Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates 鈥楾omara (Tomahawk)鈥� of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
Tomara (Tomahawk)
[Full title: War weapons > 艢腻蝉迟谤补蝉 > Mukt膩yudhas > Tomara (Tomahawk)]
This is made of wooden stick with iron at the head. It hits the target straight. This is a popular weapon10. The three associated movements are (IV.39):
[...]
(a) Uddh膩na鈥搑aising upwards to throw (奴谤诲丑惫补迟辞濒补苍补)
(b) Viniv峁泃ti鈥搒ideways or backward motion
(c) Vedhana鈥揷utting into pieces
罢补迟迟惫补惫颈惫峁泃颈 defines it as:
[...]
I.e. having wooden body with the iron head attached with silken tassles (plumage). There is no explanation as to why this silken tassle gets attached to the weapon. Probably, it is to enhance the speed.