Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Tomara (Tomahawk)’ of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
Tomara (Tomahawk)
[Full title: War weapons > Śāstras > Muktāyudhas > Tomara (Tomahawk)]
This is made of wooden stick with iron at the head. It hits the target straight. This is a popular weapon[1]. The three associated movements are (IV.39):
[...]
(a) Uddhāna–raising upwards to throw (ūrdhvatolana)
(b) Vinivṛtti–sideways or backward motion
(c) Vedhana–cutting into pieces
Tattvavivṛti defines it as:
[...]
I.e. having wooden body with the iron head attached with silken tassles (plumage). There is no explanation as to why this silken tassle gets attached to the weapon. Probably, it is to enhance the speed.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
War in Ancient India, p. 107: Here, V. R. R. Dikshitar mentions about two varieties of tomara namely, the sarvāyasa and daṇḍa.