Naval Warfare in Ancient India

Summary

This extensive article explores the evidence for naval warfare in ancient India. The author begins by surveying literary sources – the Rigveda, Mahābhārata and Purāṇas – for references to ships used in battle. Early texts depict the sea primarily as a highway for traders and pilgrims, yet they also allude to maritime conflicts. The paper highlights passages in which kings engage in naval expeditions and the gods intervene in sea battles. Moving beyond myth, the author examines historical records, noting that the Mauryas maintained an admiralty department and built large vessels for both military and policing purposes. Archaeological evidence is drawn from depictions of boats on coins and reliefs and from the remains of ports along the eastern and western coasts. The article devotes special attention to the Chola navy of the ninth‑to‑eleventh centuries, which carried expeditions to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia; inscriptional evidence shows that the Cholas organised their fleets with admirals, quartermasters and specialised marines. The author discusses how ship‑building techniques evolved from stitched vessels to plank‑built ships and how sailors used monsoon winds to their advantage. Comparisons are made with Greek and Roman navies to contextualise Indian developments. The article also investigates the strategic importance of riverine warfare on the Ganges and Godavari and notes that navies often served to protect trade rather than to seek territorial conquest. The closing sections argue that the decline of Indian naval power after the thirteenth century was due to internal political fragmentation and the diversion of resources to land warfare. By compiling literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence, the author presents a comprehensive picture of India’s long but underappreciated maritime military tradition.