Pre-modern Warfare:India And Elsewhere

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<b>Shataghni</b> is derived from <b>Shata</b> - Hundered and <b>ghni</b> - Killer.
It is not related to agni (Fire) as some have interpreted here and elsewhere

<b>Nootruvar Kolli</b> - Literally translated as Hundered Killer mentioned in Silapadhigaram is in fact Shataghni.

This device may not have anything to do with fire or fire throwing. At least the name does not imply it.

Both Arthashastra and Silapadhigaram mentions that this device is used to protect forts.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Hauma Hamiddha @ Apr 1 2006, 03:31 PM)
shataghni appears to be one of the oldest of the more involved hindu weapons. It finds mention in the veda itself in the taittirIya AraNyaka 1.5.1. It is mentioned as agni-jihva or with the tongue of fire. However, explanatory commentary mentions that it was packed with loha kaNTa or iron spikes. In the bhArgava section of the purANas (deployed by kArtavIya against rAmo bhArgava) and the mahabhArata droNaparvan it appears it was used as a ballista. This suggests that it was an incendiary device that fired on being hurled and also spewed iron spikes.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

taittirIya AraNyaka 1.5.1 talks about agni-jhiva (see http://www.sanskritweb.net/yajurveda/ta-01.pdf) and not Shataghni.

While agni-jhiva is either fire throwing or molten metal flame device (agni-jhiva is used as a term to denote smelters), Shataghni is likely to be a different class of device.

Do you have any other references that indicate Shataghni is fire throwing?

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