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15. GITA
Myth and Reality Studies in the Formation of Indian Culture by D. D. KOSAMBI First printed 1962
If a Mahabharata war had actually been fought on the scale reported, nearly five million fighting men killed each other in an 18-day battle between Delhi and Thanesar; about 130,000 chariots (with their horses), an equal number of elephants and thrice that many riding horses were deployed. This means at least as many camp-followers and attendants as fighters. A host of this size could not be supplied without a total population of 200 millions, which India did not attain till the British period, and could not have reached without plentiful and cheap iron and steel for ploughshares and farmers1 tools. Iron was certainly not available in any quantity to Indian peasants before the 6th century BC. The greatest army camp credibly reported was of 400,000 men under Candragupta Maurya, who commanded the surplus of the newly developed Gangetic basin. The terms patti, gulma etc., given as tactical units in the Mbh did net acquire that meaning till after the Mauryans. The heroes fought with bows and arrows from their chariots, as if the numerous cavalry did not exist; but cavalry-which appeared comparatively late in ancient Indian warfare-made the fighting chariots obsolete as was proved by Alexander in the Punjab.
Evidently the exaggeration is obvious. However several attempts have been made to date the war using astronomical references and local touches within the story. It is no wonder that it gives varying dates.
1. The date of 3137 BC. is the traditional date.
2. The date of 2449 BC. This is based on a statement by Varahamihira in 505 AD in chapter 13 of
the Brihat Samhita, where it is claimed that the commencement of the Saka era took place 2,526 years after the rule of the king Yudhisthira. If the Saka era meant here is the Salivahana era (78 AD), then the date follows. Some scholars have suggested that this Saka era refers to the one started by an earlier Saka king in Central Asia and that this date is not at variance with the Kali date of Aryabhata.
3.
In the "Scientific dating of Mahabharata War" by Dr P V Vartak in Marathi taking into consideration of "All the twelve planets confirm their said positions on 16th October 5561 years B.C. along with two Amavasyas, two eclipses, kshaya Paksha and a Comet. Thus, in all
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