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TILAKAMANJARĪ OF DHANAPĀLA
Dr. D.N. Shukla on the basis of Samarānganasūtra dhāra' has postulated the maintenance of aeroplanes or aerial cars in ancient India. Some amongst them bore the shapes of elephants, birds monkeys, horses and chariots. Even Odayadeva Vādībhasimha has postulated the existence of the aerial cars made of gold 7042fahrfachafae82:2 He has also mentioned the peacock shaped mechanical aerial vehicle called 'Yantrakalāpī" and ‘Mayūrayantra'' of king Satyamdhara of Hemāngada Janapada having Rājapuri for its capital.
Regarding the dress and manners of the soldiers Tilakamañjari provides some relevant information. He has mentioned the words 'Sphara's and 'Pharaka' both denoting 'a helmet' in the general sense and in particular sense they may have some variance as well. He refers to men lying in covert wearing spharas and digging out the joints of the foundations of the fortification whereas 'Pharakas' were placed on the heads by the Phārakas i.e. the persons who were digging up the basements of the fortification, who were imploring (their soldiers to enter the space created by the act of digging).
The text, however, fails to denote any distinction between the two. 'Sphara' and 'Pharaka' were most probably synonyms and Dhanapāla had a knack for alliteration in employing the variant expression “Pharaka' in ‘Pharaka Phāraka'.
The use of armours (or corselets) was the most frequent feature of dress meant for defence against physical injury. "Tanutarāņi”, “Kavaca',' “Kālāyasa', Kankata or Kālāyasakavaca'-worn on the body and chest respectively have been mentioned. “Tanutrāņi' were most probably the iron nets covering the entire body and so were the ‘Kavacas'. Kankața' a variety of armour worn on the chest and formed out of black steel has been mentioned variantly, Vajrāyudha wore this corselet of black steel, held a sword in his right hand and a buckler made of gold in the other i.e. left
1. Ibid. cg. 3. 2. GCM Ist Lambha p. 9. 3. Ibid. p. 54. 4. Ibid. 5. बद्धस्फरतिरोहित पुरुष खन्यमान प्राकार मूलबन्धानि शिरस्थितफरकफारकप्रार्थ्यमान प्राकारखण्डी प्रवेशनि। TM
Vol. II p. 195. 6. Ibid. Vol. II p. 198, Vol. II p. 206. 7. Ibid. Vol. II p. 198, Vol. II p. 206. 8. Ibid. Vol. II p. 198, Vol. II p. 206.
