Essay name: Archaeology and the Mahabharata (Study)
Author:
Gouri Lad
Affiliation: Deccan College Post Graduate And Research Institute / Department of AIHC and Archaeology
This study examines the Mahabharata from an archaeological perspective. The Maha-Bbharata is an ancient Indian epic written in Sanskrit鈥攊t represents a vast literary work with immense cultural and historical significance. This essay aims to use archaeology to verify and contextualize the Mahabharata's material aspects.
Chapter 14 - Weapons
19 (of 123)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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X.6.12). = 476 Its blade was made of iron while the shaft was
of gold (III.157.61-62; VI.45.38; VII.82.15, 90.19), often
adorned with gems such as corals and beryls (VI.107.11%;
VII.13.75, 108.20; IX.16.37-46). Small golden bells
(kinkinis) and cloth banners (pat膩k膩s) were also attached
to the shaft (III.270.3; VII.81.28; VIII.10.25; IX.16.
37-46). This description is likely to appear a bit fanci-
ful, but there are later sculptural depictions which
confirm the truth of the Epic words. A long spear from
Ajanta has a rectangular banner attached to the shaft at
the joint with the head (Dhavalikar 1973:304), and
similarly a sculpture of Pancika, Kubera's general from
Gandhara, shows him holding a long and a heavy spear with
a bell attached to the joint of the shaft and the head
The sakti was a dreaded weapon, compared to the
sceptre of Yama, the god of death, and to the black-magic
chant of the Atharvaveda (VI.107.11, IX.16. 43 ). Some
of the saktis were endowed with divine origins. Karna
received from Indra, in return for his armour and ear-
rings, a special sakti, whose onslaught neither the humans
nor the gods or demons could withstand (1.104.20). Kar峁嘺
employed it to kill Ghatotkaca who was creating havoc in
the Kaurava army (VII.154.52-54). With another sakti,
designed by Tvastra for Lord Siva, and which was kept on
