Dhanurveda: The Indian Science of Archery (Set of 3 Books)

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Dhanur Veda: The Knowledge Of Astra About the Book

The Dhanur Veda was considered as the Veda which is related to the warfare tactics and which is in between 1100-800 BCE. It was traditionally regarded as upaveda attached to the Yajurveda. It say about the celestial weapons.

About the Author

Krishna Dinesh, a student who has completed his post-graduation diploma in management. I like travelling and music lover, cooking. Drop your feedback and suggestions in the mail and stay in touch.

Preface

The Dhanur Veda is the book which says about the celestial weapons used by the Devatas. God and goddess in the Hindu mythology.

The Dhanur Veda is one of the important Veda which made the world know the war and martial arts. It contains the war tactic. It was covered in the four Vedas the Lord Sri Krishna and Pandava's they used the weapons which are called Ayudas for the Kurukshetra. It is one among the four upavedas to Vedasalong with Ayurveda, Gandharva Veda, and Sthapatya Veda.

Dhanurveda, a section of the Vedas 1700 BCE - 1100 BCE, contains references to martial arts.

**Contents and Sample Pages**

Dhanurveda (The Vedic Military Science) About the Book Dhanurveda, the standard work on Vedic military science being lost, the dissertations on the science found in the Mahabharata, the Agni Purana Akasha Bhairava Tantra, Hautalya Arthasastra Manusmrti. Matsya Purana, Mahabharata, Manasollasa, Yukti Kalpa Taru, Vishnudharmottara Purana, Viramitrodaya, Samarngana sutradhara, shkraniti and other small works on Dhanurveda like Aushnas Dhanurveda, Vaststha Dhanurveda, Sadahiva Dhanurveda, and Niti Prakashika are the only source of information on the subject left to us The present work takes into account all the data available with the present author in fragment form or manuscript form or the published form of various treatises of Dhanurveda, so that a factual and actual picture of military science or the science of warfare in ancient India may be drawn for the modern-day readers and researchers. The present work also contains the English Translation of the Vasisha and Sadshiva Dhanurvedas as appendix 1 & 2. This kindle version is abridged in the sense that it doesn't contain original Sanskrit text and illustrations. For illustrations and original Sanskrit text, the readers shall have to buy the hard copy version of the Dhanurveda.

About the Author Prof Ravi Prakash Arya is a world-renowned Vedic Scholar, Philologist, historian, and philosopher. He is a prolific speaker and writer. He is a widely traveled scholar who has delivered more than 350 popular and academic talks on various topics of the Vedas, Indian History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Culture and Scientific Indian heritage in various countries of the world. He is doing ploneering work for preserving and propagating the universal and scientific Vedic heritage of India under the auspices of the 'Indian Foundation for Vedic Science'. He has to his credit 75 research papers and 70 books running into 84 volumes on the various aspects of Vedas. Vedic Sciences. Vedic Exegesis. Vedic Philology. Vedic Philosophy. Religion, Indian History and Culture. He is the Chief Editor of a quarterly Research Journal "Vedic Science' dealing with the scientific interpretation of Vedas & Allied literature and ancient Indian traditions. This Journal is acclaimed as an authoritative document on Vedic Sciences. He is also the editor of the annual World Vedic Calendar. He has convented several national and international conferences, seminars and workshops.

Introduction War, as an art as well as science, was equally well understood in ancient India. The nation which overran nearly the whole of the habitable globe and produced Rama, Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, Sagar and Bali could scarcely be considered less advanced in her proficiency in military science.

**Contents and Sample Pages**

Vasistha's Dhanurveda Samhita
Foreword

The present treatise Vasistha’s Dhanurveda Samhita is a faithful rendering of the original composition of sage Vasistha who had it transmitted through a tradition of sages being traced back to gods Siva and Brahma and described in the Sukraniti as upaveda of the Yajurveda. The entire tradition permeates provocative material with different levels of interests and interpretations. Previously, largely unfamiliar to modern scholarship the subjects delineated here were compulsorily taught to such who wanted to acquire excellence in the skill. This meant laying down of thorough instructions and formularies by other sages like Parasurama, Visvamitra, Vaisampayana and Ausanas whose texts have been recovered in manuscript form from libraries of Tirupati, Nepal Darbar, Asiatic society, Bombay, Deccan College Research Institute, Pune and Oriental library of Baroda.

It is a richly textured work which has brought forth meticulously researched data for assessing the tradition of craftsmanship and a basic weaponry of war which cardinally affected the fabric of human society. The work provides interesting and scientific reading in regard to both physical and mystical implecations ranging from craftsmanship of the weaponry including measurements and qualities of bows and arrows, methods of teaching, shooting techniques to the use of medicines and charms and general war practices.

I appreciate Mrs. Ray’s attempt to revise interest in the ancillary sciences of the past through this evocative work on archerly, which is rare, indeed, and has been made accessible to scholars after much genuine and wakeful efforts of her. The translation is precisely lucid and connotative of intense lexicology.

 

Introduction

The existence of Dhanurveda or Science of Archery can be traced back to ancient time as is evident from references in several ancient literatures. Visnu Purana refers it as one of the eighteen branches of knowledge taught by Bhrgu, while the Mahabharata mentions it as having sutras like other Vedas. Sukraniti describes it as that ‘upaveda of yajurveda’ which has five arts or practical aspects- use and employment of arms by the proper arrangement of legs, duelling by the various artifices, throwing arms towards the aim formation of battle arrays according to the signals, arrangement of horses, elephants, chariots, etc. Agnipurana and Samrajya-Lakshmi-Pithika, a Saiva Tantra contain separate chapters on Science of archery and describe in detail the correct posture in shooting, position of drawing the bows, measurements of bows, etc. According to Visnudharmottara, god Satakrata (Indra) represents Dhanurveda or the knowledge of warfare. Another representative of Dhanurveda in a personified form and his worship as god is found in the book ‘History of Punjab’ by Syad Muhammad Latif (originally published in 1889). Here the deity who rides on a bull posses four feet, eight arms and three eyes. His weapons are bow, sword, thunderbolt, discus, sataghni, club, spear, battle axe.

The present translation work is based on the book Vasistha’s Dhanurveda Samhita (Bengali ed.) by Pandit Iswar Chandra Sastri and Arun Chandra Sinha. The book was published in 1922 from Mymensingh, now in Bangladesh.

In the introduction of his book, Sastri referred Brahma as an introducer of Dhanurveda and about Lord Mahadeva who preached the Science of Archery to Parasurama. He also had mentioned the names of great sages Visvamitra and Vaisampayana as authors of several treatises on Dhanurveda, Unlike the Puranas, Vasistha associated Dhanurveda with both Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.

Besides providing the account of the training of the archers, Vasistha’s Dhanurveda describes different types of bows and arrows, process of making them, different steps in practice teaching. Adoption of tantric ways for wining the battle, worship of different gods for victory, application of herbs, charms as preventive measures in war, formation of arrays, duties of kings and army commanders, training of the elephants, horses have also been dealt with.

Dhanurveda Samhita of Vasistha, according to Sri P.C. Chakravarti can not be dated before 17th century A.D. as it mentions “Chatrapati”, the title which came into vogue only during Maratha hero Shivaji’s time (AD 1630-1680).

It has got a number of verses identical with Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika and Brhat-Sarngadhara Paddhati. Which testifies the presence of one common and earlier source. This is probably Siva Dhanurveda which Vasistha’s Dhanurveda had quoted often.

The Sanskrit version and the illustrations given in this book have been reproduced from the original, The terms and words have been explained in the footnote wherever possible and necessary. Inspite of my best efforts, errors might have crept in and I stand responsible for all these omissions.

 

Contents

 

Methods of Teaching Archery.	5
Characteristics of Teacher	5
Shooting Technique	9
Measurements of a bow	10
Characteristics of a good bow.	11
Prohibited bow.	12
Qualities of good string	15
Qualities of arrow	16
Arrow Heads-Types	18
Application of the arrow-heads	18
Applying poison over arrow-head	19
Naraca Nalika and Sataghni	20
Modes of Shooting	21
Holding the String	23
Drawing the bow	24
Position of draw	25
The aim	26
Target Practice	28
Cessation from Study	30
Shooting	31
Perfect Shooting	34
Fast shooting	35
Long range shooting	35
Rules for piercing strong object	35
Movement of arrows	36
Direction and speed	37
Right speed	38
Shooting strong objects	38
Aiming at pictures, points	40
Piercing wood	40
Aiming while moving	41
Method of Aiming	41
Aiming through hearing	42
Returning Arrow	43
Weapons	45
(Purification of weapons)	47
Pasupatastra	48
Use of Medicines, Charms in archery	51
Upavasa Method	54
War Strategy	54
Meditation and praying	55
War Strategy based on the principle of Astrology	61
Battle array	63
Military Arrey	66
Staff array	67
Car array	67
Ant array	68
Training of army	69
Infantry	69
Training of the horses	72
Training of the elephants	72
Chariots	73
Selection of Commander-in-chief	73
Training and education	74
Persons not to be killed	74
List of weapons	76
Illustrations	81

Sample Pages