Dr. Ravi Prakash Arya - Dhanurveda: The Vedic Military Science

Waras an art as well as science was equally well understood in ancient India. Thenation which overran nearly the whole of the habitable globe and produced Raama,Krishna, Arjuna, Sagar, Bali could scarcely be considered less advance in herproficiency in military science.

Dhanurveda , thestandard work on Vedic military science being lost, the dissertations on thescience found in the Mahaabhaarata, the Agni Puraana, AakaashaBhairava Tantra, Kautalya Arthashaastra, Manusmriti, Matsya Puraana, Mahaabhaarata,Maanasollaasa, Yukti Kalpa Taru, Vishnudharmottara Puraana, Veeramitrodaya,Samaraangana Sootradhaara, Shukraneeti, and other small works on Dhanurvedalike Aushanas Dhanurveda, Vaasishtha Dhanurveda, Sadaashiva Dhanurvedaand Neeti Prakaashikaa are the only source of information on the subjectleft to us. Dr. Sir W. Hunter says, There was no want of a theory of regularmovements and arrangements for the march, array, encampments, and supply oftroops. They are all repeatedly described in the Mahaabhaarata.

Mr.Ward says, The Hindu did not permit even the military art to remainunexamined. It is very certain that the Hindu kings led their own armies to thecombat, and that they were prepared for this important employment by a militaryeducation; nor is it less certain that many of these monarchs weredistinguished for the highest valour and military skill.

Whena nation is well protected through arms only then can all forms of knowledgeand science flourish. During the period when the Muslims ruled, dominatedIndia, knowledge and education ceased to flourish in the North. Nalanda, likemany others was one of the most renowned places of education destroyed by theMuslim invaders. The effects are felt to this day. The South is ahead of theNorth in terms of dance, music, culture, educational institutions and is in theforefront of Indias knowledge based industries, Information Technology andBiotechnology.

Forthe defence of a country there are abundant references in Vedas, to maintain aregular-armed force. It is also enjoined therein that the immediate control ofthis defence force should be under the command of a chief, who has beendescribed by various names, like Rudra (AV. 4.30.5) Arbudi and Nyarbudietc. (See Sukta 9 of Atharvaveda). In respect of policy matter, relatingto defence, committee of experts, known as (Samiti/Sabhaa/Suraa (AV.15.8.9; 4.30.2; and RV.10.125.3) is constituted. These committeesare appointed by king (Rigveda, 10.125). This whole hymn deals withadvisory bodies. The king has essentially to keep three advisory bodies forproperly governing the country. One of the three councils is to advise the kingon matters of defence. (RV. 3.38.6)

Dhanurveda deals with the science of warfareor military science. It is considered to be an Upaveda or sub-branch of Yajurvedaby learning which one can be proficient in fighting, in the use of arms,weapons and missiles and in the application of battle arrays and formations. Shukraneeti (4.278), Kodandamandana (1.3) and Neetiprakaashikaa (p.5),Madhusoodana Swami (Prasthaanabheda, p.7) accepts Dhanurveda