Most Ancient Aryan Society

Author(s): Ram Chandra Jain
Publisher: Institute of Bharatalogical Research Sriganganagar Rajasthan

Page 177

( 150 ) social activities. Its second function was to destroy foes and increase the wealth of the Gaņa. The whole Ķgveda is replete with instances of the victories of Gaņapatis like Agni, Indra, Bșhaspati and others over their adversaries ; the wholesale plunder of their wealth and continuous additions to their material prosperity.
The Aryan military forces were very well equipped with arms and weapons. The chief military weapons of Arms and these Gaņas were bows, arrows and quivers.' Weapons Their military industry was very prosperous under the direct charge of the Rşis. They associated themselves in actual battles with Indra and Agni. They engaged themselves in the production of weapons and equipped the Gaņa with weapons. The domesticated horses were soon trained for military adventures and the Gaņic Āryans had possessed military steeds in abundance. The other weapons, though used rarely, were the sword, the spear and the axe.10 Army was constituted of foot soldiers and charioteers.11 Thunderbolt appears to have been amply used by the Brahmāryans in subjugating Bhārata. All other weapons appear to have been used by the Aryans who went to Greece, Anatolia, Babylinia and Iran but not the thunderbolt. It appears that this weapon had been invested by the Brahmāryans only duriug their invasions on Bhārata.
Agni was the best weapon of the Aryans. The first and foremost Āryan Leader, Angiras, was successful in Agni-The best inventing fire-weapons. Rgveda has the Weapon
epon clearest memory of the mass fires!? that finally led to the invention of Agni as a weapon. Agni played the most important part in Aryan life. Agni had consistently been the helper of the Arya.18 The wielder of fire, Angiras, had his own separate Gaņa. Gaņupati Indra and Ganapati