212 



ON THE WEAPONS USED 



wonderful weapons were ascribed also to other gods besides, 

 e.g., to Brahma, to Vayu, to Varuna, &c, &c. 134 



Considering that Sukra or Usanas is a member of the 

 Bhargava family, it seems a striking coincidence that the 

 agneyastra is through Aurva also connected with the same 

 family. 



It may look strange that while gunpowder and firearms 

 appear to have been known in India since immemorial times, 

 and though we know that fireworks and firearms were always 

 in use — the Portuguese, the first Europeans who came to this 

 country, were struck at their landing with the display of 

 both 135 — so few actual traces of them should be found in this 

 country. But while admitting to a certain extent the truth 

 of this observation, we must also consider that only very few 

 old buildings have been preserved in India from ancient times, 

 that we have nothing which can vie in age with Grecian anti- 

 quities, omitting Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities alto- 

 gether. Yet still we can prove the existence of firearms by 

 carved images of them being preserved in some ancient stone 

 temples. 



1. In the Madura District lies not far north from Ramnad 

 (Rdmandthapura) on the sea the ancient Tiriipalldni. It is 



134 See Harivamsa, XIV, 33. 



Agneyam astram labdhva ca Bhargavat Sagaro nrpah 

 jigaya prthivim hatva Talajanghan sahaihayan. 

 Compare Mahabharata, Adiparva, CXXX, 39, 40. 



39. Agnivesam mahabhagam Bharadvajah pratapavan 

 pratyapadayat agneyam astram astravidam varah. 



40. Agnestu jatassa munistato Bharatasattama 

 Bharadvajam tad agneyam mahastram pratyapadayat. 



See Sakuntala, III, 56, and Uttara Rama Caritra, VI. 



135 Castanheda says in his description of Vasco da Gama's entrance into 

 Calicut : " The procession again set out, preceded by many trumpets and 

 sacbuts sounding all the way ; and one of the Nayres carried a caliver, which 

 he fired off at intervals." See Elliot's History of India, VI, 467 ; compare 

 Kerr's Collection of Voyages, Vol II, 364. According to Sir A. Phayre, the 

 king of Pegu, when advancing in 1404 up the Iravadi against the king 

 Meng Khoung could neither land at nor attack Prome, as it was defended 

 with cannon and muskets ; see Journal, Asiatic Soc. Bengal, 1869, XXXV1I1, 

 p. 40. 



