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[Full title: Games and Amusements (in ancient India); (1): Outdoor-Games]

Sport is denoted by 'kila' (krida 16. 32) 'kilanaya' (4. 107), 'kedda' (khela 8. 37) and 'lila' (103. 43). Tho act of sporting is indicated by 'kilanti' (15. 13). 'lilayanta' (8.29) and 'ramai' (26, 103; 6. 100; 15. 95). Sports of the young ones are called 'kumara lila' (Kumaraliam anuhavamano (103. 43) and they are said to be hundreds (kilanayasayesu 3. 107) in number. A. Outdoor-Games. Ball-play: The games which have been clearly mentioned are as follows:-Anjanasundari is refferd to be playing with a ball (tenduena 15. 13) and this must have been a very common game for the boys and girls as we know from other sources. Water sports:-Another popular game for the girls was the watersport (udayakhedda 8. 87) which is mentioned to be played by many 1. Purva Meghaduta, 33. 2. Raghu, 4. 20. 3. See Nara, I. p 8. 4. Vide India as Known to Panini 5. India in Kalidasa; (B.S. Upadhyaya) 1947, p. 180. 6. Ibid, p, 190,

372 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM royal girls in the water-reservoirs (vavi) in garden. These watersports were so common in ancient India that the kings (princes along with their damsels usually took delight in visiting the gardens and sported there in water-reservoirs. Thus the Paumacariya mentions Maharaksasa, the king of Lanka (5. 218) playing water-sports with damsels in a garden. Prince Angada indulged in water-sports with his beloved in a lotus-pond at Lanka (78. 24). Perhaps it did not matter for them whether they were at their home or somewhere in a foreign land. This practice was so deeply cultivated by the kings and the princes that not only the garden-sites but even the rivers were utilised for water-sports. Rama and Sita even during their exile journey did not miss to play water-sports. When Sita found that river Kroncarava was a good site for water-sport, she took initiative and requested Rama for the same (jalamajjanam ramamo 42. 17). Their sport has been compared with that of a pair of elephants (karivva samayam karenue 42. 18). The water was used as a tabor (jalamuravam) and it was beaten to produce pleasing sound. They threw lotuses at each other. King Sahasrakirana of Mahesvara is described to be libidinously playing water-sports with his damsels in the waters of Narmada. So great was his fondness that some mechanical devices were used to swell the stream (10. 34-45). This sport was sometimes used as a devise to allure a person to worldly life when he developed a feeling detachment (80. 54). Gardens were very popular sites where men and women belonging to different strata of life enjoyed sports. Besides the kings, princes and their wives (28. 8; 86. 34; 6. 100); the common people are also mentioned to be enjoying sports in the gardens (17. 48; 8. 169). Further it may be noted that in Lanka separate parks were maintained for the male and female citizens (46. 69-70), and many sport houses were provided for them (kilanaharesu-kridagrhesu 46. 76). Boxing: The reference to the duels of sight and boxing (ditthijujjham mutthijujjham 4. 43) which ensued between Bharata and Bahubali can be taken as an allusion to these sports which were patronised by the young men. In the former duel the competitors were required to stare constantly at one another's eyes and one who winked first was declared defeated. The other duel consisted of the striking of the first at one another's body. One who was overpowered and made to fall down on the ground was declared defeated. In this game the foreparts of the hands of the fighters were fitted with leather-coverings (4. 46). Princely Sports or Subduing the elephants and horses :-It seems that the princes of ancient India were trained in the art of subduing agitated and turbulent elephants. The Paumacariyam

SOCIAL CONDITIONS 373 reveals that prince Harisena sported with an agitated elephant of Sindhunadanagara. He challenged the elephant who while moving his trunk to and fro ran towards him. Harisena without missing a single moment climbed over his tusks and sported with him in many ways, clapping his hands together. No sooner was the elephant subdued, he caught hold of his ears and rode over his back. His dexterity was hailed by the public and the king of that town was so much pleased with him that the former offered many girls to him in marriage (8. 168-182). Princes are found to be usually taking delight in challenging such elephants. Ravana on observing a great elephant in the valley of Sammetaparvata blew his conch and challanged him for a fight. As soon as the elephant ran towards him he took off his Uttariya and threw it before the elephant who got entangled with that cloth and started striking it with his tusks, bending on the ground. When the elephant was engaged in tearing away the Uttariya to pieces, Ravana struck his temples with his hands. Thus sporting with him he caused him to move in circulations for many times and ultimately when the elephant was overpowered. Ravana climbed over his back and brought him under his control. The seizing of this elephant, named Tribhuvanalamkara was celebrated by beating the drums and playing upon other musical instruments (8, 214-224). It was the hobby of some kings to go to the forest for seizing elephants. Thus king Vajrajangha of Pondariyapura is said to have seized many elephants (94. 103). Janaka's readiness in attempting to seize an elephant (28. 31-34) indicates the fondness of the kings in this noble sport. Horse-riding was also a pastime of the princes. Sometimes they lost control over the horses because they were so turbulent and the princes were led away in forests by these turbulent horses (5.73;28.34; 116.3). Kings had special interest in subduing the turbulent horses (28.27-28) also. Hunting Kings and princes drived pleasure in hunting and shooting the birds. King Vajrakarna of Dasapura is described as wandering in the forest for this purpose and he is called 'paraddhifandio" (hunter 33.30).