04-01-2006, 12:46 PM
This is definitely a topic of interest that has received little attention amongst Hindu resesarchers in recent times. One may look into works of Gustav Oppert (a Jewish scholar) for some early systematic research into Hindu armament. It is not as though Hindu weaponary, especially ballistas, is not described in detail-- one just needs to know where to look for them. I will just give a few pointers below. Later on when I have more time I could go into greater details like the sanskrit verses.
Some points:
- it is shataghni = hundred killer ghna= kill.
- it is not as if pre-Islamic Hindus did not have ballistas and that they were introduced during the Arab invasion.
- In fact the main Moslem raiders of India describe native fireworks and ballistas as being extensively used by the Rajputs and that they were a deterant against the seiges. Note elsewhere on this site how the Rajputs deployed a ballista to kill Nusrat Khan the general of Alla-ad-din Khalji.
Some texts describing ballistas:
1) mahAbhArata- oldest and clearest source.
2) samarangaNa sUtra dhAra of rAja bhoja- provides engineering details of the yudddha yantras
3) kAlachakra tantra- provides descriptions of some of the weapons used in the kali yuga.
4) shukra nIti.
Examples:
(See chapter 156 of the udyoga parvan of the mahAbhArata, gAnguli edition for convenience)
A mangonel built from wood with a short throwing arm hurling the missiles: oil, heated sand, earthern pots filled with pulverized lac, and pots filled with poison. The lac pots were provided with plugs of wax [and were clearly used as incendiary bombs]. They are mentioned as having a metal frame, with platforms of cane and levers like plough poles. Another projectile hurled by these machines is described as a wooden mallet with iron spikes embedded in it. Missiled wrapped in cloth steeped in oil are also mentioned and might be another kind of incendiary weapon.
Stiffened leather screens are described in the same chapter as shields against the ballistas hurled by these above yantra. The same chapter also mentions a syringe like spraying yantra that sprayed boiling water and heated oil.
In chapter 155 of the droNaparvan we find ghaTotkacha deploying one such ballista on ashvattAman. It was used to hurl pots filled with lac, shattering balls of iron called thunas, stones and spiked balls. This chapter also mentions that he deployed the shataghni and the ashani on ashvattAman. The ashani is less clear in description but is said to have 8 wheels that propel and is said to reduce chariots to ashes on impact.
In descriptions of the wars of the Rajputs the hot sand weapon is found, suggesting it persisted until a much later era.
Some points:
- it is shataghni = hundred killer ghna= kill.
- it is not as if pre-Islamic Hindus did not have ballistas and that they were introduced during the Arab invasion.
- In fact the main Moslem raiders of India describe native fireworks and ballistas as being extensively used by the Rajputs and that they were a deterant against the seiges. Note elsewhere on this site how the Rajputs deployed a ballista to kill Nusrat Khan the general of Alla-ad-din Khalji.
Some texts describing ballistas:
1) mahAbhArata- oldest and clearest source.
2) samarangaNa sUtra dhAra of rAja bhoja- provides engineering details of the yudddha yantras
3) kAlachakra tantra- provides descriptions of some of the weapons used in the kali yuga.
4) shukra nIti.
Examples:
(See chapter 156 of the udyoga parvan of the mahAbhArata, gAnguli edition for convenience)
A mangonel built from wood with a short throwing arm hurling the missiles: oil, heated sand, earthern pots filled with pulverized lac, and pots filled with poison. The lac pots were provided with plugs of wax [and were clearly used as incendiary bombs]. They are mentioned as having a metal frame, with platforms of cane and levers like plough poles. Another projectile hurled by these machines is described as a wooden mallet with iron spikes embedded in it. Missiled wrapped in cloth steeped in oil are also mentioned and might be another kind of incendiary weapon.
Stiffened leather screens are described in the same chapter as shields against the ballistas hurled by these above yantra. The same chapter also mentions a syringe like spraying yantra that sprayed boiling water and heated oil.
In chapter 155 of the droNaparvan we find ghaTotkacha deploying one such ballista on ashvattAman. It was used to hurl pots filled with lac, shattering balls of iron called thunas, stones and spiked balls. This chapter also mentions that he deployed the shataghni and the ashani on ashvattAman. The ashani is less clear in description but is said to have 8 wheels that propel and is said to reduce chariots to ashes on impact.
In descriptions of the wars of the Rajputs the hot sand weapon is found, suggesting it persisted until a much later era.