Foreign Invasion of Medieval India - Part 6

 Continued From:The Forgotten Empires Of India: Foreign Invasion of Medieval India - Part 5

War Games Of Deccan

There was great rivalry between the Deccan Kingdoms, but as per the code of ethics of the ancient Indian kingdoms, the common people were not caught between the battles. They lived with a false sense of security and were unaware of the danger marching towards them from the North. Whether the enemy was the Yadavas, Hoysalas, Kakatiyas, Pandyas, Cholas or Cheras, they abided by the Indian laws of war. The true hero was one who had valour and was also ethical. The warriors of all the above kingdoms believed that display of ferocity with disregard to moral standards degraded a warrior to the status of an animal.  Mere display of animal ferocity was forbidden. Such display of ferosity was considered base. A true hero according to them was one who had courage and participated in dharmayuddha.

 

The battles waged by the Indian Kingdom was more like a sports match in which the common people were unaffected. The King who wished to invade the territories of his neighbour, sent an ambassador to challenge the neighbouring monarch. As per the common code of warfare, the envoy was unmolested and always treated with respect. A King, according to the code must always accept the challenge and give battle. The war waged by the Khatriyas was like an yajna performed by the Brahmins; the fruit obtained by both was the same, ascent to heavenly abodes after one’s life ends on Earth.

 

Some of the code of conduct followed by the warriors are given below. A warrior wearing armour must not fight with one who is not clad in armour. One should cease to fight when the opponent is disabled. Warriors must only fight with their equals and must not fight with those who are weak. Poisoned darts and barbed arrows must not be used. A weak or wounded soldier must not be killed. Those who do not have a son were not drafted into military service and must not be killed. Weaponless soldiers must not be attacked. A soldier who surrenders must be treated with respect. If a Brahmin enters the battlefield, both sides must stop fighting immediately. The elderly, women, children and those who are retreating from the battlefield must not be killed. Panick-stricken enemy retreating from the battlefield must not be pursued. The battle began at daybreak and was concluded for that day at dusk. Even the enemy monarch’s descendants must not be killed. Atleast one descendant must be allowed to live to preserve the family line.  The most important code of conduct was to preserve agricultural lands, orchards, flower gardens and temples. Megasthenes has also commented on the above code of conducts and has stated that the farmers were unmolested by both sides when a battle was raging through the region. Both sides desisted from doing harm to public property. Maidens if captured were treated with courtesy and were induced to choose a husband from the conquerors' army, but if they refused, they were escorted to their homes with respect. There are records by various historians attesting that the kingdoms followed the above code of conducts. In later Medieval times, Sri Krishnadeva Raya and Chatrapathi Shivaji were famous for enforcing the above code of conducts.

Continued On: The Forgotten Empires Of India: Foreign Invasion of Medieval India - Part 7