GAMES & SPORTS IN ANCIENT INDIA

Abstract

Since ancient time, the relationship between the Guru(teacher) and the student (hisyo) has always been considered as an integral part of Indian sport. Indian games & sports reached a peak of excellence when Buddhism held sway here. In Villas Mani Majra, Tiruvedacharya describes many fascinating games, namely, Chess, Cards, Snakes & Ladders, Mancala, Archery, Equitation, Hammer-throwing, Chariot-racing and many more. In Manas Olhas (1135 A.D.), Someshwar writes about bhrashram (weight-lifting), bhramanshram (walking) and also about Mall-Stambha (wrestling). It is noticeable that many of today's Olympic disciplines are sophisticated versions of the games of strength and speed that flourished in ancient India and Greece. Chess, wrestling, polo, archery and hockey (possibly a fall-out from polo) are some of the games believed to have originated in India. This paper attempts to provide some insights into some of these games & sports that were popular in Ancient India.