Description of Mud-forts (panka-durga)

[Classification of forts (5) Mud-forts (panka-durga or kardama-avita)]

Coming after the water-forts, this class of forts, with the treacherous surroundings in which located, remain quite formidable for the enemy. Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika describes these as ' citadels, surrounded by muddy and marshy patches of land, not visible from outside, rendered inaccessible by a thick layer of soft and polished mud, duly caused by hot waters oozing from under the soil and constructed on a high ground, amidst low and slippery land mass. (33.9-10). Manasara mentions parka-durga as the fourth category after giri, vana and salila class and precisely agrees with the characteristics given by Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika in respect of such forts. Accordingly, it is a fort, protected an all sides by a muddy land-mass. Manasa and Sivatattvaratnakara mention the mrttikamaya (earthen forts) as a class which as evinced from its characteristics, may at best mean a fort made up of 23 soft clay. The mahidurgas mentioned by Mahabharata (12.5) and Manusmrti (6.70) point to a type, "which may either be surrounded by fathomless waters fit to be resorted or "which is constructed with stones and bricks, surrounded by a rampart about twelve cubits' high, having to" 23. S.S. Mishra, Mana sollasa: Eka adhyayana (Hindi) (Varanasi, 1966 p.186.

515 a terrace, enabling one to move around it (for reconnaissance) during war and is fitted with many doors and windows that are kept concealed. || 24 mentioned by Mahabharata, Manusmrti and Agnipurana from the kardamavita Thus it is seen that the earthen fort (mahidurga) and Agnipurana are quite different type of Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika, The mrttikamava type figuring in Manasa, and Sivatattvaratnakara falls far short of the Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika description of the Panka-durgas, at least, in description of their essential characteristics about which respective authors maintain a strange silence. their Other works like Arthasastra, Kamandakiyanitisara and Sukraniti take the option of not mentioning this class at all. Even in such cases, it cannot be explained, how could they neglect such a strong natural defence as that of mud. However, our approach in this connection, will be to regard the description of Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika more as a description of the environment than the fort proper. Thus, a Panka or Kardama-avita type may point to a general fort with all its characteristics but situated in an area which is full of mud and marsh and all that goes with it as (33.9-10). per the description (33. 9-10).