Kamboja cavalry
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{{Kambojas}}
The profession of breeding, domesticating, training and utilizing the [[horse]]s in [[war]]fare had originated in the vast [[Steppes]] of [[Central Asia]]. The [[Indo-Iranian]] [[Kambojas]] located in [[Transoxiana]] had introduced this art as a skillful and specialized profession in north-west, probably in the early [[Vedic civilization|Vedic]] age itself. The entire [[Sanskrit]]/[[Pāli|Pali]] literature sings tonnes of paeans and glories of the world class Kamboja horses.
''Nadistuti'' of the [[Rigveda]] <ref>Rig Veda X.75.8.</ref> makes first reference to [[Sindhu]] river as ''svashva'' (famous for its fine horses) and ''vaajinivati'' (rich in race-horses) but without identifying any particular country. The post Vedic Sanskrit literature, however, has numerous references to horses from North-west regions of the [[Kamboja]], [[Sindhu]], [[Sovira|Sauvira]], [[Gandhara]], Bahlika ([[Bactria]]) etc.
From the post-Vedic era onwards, the '''horses of the Kambojas''' have been famous throughout all periods of ancient history of [[India]]n [[sub-continent]] <ref>cf: Some Ksatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, p 238, Dr B. C. Law; The Indian Historical Quarterly, 1963, p 103; History of civilizations of Central Asia, 1999, p 404, Ahmad Hasan Dani, Vadim Mikhaĭlovich Masson, János Harmatta, Boris Abramovich Litvinovskiĭ, Clifford Edmund Bosworth, Unesco; History and Culture of the Palas of Bengal and Bihar, 1993, p 63, Jhunu Bagchi; The Early History of Bengal: From the Earliest Times to the Muslim Conquest, 1939, p 143, Pramode Lal Paul; Balakanda: Rāmāyaṇa as literature and cultural history, 1997, p 29, Varadaraja V. Raman; The Story of Udayana: Dr. U.V. Swaminathaiyer's Tamil Prose Work, 1983, p 181, T. R. Rajagopala Aiyar; Chandragupta Maurya and His Times, 1966, p 173, Radhakumud Mookerji; The Military History of Bengal, 1977, p 24, P. Sensarma; Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas, 19990, p 72, Ashvini. Agrawal; India as Known to Pāṇini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtādhyāyī, 1953, p 219, Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala; The Mārkandeya Purāna, 1969, p 318; cf: The Greco-Sunga Period of Indian History, Or, the North-West India of the Second Century B.C., 1973, p 24, Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan.</ref>.
According to principles of linguistics, a plant, animal or a product native to a certain geographical location gets named after that location.
Thus the ancient [[lexicon]]s attest that the horses born or raised in Kamboja were also known as ''Kamboja'', ''Kambojika'' or ''Kamboji'' <ref>Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 255, Dr J. L. Kamboj; cf: Willimas Sanskrit-English Dictionary; cf: The Student's Sanskrit-English Dictionary, p 144, Vaman Shivaram Apte; Barat's Pronouncing, Etymological, and Pictorial Dictionary of the English and of the Bengali... ,1882, p 312, Troilokya Nath Barat.</ref> <ref>
:''Kambojah pu.n (Kambojodese bhavah iti aN) Kambojodeso.ghotakah''
:(Halayudh Kosh).</ref>.
Ancient [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pāli|Pali]] [[literature]] is overflowing with excellent references and compliments to the famed Kamboja horses.
==Buddhist literature==
[[Buddhist]] texts like ''Manorathapurni'', ''Kunala Jataka'' and ''Samangalavilasini'' etc speak of Kamboja land as the ''land of horses'':
'''Kambojo assa.nam ayata.nam'''.... <ref>Samangalavilasini, Vol I, p 124.</ref>.
''Aruppa-Niddesa'' of Visuddhimagga by [[Buddhaghosa]] also describes the Kamboja land as the ''base of horses''<ref>Aruppa-Niddesa, 10.28.</ref>.
In the ''Mahavastu'', the superb horses of Kamboja (''Kambojaka Asvanara'') are referred to and glorified <ref> Mahavastu, II. 185.</ref>.
''Champeya [[Jataka]]''<ref>verse 23.</ref>, ''Kunala Jataka'' <ref>verse 28.</ref>, ''Vinaya Pitaka'' <ref>Vol III.</ref> etc also make highly laudatory references to the Kamboja horses.
Besides Kamboja horses, the ''Champeya Jataka'' also makes mention of well-trained [[mule]]s from Kamboja.
''Kunala Jataka'' also furnishes detailed procedures followed by the [[Kambojas]] to catch the wild horses for training them as [[war]] horses <ref>Jataka Vol V, p 446.</ref>.
==Jaina texts==
[[Jain]]a Canon ''Uttaradhyana-Sutra'' informs us that a trained Kamboja horse exceeded all other horses in speed and no noise could ever frighten it <ref>
:'''Prakrit'''
:''jaha se Kamboyanam aiiyne kanthai siya'' |
:''assai javeyan pavre ayam havayi bahuassuye'' ||
:(Uttaradhyana Sutra XI.16).</ref>.
==Sanskrit texts==
The [[Epic poetry|epics]], [[Purana]]s and numerous other ancient [[Sanskrit]] texts all agree that the horses of the Kamboja, [[Bahlika]] and [[Sindhu]] regions were the finest breed.
===Valmiki Ramayana===
The [[Ramayan|Valmiki Ramayana]] refers to the horses from the Kamboja, [[Bahlika]], [[Vanayu]] lands and addresses them as of best quality. It puts the horses from the Kamboja at the head of list of best breed and styles them as equal to ''Ucchaisrava'', the steed of god Indra, the Lord of Heavens<ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''Kambojavishhaye jatair Bahlikaishcha hayottamaih'' |
:''vanayujairnadijaihshcha purna harihayottamaih'' || 22 ||
:(Ramayana I.6.22).</ref>.
[[Rama Chandra]], the Prince of [[Ayodhya]], was the proud possessor of the magnificent, powerful and sleek stallions of Kamboja breed <ref>Prince of Ayodhya , 2004, pp 138, 306, 444, A. K. Banker.</ref>.
===Mahabharata===
Sauptikaparva of [[Mahabharata]] ranks the horses from Kamboja as of the finest [[breed]]<ref>
:'''Sanskrit'''
:''syandanes.u ca Kamboja.yukta.parama-vajinah'' ||
:(MBH 10.18.13).</ref>. ''"Most famous horses are said to come either from [[Sind]]hu or [[Kamboja]]; of the latter (i.e the Kamboja), the Indian pseudo-epic Mahabharata speaks among the finest horsemen"'' <ref>Journal of American Oriental society, 1889, p 257, American Oriental Society; Mahabharata 10.18.13.</ref>.
Bhishamaparva of Mahabharata refers to the quality war horses from various lands and puts the steeds from the Kamboja at the head of the list specifically styling them as the leaders (''Mukhyanam'') among the best breed of horses<ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''tatah ''Kamboja.mukhyanam'' nadijana.n cha vajinam ''|
:''Arattanam Mahijana.n Sindhujana.n cha sarvashah ''|| 3 ||
:''Vanayujana.n shubhrana.n tatha parvatavasinam ''|
:''ye chapare tittiraja javana vatara.nhasah ''|| 4 ||
:(MBH 6.90.3-4).</ref>.
Besides numerous references to excellent breed of Kamboja horses, Mahabharata also numerously refers to the horses of the [[Parama-Kambojas]] and notes them also as of excellent (''shreshtha'') quality<ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''yuktaih Parama.Kamboj.airjavanairhemamalibhih'' |
:''bhishayanto dvishatsainya.n yama vaishravanopamah'' || 42 ||
:''prabhadrakastu kambojah shatsahasranyudayudhah'' |
:''nanavarnairhayashreshtha irhemachitrarathadhvajah'' || 43 ||
:(MBH 6.23.42-43, Gorakhpore rec.; see also: 8.38.13-14, MBH 10.13.1-2).</ref>.
In the great battle fought on the field of [[Kurukshetra]], the fast and powerful horses of Kamboja were of the greatest service <ref>Some Kṣatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, p 238, Bimala Churn Law - 1975; Felicitation Volume Presented to Professor Sripad Krishna Belvalkar, 1957, p 260, S. Radhakrishnan; Indological Studies, 1950, p 9; Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, Dr J. L. Kamboja; MBH 6.71.13.</ref>.
The best steeds are stated to come from [[Kamboja]], Aratta, Mahi, [[Sindhu]] and Vanayu countries, but those from the Kamboja headed the list <ref>Persica-9, p 114, Dr Michael Witzel; MBH 6.90.3.</ref>.
Mahabharata styles the horses from Kamboja as very beautiful to look at (''darshaniya''), decked with feathers of suka bird, and of the colour of the parrots. They are stated to run at sleek speeds with their tails, eyes and ears all remaining motionless <ref>MBH 8.23.7, 8.36.36.</ref>.
Apart of above, there are further references attesting the excellent breed of Kamboja horses in Mahbharata <ref>See: MBH II.49.20, II.51.4; II.53.5, VII.3.2-3, VII.23.7, VII.36.36; VII.36.39, VII.121.27, VII.125.25, VIII.22.42, VIII.7.11, IX.38.13, X.13.22 etc.</ref>.
===Kautiliya Arthashastra===
[[Kautiliya]] [[Arthashastra]] divides the horses from various countries into three classes (i) best, (ii) good and (iii) ordinary breed. Kautiliya includes the horses from [[Kambhoja]] (i.e Kamboja) in the best class, and further, ranks them as the superiormost of all by placing them at the head of the list of the best class <ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''prayogyaanaam uttamaah Kaamboja.Saindhava.Aaratta.Vanaayujaah'',
:''madhyamaa baahliika.paapeyaka.sauviiraka.taitalaaH'',
:''zesaah pratyavaraah '' || 29||
:(Kautiliya Arthashastra. 2.30.29).</ref>.
'''e.g''': '' "The (horse) breed of Kambhoja, Sindhu, Aratta, and Vanayu countries are the best; those of Bahlíka ([[Bactria]]), Papeya, [[Sovira|Sauvira]], and Taitala, are of middle quality; and the rest are ordinary (avarah)" '' <ref>Trans: Kautiliya Arthashastra, Dr R. Shamashastri, book, II, Ch 30 [http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Arthashastra/BookII.htm].</ref>.
===Karnabhara of Bhaasa===
In his play named Karnabhaara, ancient [[Sanskrit]] poet [[Bhāsa]] (3rd c AD) makes [[god]] [[Indra]] speak very high of the Kamboja horses. God Indra compares the celebrated ''horses from respected Kamboja as matching that of god [[Surya]]''. They are said to bring fortunes, are worthy of all compliments, are a proud possession of all kings, are full of all virtues, and are capable of running with the speed of wind and displaying best behavior in the war <ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''ravituragasamaanam saadhanam raajalakshmyaah sakalanripatimaanyam maanyakambojajatam'' |
:''sugunam anilvegam yuddhadrishtaapadaanam sapadi bahusahasram vajinaam dadaami'' ||19 ||
:(Karnabhara, 19).</ref> <ref>Trans: Karnabhāram,1961, p 18, Bhāsa, Samskrita Sahitya Sadana, Original from the University of Michigan.</ref>.
===Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa===
[[Raghuvamsa]] of [[Kalidasa]] also makes references to the Kamboja horses and also styles them as of best quality (''sadashva'') <ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''Kambojah samare sodhum tasya viryamaniishvarah''
:''gajalan.prikilishatairakshotaih sardhmaantah''
:''teshaam ''sadashva''.bhuyishthaas.tunga.draviynah.rashyah''.
:(Raghu 4.69-70).</ref>.
===Asvashastra of Nakula===
''Laksanaprakasa'' quotes numerously on horses from several important old authorities some of which are probably lost to us. Among them are the ''Asvayurveda'' and ''Asvasastra''..... the former attributed to ''Jayadeva'' and the latter to ''Nakula''.
''Asvashastra'' of ''Nakula'' divides the horses of this earth into four classes: (i) uttama (best), (ii) madhyama (good), (iii) kanyama (average) and (iv) neechatineecha (inferior).
In the ''uttama'' or best category, Nakula lists the horses from [[Tajik]] ([[Kamboja]]), [[Khorasan]] and [[Tushara]] countries. Further in this list of the best class, the horses from ''Tajik'' are put at the head of the list<ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''chaturdha vajino bhumau jayante deshsanshryat'' |
:''Tajikah Khurasanashcha Tushanashchottama ''||
:''gojikanashcha keikeyanah potaharashcha madhyamah'' |
:''gahurah sahuranashcha sindhuwarah kaniyasah'' |
:''anayadeshodhbhava ye cha neechneechasatthaapre ''||
:(Virmitryodhye Laksanaprakasa, p 415.</ref>.
===Manasollasa of Someshvara===
According to ''Manasollasa'' of the [[Chalukya]]n king Someshvara III of the early twelfth century, there are sixty five types of horses out of which thirty nine varieties are well known while twenty six types are rather unknown. ''In the thirty nine well-known types described by him, the Kamboja horses occupy the first place'' <ref>Someshara's Manasollasa 4.4.715-30.</ref>.
Vishnu Vardhana, the real founder of [[Hoysala]] greatness, who later on became ruler of [[Mysore]] had the Kamboja horses and he had made the earth tremble under the tramp of his powerful Kamboja horses <ref>Ancient India, p 236, Dr S. K. Aiyangar.</ref> <ref> Mysore Inscriptions, 1983, p lxxvii, Benjamin Lewis Rice, Lewis Rice.</ref>.
===Shakti Sangham Tantra evidence===
''Shatt.panchashad.desha.vibhaga'' of ''Shakti Sangama Tantra'' also testifies that the [[Kamboja]] was not only famous for its fine horses but also for its excellent [[horsemen]] <ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''Panchaldeshamarambhya mlechhad dakishinahpurvatah'' |
:''Kambojadesho deveshi vajiraashi.prayanah'' || 24 ||
:Shakati-Sangam-Tantra, 'Shatpanchashadddeshavibhag' , Verse 24.</ref> <ref>
A View of the History, Literature, and Mythology of the Hindoos, 1818, p 559, William Ward - India.</ref> <ref>
History, Literature and Religion of the Hindoos, 1820, p 451, William Ward.</ref>.
===Other Sanskrit literature===
[[Vishnu Purana]] refers to excellent breed of thousands of full-blooded horses from the Kamboja in the stables of king ''Naraka'' of Pragjyotish <ref>Vishnu Purana, p 460, H. H. Wilson.</ref> <ref> Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1834, p 434, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.</ref>.
''Upamiti Bhava Prapancha Katha'' singles out horses from Kamboja, [[Bahlika]] ([[Balkh]]) and ''Turuksha'' ([[Tushara]]) as the best class <ref>Upamiti 474; Trade and Traders in Western India, A.D. 100-1300, 1990, p 123, fn 99, Vardhman Kumar Jain.</ref>.
The ''Abhidhamma Ratanamala'' mentions examples of excellent horses from [[Kamboja]], [[Persia]], [[Vanayu]], Bahlika, [[Sindhu]] and the lands bordering on Sindhu <ref>Ed. Aufrecht, II, 284; Indian Inscriptions, No 511, 284; Trade and Traders in Western India, A.D. 100-1300, 1990, p 123, fn 99, Vardhman Kumar Jain.</ref>.
==Ancient inscriptions==
Nalanda Grants of king Deva Pala of [[Bengal]] also refers to Kamboja horses as well as the Kamboja mares. It is notable that the Pala kings of Bengal had obtained their horses as well as cavalry from the Kamboja of north-west (Dr R. C. Majumdar). The Khasas, Hunas, Yavanas ets are also mentioned as being routinely recruited in the armed forces of the Pala kings.
Verse twelve of the third Asama-patra (1185 AD) of king Valabhadeva proudly refers to him as the possessor/rider of the Kamboja horses and elephants <ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''Kambojavajivrajavahnendryantabhavad valabha deva aye'' |
:Kielhorn, F. (ed) Epigraphia Indica, Vol V, 1898-99, pp 184, 187; Social History of Kamrup, 1983, p 233, Nagendranath Vasu.</ref>.
==Miscellaneous==
Besides several references cited above, other ancient texts like [[Brahmanda Purana]] <ref> Brahama Purana II, 2.16.16.</ref>, Vamsa-Bhaskara, Madhyapithika, [[Kalidasa]]'s Mandakranta, Kalhana's Rajatrangini <ref>Raghu: 4.163-65.</ref>, Harasha-crita of Bana Bhatta <ref>verses 7.88-90.</ref>, Karnatakadambari of Nagavarman <ref>verse 96, p 305.</ref> and other numerous ancient texts make ''very laudatory'' references to the Kamboja horses.
All these references sufficiently prove that the steeds from [[Kamboja]] were considered very powerful, magnificent and fastest runners. No doubt, both the Kamboja horses as well as the expert Kamboja cavalry were very much sought after by other nations in ancient times.
It is therefore absolutely no exaggeration if the great epic [[Mahabharata]] styles the Kambojas as the ''horselords'' and the ''masters of horsemanship'' i.e expert cavalrymen (''Ashva-yudha-kushalah'') <ref>MBH 12,105.5.</ref>. ''Vishnudharmotra Purana'' too, attests that the Kambojas and [[Gandhara]]s were proficient in horse warfare i.e. ''Ashva-Yuddha-kushalah''<ref>see: Vishnudharmotra Purana, Part II, Ch 118.</ref> <ref> Post Gupta Polity (AD 500-700): A Study of the Growth of Feudal Elements and Rural Administration 1972, p 136, Ganesh Prasad Sinha; Military Wisdom in the Purānas, 1979, p 64, Prof P. Sensarma; Ancient Indian Civilization, 1985, p 120, Grigoriĭ Maksimovich Bongard-Levin; Kashmir Polity, C. 600-1200 A.D., 1986, p 237, V. N. Drabu; Polity in the Agni Purāna, 1965, Bambahadur Mishra; etc etc.</ref>.
Noted scholars like Dr K. P. Jayswal observe: ''Since the Kambojas were famous for their horses (ashva) and as cavalry-men (Ashva-yudhah kushalah), hence the [[Ashvaka]]s i.e. horsemen was the term popularly applied to them'' <ref>Hindu Polity, 1978, pp 121, 140, Dr K. P. Jayswal; cf also: MBH VI.90.3.</ref>.
:''See Main Article:'' [[Ashvakas]]
==Kamboja elephants==
The term Kamboja, according to ancient lexicons, also means elephant <ref>Willimas Sanskrit-English Dictionary</ref> <ref>Balakanda: Rāmāyana as literature and cultural history, 1997, p 241, Varadaraja V. Raman.</ref> <ref>
:'''See also''':
:'''Kambojo-hastimede........'''.(Nanarathamanjari 421).</ref> <ref>
:'''And also'''
:'''Kambojo hastimede cha shankh.deshavisheshayoh''' :(Shabd.ratan.samanyakosh).</ref>.
This shows that, besides horses, the ancient Kambojas also raised elephants <ref>Op cit, p 255, Dr Kamboj.</ref>
[[Arrian]] attests that besides 20000 [[cavalry]] and 30000 [[infantry]], the [[Assakenois|Assakenians]] had employed 30 war [[elephant]]s against [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]] in the battle of Massaga <ref>Arrian 4.25.5; Evolution of Heroic Tradition in Ancient Panjab, 1971, p 77, Buddha Prakash; The Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, p 131, K. S. Dardi; Ancient Kamboja, People & the Country, p 248, Dr Kamboj.</ref>.
Chieftain ''Afrikes'', the real brother of chieftain ''Assakenos'' (=[[Ashvaka]] chief) is also said to have possessed a fleet of ''15 war elephants'' which he used against Alexander. The name ''Afrikes'' is stated to allude to [[Afridis]] (''Apryte'') <ref>Views of Dr L. M. joshi, Dr Fauja S. Singh, Dr Buddha Prakash, Dr J. L. Kamboj.</ref>.
It is pointed out here that 'Assakenian' was a popular term used for ''a section of the Kambojas who were specialised in horse-culture and cavalry services''. This again affirms that the elephants were domesticated and employed in the war by ancient Kambojas.
Mahabharata refers to wonderful army of war elephants fielded by [[Sudakshina]] at Kurukshetra <ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''yasya rajan''gajanikam'' bahusahasramadbhutam'' .
:''sudakshinah sa sangrame nihatah savyasachina'' || 20 ||
:MBH 8.5.20.</ref>.
'''e.g''': ''"Sudakshina, O king, who had a wonderful army of thousands of elephants (i.e numerous elephants) hath been slain in battle by [[Arjuna]]"''.
In the fierce fight that took place between the [[prince]] [[Kamboj|Prapaksha Kamboja]] (younger brother of Sudakshina) and Arjuna after Sudakshin Kamboj was martyred, Arjuna is said to have slaughtered numerous ''steeds and elephants'' of his antagonist's division <ref>MBH 8.56.110-114.</ref>.
There are references to Kamboja [[prince|kings]] presenting ''thousands of elephants'', besides [[blanket]]s, [[cow]]s, [[camel]]s and horses etc as gifts to king [[Yudhishtra]] at the time of ''Rajasuya Yajna'' <ref>
:'''Sanskrit''':
:''Kambojah prahinottasmai parardhyanapi kambalan'' ||19 ||
:''gajayoshid gavashvasya shatasho.atha sahasrashah'' |
:MBH 2.49.19.</ref>.
And finally as stated earlier, Asama-patra of king Valabhadeva also proudly refers to the ''elephants from Kamboja'' in his stable <ref> Epigraphia Indica, Vol V, 1898-99, pp 184, 187, Kielhorn, F. (ed); Social History of Kamrup, 1983, p 233, Nagendranath Vasu.</ref>.
Thus, it is seen that besides horses and well trained ponies, the ancient Kambojas were also noted for their [[war]] elephants.
==References==
<references />
==See also==
*[[Kambojas]]
*[[Ashvaka Kambojas]]
==References==
*Mahabharata
*Valmiki Ramayana
*Kautiliya's Arthashastra
*Puranas
*Harsha-Chrita by Bana Bhata
*Buddhist Jatakas
*Uttradhyana Sutra
*Raghuvamsha by Kalidasa
*Some Kshatriya Tribes of Ancient India, 1924, Dr B. C. Law.
*The Harsa-Charita of Bana Bhatta (Trans: E. B. Cowell and F. W. Thomas. London, Royal Asiatic Society) 1897
*Ancient Kamboja, People & the Country, Dr J. L. Kamboj <br>
*Political History of Ancient India, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr P. N. Banerjee <br>
*History of Panjab, Dr L. M. Joshi, Dr Fauja Singh <br>
*These Kamboj People, 1979, K. S. Dardi <br>
*Persica, September, 1980
*Studies in Indian Cultural History, Vol I, Hoshiarpur, P.K. Gode
*Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, 1912
*The Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, Kirpal Singh
[[Category:Kambojas|Horsemen]]