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
25 (of 123)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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a (III.189.4). However, it is not purely/mythical weapon, for Kar峁嘺 too was armed with it (VIII.27.34). Pattisa was a rather common weapon, mentioned much more frequently than the sula (1.203.3; III.21.32; IV.31.9; VI.92.56; VII.43.14; VIII.16.9; IX.44.46; X.17.48; XIII. 112.8). In all probability it was also an iron spike, but it is almost impossible to make any further guess about its shape and size, since it is rarely used on its own, and is mostly enumerated with other weapons in a group. All one can say is that it was a weapon hurled by the hand and often blown into bits with arrows by a skilled archer (VI.109.37). 482 Ankusa
was primarily a good for controlling the elephant
(III.27.15), but it was also a weapon in the Mbh. It
occurs twice along with the tomara, light spears used by
the elephant-men (IV.31.3; VI.44.39). Huge ankusas are
also listed along with other weapons in Karna's bitter
fight against the Pandava army (VIII.16.10). However,
there is only one clear reference to an ankusa being used
as an effective weapon (VII.28.16). Bhagadatta hurled
the powerful Vaisnavastra aiming at the chest of Arjuna
