Research Paper written by London Swaminathan
Post No.1230 ; Dated 13th August 2014.
The Four Limbs of Army, ‘Chatur Anga’ in Sanskrit , is a Hindu concept found in ancient Tamil and Sanskrit literature. It is in the 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature and earlier Sanskrit literature including that of the greatest Indian poet Kalidasa (1st century BCE or earlier) and world’s first economist and political scientist Chanakya (3rd Century BCE). This is a severe blow to the supporters of ‘racist theory’ which divide Indians into Aryans, Dravidians ,Mundas and aborigines.
The most famous board game Chess (Chaturanga) was invented in India is a fact acknowledged by everyone. This is based on the four wings of army Ratha, Gaja, Thuraga, Pathadi (Chariot, Elephant, Horse, Foot soldier) that we see in all the Indian wars from the days of Mahabharata, probably earlier.
From the ancient times Hindus from the Himalayas to the land’s end Kanyakumari had the same thought process. Foreign “scholars” who wanted to sow the seeds of division invented (concocted) a theory of dividing Indians which has no basis in Tamil or Sanskrit literature.
Hindus are fascinated with number FOUR for various reasons. Number four is considered strong, long lasting, enduring. They divided the eras (yugas), Vedas, four stages of life (Purushartha), army divisions, castes, four methods of ( Chaturvitha Upaya) winning an enemy etc.
Hindu army was also divided in to four wings of
Ratha= chariots
Gaja= elephants
Thuraga= horses
Patha athi= infantry.
Powerful Nanda Army!
According to the Greek historian Plutarch (45 CE to 120 CE), Alexander the Great was afraid of the mighty Indian army. Plutarch wrote that Nanda dynasty had 200,000 soldiers, 80,000 cavalry, 8000 chariots and 7000 elephants. Nanda dynasty ruled India in the fourth century BCE.
Kautilya alias Chanakaya gives lot of information about the four wings of army in his Arthashastra (Chapter 10). He even gives the salary for each post. An amazing planning is seen there.
During Mahabahara war 11 divisions of Kauravas and 7 divisions of Pandavas fought in Kurukshetra. One division in Sanskrit is called Akshouhini, which consists of
21,870 chariots
21,870 elephants
65,610 horses
109,350 foot soldiers.
We have to multiply this number by 18 (11+7) divisions!! A huge number indeed! Whether we believe it or not at least we know for sure the four wings of army existed at that time. The war was fought around 3100 BCE!
Kalidasa on Equal Fight
The beauty of this fourfold division is that it is found in Sangam Tamil literature as well. They copied it simply from the North. Kalidasa who lived in the first century BCE or earlier says about it in several places including
Raghu Vamsa 7-37:-
Paththi padanim rathinam rathesasthurangasadhi thuragathirudam
Yantha gajasyabhya pathangajastham thulya parathi dwanthvi bhabuva yudhdham
———(Raghu 7-37)
It was a dharma yudhha (war based on rules of equal strength). Infantry fought with infantry only. A charioteer fought with another charioteer only and so do the elephant man and horse man fought with each other. The war was fought between the equals (7-37).
Tamil Poets on Fourfold Army
Maruthan Ilanagan, a Tamil poet, says it in Purananuru verse 55. It is repeated by Pandya King Neduncheziyan (Puram 72), Adai nedum Kalviyar (Puram 345),Madalan Madurai Kumaranar (Puram 197), Pereyin Muruvalar (Puram 239), Madurai Padai Manga Manniyar (Puram 351),Ulochanar (Puram 377) and Kazaththalaiyar (Puram 368).
There are innumerable references in the Tamil literature. Since Purananuru verses are considered very old poems in the Sangam corpus, I quoted only from the Purananuru. All the above poets lived in the first few centuries of our era.
Sangam Tamil poets shattered the Aryan- Dravidian ‘Racist theory’ with countless references like this. Whatever we find in the North we find in the South of India. There is no difference between the south and the north in the culture or beliefs. People who did not know both Tamil and Sanskrit wrote lot of rubbish in the past. It will take years to clear that Himalayan quantity of Aryan – Dravidian rubbish!!
God Bless India, that is Bharat!
Tamil and Vedas 
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