Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)
by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words
This page relates ‘Part 9.2: Cavalry (ashvarohi):’ of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.
Part 9.2: Cavalry (aśvārohī):
[Full title: Arms, Army and Warfare (2): Cavalry (aśvārohī)]
Horses formed an important division of the army. Chariots were drawn by horses of Harṣa’s army troop.[1] The king had gone to the battle field riding on elephant and sometimes on the horse. Bāṇa describes that the rājaputra went on horseback to the war.[2] Kumāra Rājyavardhana wanted cavalry force too, when he had gone to war against Śaśāṅka. At that time, Bhaṇḍi served as the commander of the Sthāṇvīśvara cavalry force.[3] With the army troop, the ghāsika (in charge of the food of the horses) also went on the horse back.[4] In this context, Bāṇa mentioned that the royal stable of Harṣa was filled with horses from Vanāyu, Ārraṭṭa, Kāmboja, Bharadvāja, Sindhu and Persia.[5] The high feeted Taṅgaṇa horses which had a steady motion, and were the best of all Kāmboja horses also went with Harṣa’s army troop.[6] The Mahābhārata also says that the Kāmboja horse is the best.[7]
Again, the author mentions that some horses were avoided at the stable to be used in an (grand) occasion, which was known as bāravājin.[8]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
hayārohahūyamānalambita…, Harṣacarita,VII.p.110
[2]:
…rājaputrāvāhyamānavājisaṅghaṭṭam.., Ibid.,VII.p.114
[3]:
…..ayameko bhaṇḍiryutamātreṇa turaṅgamāṇāmanuyātu mām, Ibid.,VI.p.96
[4]:
Ibid.,p.109
[6]:
[a].…khatakhatastūyamānatuṅgataṅgaṇaguṇe, Ibid.,VII.p.110
[b] āskandatkāmbojavājiśata…, Ibid.
[7]:
Kane, P.V., Hindu Dharmaśāstra, III,p.206
[8]:
Harṣacarita, VII. p.109