Amarakos̓ a
िनि शः is mentioned as-
1
Purāṇic encyclopedia p 668-669
147 तुण्यां खड्गे तु िनि शचन्दर्हासािसिर यः ।
कौक्षेयको मण्डलागर्ः करवालः कृ पाणवत् ।।1
खड्गः, चन्दर्हासः, अिस, िरि ः, कौक्षेयकः, मण्डलागर्ः, करवालः, कृ पाणः are
the different Sanskrit names of िनि शः ।
52. नन्दकम् – Nandakam is the sword of Lord Viṣṇu.2 it is referred to in
the second chapter of the present study.
53. पिरघ – Parigha means an iron budge on or club studded with
iron3, an iron or
wooden beam or bar used for locking or shutting a
gate, or a stick or club studded or tipped with iron. Generally the
word means an iron club. According to Amarakos̓ a parigha means -
िभिन्दपालः सृगस्तुल्यौ पिरघः पिरघाितनः ।
योः कु ठारः स्विधितः परशु
पर धः ।।4
पिरघाितनः is another Sanskrit word for पिरघ.
54. पि शः – पि शः is a spear with a sharp edge or some other
weapon with
three
points5 वेताल, भल्लः, मल्ल, पुरोडाशः, are the
other Sanskrit works of पि शः mentioned in Amarakos̓ a.1
1
Amarakos̓ a canto2 s̓ loka1645-46 S.S.E.D p 279, see also Amarakos̓ a canto 1 s̓ loka 56
3
S.S.E.D p 319,see also S.M.D. p 499
4
Amarakos̓ a canto2 s̓ loka 1650-51
5 S.M.D. p 486. See also S.S.E.D. p 310
2
148 55. परशु – Paras̓ u means a hatchet, or axe. It is the weapon of
Paras̓ urāma. Lord S̓ iva gave this axe to Paras̓ urāma2
56. पाशुपत – Pās̓ upata is a celebrated weapon given by S̓ iva to
Arjuna3
57. पर्शमन – Pras̓ amana is a shooting missile4. The word means
calming everything or tranquilizing, pacifying or removing. By using
this weapon the battle will end peacefully.
58 िपनाक – Pināka is a bow of Rudra or S̓ iva. This is also considered
as a divyāstras.5
59. पर्ास – Prāsa means a barbed missile or dart, sharpened arrow
6
for throwing, casting and discharging. Amarakos̓ a define prāsa as
kunta.7
60. बाणः - बाणः means an arrow, reed, shaft made of a reed, the
feather end of an arrow, a kind of plant8. पृषत्कः, बाणः, िविशखः,
1 Amarakos̓ a canto 3 s̓ loka 2936
2 Ibid p 317, see also S.M.D. p 361,
Mahābhārata S̓ ānti paravam adyāya 49, s̓ lōka 33
3 Vettom Māṇi p 759, see also S.M.D. p525, S.S.E.D p 335
4 S.M.D p590 see also S.S.E.D p370
5 S.S.E.D p337, see also S.M.D p530, Purāṇic encyclopedia p762, Mahābhārata
vanaparvam adyāya 40,anus̓ āsana Parvam adyāya 141, S̓ ānti Parva adyāya 290
6 S.S.E.D p 378, see also S.M.D p 606.
7 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 1654
8 S.S.E.D p 389, see also S.M.D p 625, Purāṇic encyclopedia p 836
149 अिजह्म्गः, खगः, आशुगः, कलम्बः, मागर्णः, शरः,पतर्ी, रोपः, इषुः
are the
other words of arrow in Amarakos̓ a.1
61. वजर्म् – Vajra means the thunderbolt and it is the weapon of
Indra (said to have been formed out of the bones of the sage
Dadhīci), and it is the most destructive weapon like thunderbolt2 . It
also means a precious stone. Amarakos̓ a refers vajra as- ह्लािदनी,
वजर्म्, कु िलशम्, िभदुरम्, पिवः, शतकोिटः, स्वरुः, शम्बः, दम्भोिलः, and
अशिनः
3
62. वािसः – Vāsi is a carpenter's adze, a small hatchet or a chisel for
dwelling and abiding4.
63. वरुणः- Varuṇa (magical formula received over weapons)5 is
reagent of the ocean and of the western quarter.( represented with
the noose in hand).
64. बर् िशरः / बर् ा
- Name of a missile. This is a divyāstra.1
Amarakos̓ a canto2 s̓ loka 1640-41 Purāṇic encyclopedia p1100, see also Mahābhārata vanaparvam adyāya 100,
S.S.E.D p 487, S.M.D. p 794
3
Amarakos̓ a canto 1 s̓ loka 93‐94 4
S.M.D p824, , S.S.E.D p 487
5
Ibid p493, see also Purāṇic encyclopedia p 1108, S.M.D p 803
1
2
150 65. वाय
ा - The missile that creates storms and kills large number
of enemies is known as vāyavyāstra.
66.
िव ा
–Vidya
means
Knowledge,
science,
learning
or
scholarship2. It is also used to denote a Vedic god.
67. वश - Vas̓ a means a hook. Amarakos̓ a refers वश as-
गर्हे गर्ाहो वशः कान्तौ रक्षण ाणे रणः क्वणे ।3
68. वषर्ण –Varṣaṇa is a missile causing rain. It is an imaginary
weapon used in Mahābhārata war4.
69. बर् दण्डम् – Brahmadaṇdam is considered as a mythical weapon
originated from the curse of Brahmins.5
70. वेतसपतर्क – vetasapatraka means a lancet shaped like a pointed
leaf of the cane6
1
Ibid p 636, see also S.S.E.D p 396, Mahābhārata Ādiparva adyāya 137 s̓ loka 9,
Purāṇic encyclopedia p 859, 872
2
Ibid p 1142, see also S.S.E.D p 511, S.M.D p 837S
3
Amarakos̓ a canto 3 s̓ loka 2265 4
S.S.E.D p 495, see also S.M.D p807
5
Ibid p 635, see also S.S.E.D p 395
6
Ibid p 532, see also S.M.D p871 151 71.
िभिन्दपाल – Bhintipāla means a short javelin or arrow thrown
from the hand or shot through a tube. S̓ abdatāravali refers it as a
bullet.1
72. मकरा म् – Makarāstra. The word makara means a kind of sea
animal, a crocodile or a shark. Makara is regarded as an emblem of
cupid. Also this word means an array of troops in the form of
makara.
73. मण्डलागर् –Mandalāgra means a rounded sword. A detailed
account is included in chapter three of this study.
74.लिवतर् – Lavitra is an implement for cutting or sickle for reapinghook or an instrument for mowing. According to Amarakos̓ a lavitra
referred as –
दातर्ं लिवतर्माबन्धो योतर्ं योक्तर्मथो फलम् ।2
1
2
S̓ abdatāravali p1349, see also Amarakos̓ a canto 2-1650 Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka1732 152 75. शर – s̓ ara means an arrow. Amarakos̓ a give a detailed
reference about s̓ ara. They are-
गर्िन्थनार् पवर्परुषी गुन्दर्स्तेजनकः शरः ।1
कलम्बमागर्णशराः पतर्ी रोप इषु य
र् ोः ।2
So it can assume that the word s̓ ara was very common and it means
an arrow.
76. शिक्त – S̓ akti means spear, lance3 or a powerful weapon.
77. शलाका
- S̓ alākāstra means small stick or rod or kunta.4
78. शूलम् – S̓ ūla means a pointed dart, lance, pike, or a spear5. A
detailed narration of s̓ ūla is included in third chapter of this study..
Amarakos̓ a refers as –
मेलोि
79. शि
पापिविट्क ान्य ी शूलं रुगायुधम् ।6
– S̓ astri means cutter or dissector. According to
Amarakos̓ a s̓ astri is noted as Amarakos̓ a canto 2 s̓ loka 972 Ibid canto 2 s̓ loka 1641 3
S.M.D p 891
4
S.M.D p902
5
ibid p924
6
Amarakos̓ a canto 3 s̓ loka 2729 1
2
153 स्याच्छ ी चािसपुतर्ी च छु िरका च पर धः ।1
From the above s̓ loka of Amarakos̓ a अिसपुतर्ी, छु िरका, अिसधेनुका
are another Sanskrit words of शि
80. सीरः - A plough.
।
Plough means a large piece of farming
equipment with one or several curved blades, pulled by a tractor or
by animals. It is used for digging and turning over soil, especially
before seeds are planted. This is the weapon of Lord Balarama. The
word also means Sun.2
Besides these weapons, there are some references about
other weapons or tools in ancient Sanskrit texts and not much
information about them are available. Some tools were used for
domestic and daily purposes and some other was included in the
mythical group of weapons. Some of them are ordinary weapons,
such as arrows. There is a regional difference in shape and name.
Some weapons are known by different names in different regions.
1
2
Ibid canto 2 s̓ loka 1652
S.M.D p1000
154 भल्ल , सूची, सूचीमुखम्, क्षुरः, मुिदका, मयूखी, दातर्म् , and the like
are the weapons which were used for daily domestic purposes. भल्ल
is a kind of arrow or missile1. S̓ abdatāravali refers bhalla as axe or
astra.2 सूची means a needle or sharp pointed instrument and
सूचीमुखम् means the point of a needle. क्षुरः means a razor like barb
or sharp blade attached to an arrow. मयूखी means a pin or gnomon or a
Sundial. मुिदका is a kind of peg. दातर्म् means a sickle, a tool with a
curved blade and a short handle, used for cutting grass or corn.3
From this Information it can be concluded that the above
mentioned equipments are tools, which are used for daily domestic
purposes.
मादकी, शाड्गर्, शोषणम्, हेित, सम्मॊहना म्, सपार् म्, सन्तापनम्,
कर्ौ ा म् ,
ीिहमुख,
विृ पतर्,
1
S.M.D p 644, see also S.S.E.D p 401
S̓ abdatāravali p 1342 3
S.S.E.D p 249
2
िशर,
and the like are considered as
155 mythical group of weapons. मादकी is a club of Rāma. शाड्गर् is the
bow of Viṣṇu. शोषण is an arrow of Kāmadēva1. हेित is considered
as a weapon of Agni2. सम्मॊहना
is applied to make the enemy
senseless or unconscious. This weapon was used in epic wars.3
सपार्
means serpentine missile, a variety of nāgāstra. सन्तापनम्
means Inflaming, tormenting. The word torment means extreme
suffering, especially mental suffering by withdrawing the enemy’s
attention from war.4 There was not much information about the
mythical weapons, िवर्िहमुख, िवर्ि पतर्,
िशर, and कर्ौ ा म्. So we
don’t know the usage of these weapons at the warfront.
मुसलम्, लगुड, सायकम्, िसहमुखम्, स्थूण are considered as some kind
of ordinary weapons, which have different regional names.
1
Ibid p 928
S.M.D p 1062
3
S.M.D p 978
4
Ibid p962
2
156 मुसलम् means a mace.1 लगुड means stick or a staff, club. सायकम् is
a missile or an arrow2. िसहमुखम् means Lion - mouth shaped
missile.3 स्थूण and िवलापन are also missiles.
Some another weapons referred in ancient texts are
भूशण्ु डी, लिघतर्, मौि क, शशवीमुख, कु शपतर्म्, पर् ापन, and शर्ेिण.
The
actual usage or shape of these weapons is not known. The word
meaning of weapons did not reveal whether it is a sword or arrow or
any other type of weapons. पर् ापन means to spoil or to destroy,
perish and it reveal the attitude of ancestors. शर्ेिण means troop, row
and it is related to the army and not the name of a weapon.
S̓ ankha
S̓ ankha (शंख) is a religious object consists of a conch shell. It
is a kind of large sea shell. It is the shell. It is a large predatory sea
S̓ abdatāravali p 721
S.M.D p 992
3
ibid p1010
1
2
157 snail, a marine gastropod mollusk from the Indian Ocean. The
species has the scientific name Turbinella pyrum.1
In Hinduism the S̓ ankha is a sacred emblem of the Hindu
preserver god Viṣṇu. S̓ ankha is still used as a trumpet in Hindu
rituals, and was used as a war trumpet in the past. The S̓ ankha is
praised in Hindu scriptures as the giver of fame, longevity and
prosperity and the cleanser of sin and the abode of Lakṣmi, the
goddess of wealth and concert of Viṣṇu.
The S̓ ankha is displayed in Hindu art in association with
Viṣṇu. As a symbol of water, it is associated with female fertility and
serpents (Nāga). The Sankha is included in the list of the eight
Buddhist auspicious symbols generally known as the Aṣṭ amangala2.
In Tibetan Buddhism it is known as "tung”. A powder derived from
1 www. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /conc
2 ibid
158 the Sankha is used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, primarily as a cure
for stomach ailments and for increasing beauty and strength.1
Based on its direction of coiling, Sankha has two varieties;
Dakṣināvrta and Vāmāvarta. The dakṣināvrta or dakṣṇāvarti ("rightturned" as viewed with the aperture uppermost) is the very rare sinisterly
form of the species, where the shell coils or whorls expand in a
counterclockwise spiral if viewed from the apex of the shell.
Vāmāvarta ("left-turned" as viewed with the aperture uppermost)
is the very commonly occurring dextral form of the species, where
the shell coils or whorls expand in a clockwise spiral when viewed
from the apex of the shell.
In its earliest references, S̓ ankha is mentioned as a trumpet
and it is in this form that it became an emblem of Viṣṇu.
Simultaneously, it was used as a votive offering and as a charm to
keep away the dangers of the sea. It was the earliest known soundproducing agency. As a trumpet or wind instrument, a hole is drilled
1 Ibid
159 near the tip of the apex of the S̓ ankha. When air is blown through
this hole, it travels through the whorl of the sankha, producing a
loud, sharp, shrill sound. This sound is the reason that the S̓ ankha
was used as a war trumpet, to summon helpers and friends. S̓ ankh
continued to be used in battles for a long time. The sound it
produced was called s̓ ankhanāda.In the Hindu epics of Rāmāyaṇa
and Mahābhārata, the symbol of Sankha is widely adopted. In
Ramayana, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and S̓ atrughna are considered as
part-incarnations of Sēṣanāga, Sudars̓ ana Cakra and S̓ ankha,
respectively, while Rama, their eldest brother is considered as one
of the ten incarnations of Viṣṇu.1
पा जन्यं हृषीके शो देवद ं धन यः ।
पौण्डर्ं दध्मौ महाशड्खं भीमकमार् वृकॊदरः॥
अनन्तिवजयं राजा कु न्तीपुतर्ो युिधि रः।
नकु लः सहदेव
सुघॊषमिणपुष्पकौ ॥2
The above verses narrate the great Mahābhārata war, Kṛṣna,
as the charioteer of the Pāṇdava prince and a protagonist of the epic
1
www. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /conc Bhagavadgītā 1-15-16
2
160 and resound the Pāncajanya to declare war. Pāncajanya in Sanskrit
means 'having control over the five classes of beings'.
All five
Pāṇdava brothers are described as having their own sankhas.
Yudhiṣthira, Bhīma, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva are described as
having s̓ ankhas, Anantavijaya, Pauṇdram, Devadattam, Sughoṣa
and Maṇi-puṣpaka, respectively. The warriors of ancient India blew
conch shells to announce battle, as described in the beginning of the war
of Kurukṣētra, in the Mahābhārata.
S̓ ataghni (Catapult)
Catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile from a great
distance without the aid of any explosive devices and it is one
among the various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. According to Webster’s dictionary, catapult means an ancient
military device for hurling missiles.1 S̓ ataghni is the Sanskrit name of
catapult. According to Vasiṣṭha, s̓ ataghni should be placed at the
1
www.merriam-webster.com/dictonary/catapult 161 Catapult
entrance of the fort to protect the kingdom1. Although the catapult
has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the
most effective mechanisms during warfare. The word 'Catapult'
comes from the two Greek words "kata" (downward) and "pultos" (a
small circular battle shield). Katapultos was then taken to mean
"shield piercer". Catapults were invented by the ancient Greeks2.
Gatka
Gatka is a weapon-based Indian martial art created by the
Sikhs of the Punjab. The Punjabi word gatka refers to the wooden
stick used in sparring matches. A more popular theory is that it
1
2
Vasiṣṭha’s Dhanurveda samhita p 21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2‐talent_caliber.jpg 162 derives from the Punjabi words ‘gat’ and ‘ka’. ‘Gat’ means grace,
liberation, and respect in one's own power, while ‘ka’ means
someone who belongs or is part of a group. This term may be
translated as "one whose freedom belongs to grace". Gatka can be
practiced either as a sport or ritual .The modern sport originated in
the later 19th century, out of sword practice in the British Indian
Army during the 1880s1. It is played by two opponents who spar with
wooden staves intended to simulate swords. The sticks may be
paired with a shield. The older techniques and various other
weapons are taught in the ritual aspect of the art. These are
demonstrated in preset routines or performed as a sword dance
during Sikh festivals. Though primarily an armed fighting style, gatka
also incorporates wrestling as a part of its empty-handed training
component.
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatka 163 Kavaca (Shield)
Shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either
by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a blow from a
sword, mace or battle
axe to the side of the
shield-bearer.1
Webster’s
dictionary
explains shield, as a
broad
piece
defensive
of
armor
carried on the arm.2
Shields
vary
Shield
greatly in size, ranging from large panels that protect the user's
entire body to small models (such as the buckler) that were intended
for hand-to-hand-combat use. Shields also vary a great deal in
1
2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shield www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shield
164 thickness; whereas some shields were made of relatively deep,
absorbent, wooden planking to protect soldiers from the impact of
spears and crossbow bolts, others were thinner and lighter and
designed mainly for deflecting blade strikes. In prehistory and during
the era of the earliest civilizations, shields were made of wood,
animal hide, woven reeds or wicker.
In classical antiquity, the Migration Period and the Middle
Ages, they were normally constructed of poplar, lime or another splitresistant timber covered in some instances with leather or reinforced
with a metal boss, rim or banding and carried by foot soldiers,
knights and cavalry troopers. Shape wise, depending on time and
place, shields could be round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular or
scalloped. Sometimes they took on the form of kites, flatirons or
figures-of-eight, or had rounded tops on a rectangular base with
perhaps an eyehole inserted. The shield was held by a central grip
or, more efficiently, by straps which went over or around the users
arm.
165 In the 20th and 21st century, shields have been used by
military and police units that specialize in anti-terrorist actions,
hostage rescue, riot control and siege-breaking. The modern term
usually refers to a device that is held in the hand or attached to the
arm, as opposed to an armored suit or a bullet-proof vest.
In this chapter, a brief discussion about the terms used in
Sanskrit texts about weapons, tools or the like is given. Some other
materials like s̓ ankha, Kavaca and the like which are used with war
and combat are also noted here. Thus the third chapter in detail
about the basic weapons in Dhanurveda and in the fourth all other
small or subsidiary weapons are discussed. All this explains the love
of ancestors on weapons and the like.