Dhanurveda
The Skill of Archers, the skills of dhanurveda experts in releasing arrows.
Four Types of Targets
There are four types of targets for the archers to practice such as Sthira which means fixed, Chala which means moving so on and so forth.
Types of Dhanurdhari
In archery three types of skilled persons exist. 1. Uttama Dhanurdhari, the best archer. 2. Madhyama dhanurdhari, Middle archer 3. Kanishtha Dhanurdhari, lower most archer.
Uttam Dhanurdhari
Between the time of the sun rise and the sun set, the archer who is capable of releasing four hundred arrows accurately shooting the target is called Uttama Dhanurdhari.
Madhyama Dhanurdhari
The one who is capable of releasing three hundred arrows Madhyama Dhanurdhari
Kanishta Dhanurdhari.
And the one with two hundred Kanishta. If an archer falls below these standards, he is not considered to be archer at all. In the standards fixed like this even if a single arrow misses the bull’s eye the archer is treated as disqualified.
Ancient History of Dhanurvidya
SOME OF THE STUNNING ACCOMPLISHMENTS When Sri Rama began cutting down the heads of Ravana, if one head was cut, another began cropping up in its place. This process continued for a long period. At his wit’s end, Rama sought the help of Vibhishana who suggested planting an arrow in the navel centre of Ravana. Rama did as was suggested and after hitting the naval of Ravana, the arrow came back to Rama. This is known as”Pratyagamana Marma Sthana Bhedi Bana Prayoga Vidhi.” In short it means the arrow’s coming back to its original position after hitting the target. In the Ramayana, when Sri Hanuman was about to return to Kishkindha after finding Sita Mata under Asoka tree in Lanka, Sita Mata told him an incident occurred at the time of their vanavasa. Sri Rama released an Astra against a bird. The bird started flying to all the places to escape from getting hit by the Astra but in vain. Shaken and weaker it had to land at Sri Rama’s feet for its life. The thing that we learn from this is that an Astra once released will go after the target irrespective of the movements and places the target moves. ASTRAS FOR IMMOBILISATION In the war of the Ramayana, Nagapaasaastra was released against Sri Rama and Lakshmana. Both became unconscious in the battle field. Then Garuda came to their rescue and released them from the power of the Astra. In Dhanurveda some such Paasaastras are Kalapaasaastra, Varunapaasaastra, and Brahmapaasaastra. As to Dhanurveda Astras which make the enemy immobilize and faint are Maadanastra, Santaapanaastra, Vilaapanaastra, Jrimbhanaastra and Aavaranaastra. By using Divyapaasaastra one can be made unconscious and brought near to death condition.
Astras in Dhanurveda
11 ASTRAS TO MAKE ONE UNCONSCIOUS In the Mahabharata, at the time of Kauravas plundering the cows of Virata Rajya, Arjuna alone confronts the entire enemy and releases Mohanaastra which makes the entire Kauravas faint. In the Ramayana also, Lakshmana becomes the victim of Taamasaastra that makes him almost lifeless. Sri Hanumantha brings Sanjeevani herb overnight from the Himalayas to Lanka and saves his life. In Dhanurveda some such astras are Indraastra, Raudraastra and Maheswaraastra. CHAKRAS When Yudhishtara was performing Rajasooyayaga, Sri Krishna was given top most priority and was highly placed. Sisupala, on seeing this, filled with jealously and began criticizing Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna beheaded Sisupala with Sudarsana Chakra. So also he beheaded Dantavakraka. This Sudarsana Chakra once released circles in the air, moves towards its target and does its destined job. This is known as “Divine Astra”. Some such divine astras in Dhanurveda are Vishnu Chakra Danda Chakra ASTRAS FOR SELECTIVE DESTRUCTION In the Ramayana Sri Rama could not find a way to cross the sea to go to Lanka to get back Sita Mata. Sri Rama got angry and intended to use “Soshanaastra”. If it is used once, the entire sea will get evaporated. As per Dhanurveda there are many astras with unimaginable powers. Some of them are 1. Brahmastra 11. Tejah Prabhavastra 2. Brahmasirastra 12. Prathiharatharastra 3. Adityastra 13. Lakshyastra 4. Gandharvastra 14. Alakshyastra 5. GhoraMusalastra 15. Daityanasakayogandharastra 6. Swanabhastra 16. Pishyastra 7. Padmanabhastra 17. Makarastra 8. Mahanabhastra 18. Maranastra etc., 9. Dundunabhstra 10. Dridhanabhastra
Dhanurveda technologies.
Coming to the point of technological developments of Ancient Bharathadesam, Dhanurveda comprises Astras, Muktha, Muktaamukta, Vimukta and Amukta. Now let us consider items one by one. Dhanurveda doesn’t mean Archery alone but the above also. Amukta means all weapons that the user has with him like Spears, Swords and protective equipment like Shields, Head gear and so on and so forth.
By considering one item”Sword”and its sciences and technologies, one could imagine the enormity of Ancient wisdom of Bharathadesam involved in Dhanurveda.
Modern discoveries established that “Ukku” which was wrongly pronounced as “Wootz’ for some period, was used in Bharathadesam around 300 BCE which was the first form of crucible steel. This we can know from Wikipedia.
MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND ANCIENT WISDOM
Now the question is whether the manufacturing process of Wootz steel is unscientific. It appears that the current thinking on unscientific is pseudoscience. “Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence of plausibility, cannot be reliably tested or otherwise lacks scientific status.” One of the most important aspects of true science is” replication and verification particularly from the third parties not involved in the original experiments.”
Destruction of Ancient Swords
As Per Wikipedia “Many Indian Wootz steel swords were destroyed by the order of the British authorities. Metal working suffered a setback during the British Empire”
