Warfare and Military System in Vedic Literature
by Rinki Deka | 2023 | 39,711 words
This page relates ‘War-Flag (in the battlefield)’ of the study on Warfare and the Military System of ancient India as gleaned from the Vedic Literature. The purpose of this work is to study the defensive and offensive systems of the Vedic people, including their army divisions, political and administrative systems, use of arms and armours, fortification, ethics and other principles related to warfare; while reflecting the social system and cultural aspects of ancient India.
War-Flag (in the battlefield)
In the Vedic period, the warrior used the flag in the battlefield. The term dhvaja[1], ketu[2], sahasraketu[3], etc., are used to denote a war-flag.
In the battlefield, the people came together with their raised banner, which is stated thus verse—
yatrā naraḥ samayante kṛtadhvajo yasminnājā bhavati kiṃ cana priyam/ yatrā bhayante bhuvanā svardṛśastatrā na indrāvaruṇādhi vocatam//[4]
Explaining this verse Sāyaṇācārya says—
saṃgrāme naraḥ manuṣyāḥ kṛtadhvajaḥ ucchitadhvajāḥ samayante yuddhārthaṃ saṃgacchante//
In the Ṛgveda-saṃhitā, Agni is mentioned as the banner of Gods.[5] Griffith also states that Agni, who like a banner brings the Gods together, or it may be rendered ‘the herald of the Gods’, he who notifies to them.[6]
Sāyaṇācārya interprets the term sahasraketu as—
sahasraketum anekadhvajaṃ /[7]
It was used to be unfurled and carried aloft on a pole before a marching army and held high when the actual battle began and continued. The Atharvaveda-saṃhitā speaks of the armies having flags of reddish colour upon the chariots.[8] The armies had the sun as the ensign on their banners.[9] The Mahābhārata also refers to the use of war flags, and states that Bhīṣma used the golden Tāla tree as his banner in the Kurukṣetra war.[10] [11] The Ṛgveda-saṃhitā mentions that where men assemble with uplifted banners, there is something unfavourable,[12] and therefore, Indra and Varuṇa are requested for encouragement. In another Ṛgvedic verse, it is stated that in the battlefield, Indra helped the warriors when their armies with flags of their enemies are gathered.[13]
Sāyaṇācārya in his commentary says—
samṛteṣu parasenāṃ saṃprāpteṣu dhvajeṣu dhvajavatsu sainikeṣu indraḥ rakṣitā bhavatu//[14]
The lowering of the flag or its capture indicated the defeat or surrender of the warriors.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ṛgveda-saṃhitā , 7.83.2 Also vide, Ibid., 7.85.2, 10.103.11
[2]:
Atharvaveda-saṃhitā , 11.12.1, 2, 7
[3]:
ā vāṃ rathaṃ purumāyaṃ manojuvaṃ jīrāśvaṃ yajñiyaṃ jīvase huve/ sahasraketuṃ vaninaṃ śatadvasuṃ śruṣṭīvānaṃ varivodhāmabhi prayaḥ//Ṛgveda-saṃhitā , 1.119.1
[4]:
Ibid., 7.83.2
[5]:
Ṛgveda-saṃhitā , 1.27.12
[6]:
Vide, Griffith, R.T.H., op., cit. p. 17
[8]:
[9]:
sūryaketavaḥ // Ibid., 5.21.12
[10]:
[11]:
yatrā naraḥ samayante kṛtadhvajo yasminnājā bhavati kiṃ cana priyam/ yatrā bhayante bhuvanā svardṛśastatrā na indrāvaruṇādhi vocatam// Ṛgveda-saṃhitā , 7.83.2
[12]:
yatrā naraḥ samayante kṛtadhvajo yasminnājā bhavati kiṃ cana priyam/ yatrā bhayante bhuvanā svardṛśastatrā na indrāvaruṇādhi vocatam// Ṛgveda-saṃhitā , 7.83.2
[13]:
Ibid., 10.103.11
[14]:
Sāyaṇa, Ibid.