MILITARY MUSIC USED IN VEDIC WARFARE

Abstract

The Vedic literature is the earliest extent record of the Āryan and it reflects a stage of cultural, social, political evolution in India. It sheds a good deal of light on the system of government in that period. The king was the head of both the civil and military administration. The Vedic Āryans fought with the Dāsas for their settlement, cattle, land, etc.. They developed a very high code of warfare. The army of one of the king went to the territory of the enemy king. In the Vedic period, there are four types of armies, viz. charioteers, cavalry, infantry and elephantry. They used various types of weapons like bow, arrows, lance, spears, thunderbolt, etc.. They covered their body with coat of mail called varman, they used helmet to cover and protect their heads and handguard to protect their hands from the friction of bow-string in the warfare. Besides these, the warrior used various arts, principles and ethics in their warfare for winning a war.