The Armor Of The Indian Soldiers At Different Periods In History

Since antiquity, the armor was used in the Indian subcontinent, from the Vedic period. Descriptions about armor can be found in religious texts like the Itihasa epics Mahabharat, Ramayana, and the Puranas.

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Vedic period

The Indo-Aryan people are the ones to introduce defensive armor into India. The Rigveda mentioned about the armor:

The armor that Vedic soldiers living in 1500 BC wore was called Varman. According to Edward Washburn Hopkins, the armor was made using metal and covered the shoulders. Different parts off the armor were connected with wires. Metal pieces were connected to each other to create a helmet.

As stated in India’s Ancient Past by RS Sharma, the warriors in this period wore mail armor and bronze helmets. However, archeologists found no evidence to support this statement.

Mythological armor

In Mahabharata, much evidence of the use of armor on the battlefields could be found.

Kavacha

Karna Kavacha: Karna’s father, Surya, gave him the armor when he was born. Even heavenly weapons couldn't penetrate the armor.

Shiva-Kavacha: Lord Shiva’s armor will help make its wielder become invincible.

Khetaka

Jaivardhan: Lord Shiva and Losh Vishnua’s shield.

Shamba’s shield.

Srivatsa: Lord Vishnu’s shield, a symbol that the Hindus worship. The shield is said to on the chest of the god.

Antiquity

Armor is mentioned in Chanakya’s Arthshastra.

Under the rule of King Ajatashatru, the Magadha Kindom rapidly expanded its infrastructure for the military, setting the foundation for later kingdoms in Pataliputra. King Ajatshatru invented the blade chariot called Rathamusla.

While the Bharhut Stupa suggests that soldiers at that time used leather scale armor, the Sanchi Stupa depicts the use of quilted armor.

Many historians described the armor that Kind Porus wore during the battle with Alexander. Greek historian Arrian noted that the armor was well-fitted and shot-proof.

Gupta period

Soldiers in the Gupta period wore scale mail armor consisting of metal and leather. The equipment and technology of the Guptas were over two centuries more advanced than its period. The armor of the soldiers was designed to withstand steel bows. The Gupta Empire’s military was discussed by Siva-Dhanur-Veda. Instead of using horses, the Guptas mainly used armored war elephants. Since the chariots had proved to be not very helpful against invaders including the Greeks, Scythians, and many more, they weren’t preferred by the Guptas. Rather, this period saw the use of heavy cavalry in mail armor, equipped with lances and maces to break the enemy line.

Meanwhile, the soldiers in the Satavahana period wore armor that was inspired by the ones from the Alchon Huns and the Indo-Scythians.

Medieval period

Early Medieval period (from 1206 CE to 1526 CE)

The chainmail armor first appeared in the Indian subcontinent during the 12th century and wore by the Turkic armies. A reference of this armor could be found in the Mularaja II inscription and the Battle of Delhi during which it was used by the war elephants. Sukrita-Kirti-Kallolini by Udayaprabha Suri notes that Malaraja was given an army by Naikidevi. This army helped Mularaja defeat the Hammira and his mlechchha army with soldiers covered head-to-toe.

Later Medieval period (from 1526 CE to 1757 CE)

Mughal armor

In the 16th century, the Indian subcontinent’s armor went through a lot of upgrades. The Mughals widely used armor like scale mail and chainmail. Armor was used until the 1757 Battle of Plassey.

Mughal helmets

While there are some similarities in the design, there are some differences depending on the cultures. Decorations were often made in the skull as well as the nasal bar. The decorations included inlaid brass’ patterned motif in silver or gold or with figurative images. Quran’s calligraphic inscriptions were featured on one Mughal helmet while another one found in Gwalior, India had a motif of the sign with the skull and crossbones as an influence from the European. Another artistic decoration on the Kula Khu helmet was the nasal bar’s leaf-shaped finials. The Ganesha was also carved on the nasal bar of a Sikh top.  The Kula Khud helmet usually didn't have any organic decorations, only some metals.

Maratha armor

There is a great similarity between the Maratha armor and the Mughal one. However, in the Maratha army, the armor was equipped for the infantry while the cavalry was lightly armored like the leather armor. The armor of the Maratha armor was inspired by the one from the Mughal.