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 13 - Vehicles in the Mahabharata
2 (of 21)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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. huge chariots of the raksasas Ghatotakaca and Alambusa, each stretching one 'nalva' in length (VII.150.12, 14). That chariots were made in different sizes and shapes and did not confirm strictly to any uniform pattern is brought out by such stray adjectives as 'bahuvidhan' and 'bahuvidhakaran' (of many different shapes) (II.47.29; VIII.14.43), and by the fact that they were yoked by a variety of animals, ranging from horses (1.213.41), asses (1.132.7) and mules (IV.21.11) to camels (IX.34.19), cows (XII.38.32-33) and elephants (II.48.29). At least two types are distinctly mentioned : i) Kridaratha, the sports-chariot and ii) Sangramikaratha, the war-chariot (XIII.53.27-29). Whether the difference between the two went only so far as the different uses to which the two were put or also to their size and shape can not be said with any degree of certainty. One thing is however certain that the war-chariot was always yoked with horses, either a pair or a team of four, while the others were more often drawn by asses and mules. The decisive factor in the choice of a horse for the war-chariot must have been his strength, vigour, speed and sensitive response. The horse-drawn chariot was also employed for 438
