WHY INDIA LOST WARS IN PAST LEADING TO
ENSLAVEMENT?

   PART I

                                     Dr K
Prabhakar Rao

 

          India basically
lost important battles leading to our subjugation at the hands of Islamic
miscreants, thugs and killers pouring across western borders screaming jihad
against kafirs. It is not that past Indians (Hindus) lacked valor, physical
abilities, intelligence and stamina that are essential in winning wars. There
are other most important characteristics. Hindus lacked certain aspects and
these made difference. The most important characteristic was the self imposed
moral rules in wars and code of conduct.

 

   Ancient India
had certain code of conduct during wars. These are discussed.

 

1.     

There will
not be a fight between armies after sunset. At times, warriors even visited
enemy camps with impunity after sunset.

                     An example will surely drive the point home
how it was misused in those days. During Mahabharata war, there was great
carnage at the hands of Bheeshmacharya the Kaurava scion. He could not be
defeated by any one, even by Arjuna the greatest warrior of the times. Pandavas
were very sure that they would be wiped out if the great   grand seer was not killed. Therefore Dharma
raja and lord Krishna visited Bheeshma Charya
in the night and enquired how he could be defeated. The grand seer replied that
as long as he held bow in his hand none could defeat him.  He said he would not fight women, and those
who became males having been women once. In such cases he would lay down
weapons. Having got the clue Pandavas next day went to the battle field with
Sikhadi on Arjuna chariot wilding bow and arrows while Arjuna hid    behind. Sikhadi was born as woman and later
was bestowed masculinity by divine powers. In her ( his)  previous birth she was Amba  who wanted to marry the king of  Kashi 
(Varanasi)  but she was deprived of her wish due to
interference of Bheeshma before her marriage took place. Bheeshma who took oath
to remain un married for life abducted sisters Amba, Ambika and Ambalika after
defeating their father and Kasiraja and he desired that these girls be married to
Vichitra veerya the son of Santanu maharaj ( Bheeshma’s father). Earlier the
father of the sisters refused to give his daughters in marriage to Vichitra
veerya.

             Amba told her love affair with
Kasiraja to Bheeshma who      repented and he let her go. But she was not
accepted by Kasiraja as he thought it was an insult. She then went to Bheeshma
and requested him to marry her and this was not accepted by him. Frustrated she
went to Lord Parsurama   who was the guru
of Bheeshma. The Guru desired that her wish be accepted, but the disciple did
not accept as he was under the oath of celibacy. At last, Parsurama ( 6 th
incarnation of  Lord Vishnu) and Bheeshma
decided  to settle the matter through a
duel and duly the duel took place. In the great duel, Parsurama could not
defeat Bheeshma and he retreated leaving Amba helpless.  Subsequently, Amba performed great penance
and the Lord gave her a boon that  in  subsequent birth,  she 
would be the cause for the death of Bheeshma. Satisfied but longing for
revenge, Amba immolated herself in fire and she was born to  king Drupada as a daughter. Subsequently she
became a male and was  named Sikhandi a great
warrior.

 

Bheeshmacharya refused to fight
with Sikhandi and dropped arms. Arjuna who was hiding behind Sikhandi wielded
bow and fatal arrows pierced the body of great seer and he collapsed.
Bheeshmacharya had divine boon from his mother Goddess Ganges that he could
choose the time of his death at any point of time. He was made to rest on a bed
of arrows like a true warrior and waited death till Uttarayana arrived. After
death of Bheeshmacharya greatest hurdle in front of Pandavas was removed.

        Thus in yore, code of conduct was very
strictly implemented by true warriors. At times there were rare violations too
by unscrupulous men.

 

2.     

 Attacking an    enemy from behind or by hiding is forbidden.

         Even today this is
sneered at and is not considered as chivalry. A true warrior will face enemy
face to face. Attacking from behind is considered against the honor of the
warrior. But in Mahabharata war violation took place in the case of slaying of
Abhimanyu, the warrior son of Arjuna. The great warrior Abhimanyu was trapped in
Chakravyooham during Mahbharatha war in the absence of his father Arjuna who
was elsewhere fighting enemies. Abhimanyu was surrounded by Kaurava warriors
Karna, Drona, Duhssasana and others. Abhimanyu’s bow was broken by  the illustrious warrior Karna who shot an
arrow from behind. This was most unexpected considering Karnas reputation as a
true warrior.  Probably,  situations demanded such sinful act.
Abhimanyu sneered at Karna  at this act
and Karna in fact was morally killed and he hung his head in shame. Subsequently,
Abhimanyu died fighting overwhelming warriors single handedly on the battle
field. Another example of Ramayana  can
be quoted. Sri Rama  Killed Vali the
vanara king of Kishkindha hiding behind a bush using a bow and arrow. Vali was
fighting a duel with his brother Sugreeva. Ethically this was wrong although
Lord Rama gave justification for killing him thus when Vali questioned him.

 

3.     

Attacking a
single warrior in battle by many  termed
as unequal battle  is forbidden

                  This was also violated in
case of Abhimanyu who was killed in unequal battle                

        During
Mahbharatha war.

 

4.     

Attacking an
unarmed person is forbidden.

Abhimanyu lost all his weapons and
he fought using the wheel of his broken chariot trying to defend himself using  it as a shield. He was killed by many warriors
who used bows and maces to kill him.

 

       5...Attacking an enemy who is tired is
forbidden

 

            It was
chivalrous to leave the enemy when he is tired. This happened in the case  

        of Ravana in
Ramayana. Sri Rama allowed Ravana  to
retreat to his palace  when  he

        was tired
and  lost weapons.

 

 

5.     

Shooting at a
fleeing enemy or surrendered foe is forbidden.

 

Fleeing troops were allowed to
escape and were not harmed in yore. Similarly those who surrender and seek
asylum were protected and not killed. Vibheeshan  brother of Ravana  was fully protected by Rama when he
surrendered.

 

6.     

Attacking
without warning was forbidden

This was meticulously followed in
yore. It indicates that surprsise attacks without warnings was forbidden. In
past the armies challenged each other. They blew trumpets, conches,  bugles and then charged. This has been stated
in Mahabharatha as read inBhagavadgitha in the first chapter. Krishna
blew conch Panchajanyam. Arjun handled Devadattam. Bheema blew Poundram.This
indicates that enemy was alerted before attack took place.

 

       7. Envoys who go to enemy camp for
negotiations or discussions are not to be

          Harmed.

                 Invariably this is
followed even today although violations could be cited. In

           Ramayana
Hanuman claimed himself to be a envoy ( dootha) from Sri Rama when he was
arrested and taken to Ravana. Earlier, Hanuman killed many well known warriors
of Lanka including Akshaya kumar so of Ravana when they attacked him. In fact,
Hanuman destroyed the garden in Lanka where Sita was kept captive.
Consequently, tail of Hanuman was set aflame at the orders of Ravana as
punishment for killing Rakshasa and damaging the property of Lanka. In turn Hanuman
put lanka to fire and escaped. In another incident spy of Ravana,   Suka charana were arrested by Vanaras when
they were roaming in Rama’s garrison. But they were set free by Rama and were
not harmed. Although Hanuman and others wanted these spies to be  punished Sri Rama did not agree and they were
let off. Invariably spies are arrested and put in jai if not executed
summarily.

 

8. Although wars
were fought between two groups, others were not harmed by the victor.
Properties and   field were not damaged.
Women, civilians and children were not touched. Other edifices and temples were
not touched.

  To be continued

 .

                       

---------------- Note: Content of this blog post is writer's personal opinion and may not be SanghParivar.org or Sangh's view.