1 THE ARYAN CONQUEST. 29
2 with the brightness of a cloud, when he advances into the midst of
3 the battle-field. The strength of his armour is praised, and his bow is des-
4 cribed as doing wonders, “conquering all the regions round.” “The strong
5 hoofed steeds utter shrill neighings, and with their chariots rush on the
6 enemy, trampling them under their hoofs and crushing them to death.”
7 The Aryans fought in chariots drawn by horses, The ancient Greeks
8 adopted the same mode of fighting and, in the Trojan War, immortalized by
9 Homer, which is supposed to have taken place about 1150 B.c., war chariots
10 were used. The Aryans had also infantry soldiers who, however, were
11 inferior to the charioteers. Besides the war chariots and the infantry,
12 swords,* axes, bows, spears, trumpeters, and standard-bearers are mentioned.
13 From the very earliest period the Hindus used the standard as a conspicuous
14 object of display in a central position, to excite feelings of chivalrous
15 devotion in the minds of the warriors. Trumpets and drums were used to
16 excite them to valorous deeds or to convey the orders of commanders. The
17 drum, according to the Rig Veda, is the most ancient instrument used by
18 the Hindus. It roused the warlike spirit of the warriors, and was thus
19 invoked :—“ War drum, fill with your sound both heaven and earth ; and let
20 all things fixed or moveable be aware of it ; do thou, who art associated with
21 Indra and the gods, drive away our foes to the remotest distance. Sound
22 Their mode of war-
23 fare,
24 And weapons of war.
25 The war drum.
26 It is invoked asa
27 deity.
28 loud against the hostile host: animate our prowess ; thunder aloud, terrify- -
29 ing the evil-minded ; repel, drum, those whose delight it is to, harm us ; thou
30 art the first weapon of Indra; inspire us with courage. Recover these our
31 cattle, Indra: bring them back; the drum sounds repeatedly as a signal:
32 our leaders mounted on their steeds assemble. O Indra, may our warriors,
33 riding on their cars, be victorious!” In the Rig Veda and the other great
34 epics mention is made of the war-cry, the words used being religious sayings, or
35 the word jaya (victory) added to the name of the leader, eg., “gaya Rama !”
36 “victory to Rama!” or “jayastu Pdéndiputrandm !” é.e, “success to the
37 sons of Pandi!” The use of elephants in war was as yet unknown, though
38 mention is made of a tame elephant, the property of an Astra.
39 In their constitution the Aryans of the Indus were not civic. In their
40 earlier colonies each father was the priest of his own family circle, yet tribal
41 sacrifices were presided over by the “ chief of the settlers ” (vispatt); and the
42 Vedic communities were, by degrees, organized into chieftainships or king-
43 doms, Each community looked on its Raja or Prince as its ruler, and obeyed
44 him. The Rajas ruled over grama (villages) and pura, (fortified habitations).
45 The minstrels and priests, who formed part of their retinue, sang glorious
46 songs of war and victory. They also offered prayers and sacrifices, and, after
47 a victory over the black Dasyus, or a rival prince, composed poems eulogising
48 the deeds of the heroes in battle. For their poetical compositions they
49 were munificently rewarded by their lords. ‘The rewards were slave women,
50 dresses, cows, gold and chariots. One of these priests praises Svanaya,
51 son of Bavya, as the “ unconquerable Prince who dwells on the Indus.”
52 The life of the Aryas in the Panjab was martial and manly. There
53 their warlike character developed, and they adapted themselves to the
54 conditions of a tropical climate, though they seem never to have forgotten
55 their northern home, where, on the heights of the snowy Himalayas and
56 behind its stupendous walls, they placed the paradise of their gods and
57 heroes. They dug channels for the purpose of irrigating their fields, and
58 sowed corn (dhdndé), beans, barley and sesame. They were acquainted
59 * The sword is undoubtedly a very ancient weapon of war. The first mention found of it
60 is in the 34th chapter of Genesis, where Jacob’s sons use it against the Shechemites.
61 The war-cry.
62 The organization of
63 the Aryans.
64 Their martial spirit
65 developed in the
66 Panjab.
67 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com