Superintendent of Chariots

Superintendent of Chariots

Superintendent of Chariots shall primarily look after the construction of and maintenance of the chariots, equipping the chariot with weapons and maintaining its flexibility in the battle fields. Role of Superintendent of chariot has been widely discussed in Chapter XXXII of Book II in Arthashastra.

Superintendent of chariot will mainly function along with the superintendent of horses. While the superintendent of horses will look after the rest of the requirements of the cavalry, the Superintendent of Chariot will provide the availability of the chariots as has been mentioned in the chapter XXXII of Book II in Arthashastra.

Superintendent of chariot will firstly supervise the construction of Chariots. The best chariot shall possess 10 purushas in height and 12 purushas in width which makes it medium in size. While this shall be the main chariot or the one leading the battle, there shall be seven more chariots each with a decrease in purusha which means decrease in height as well. Superintendent of Chariots shall then concentrate on making chariots for gods, festivals, battle chariots, travelling chariots, chariots used in assailing an enemy's strong hold and training chariots. He shall also examine the training of the infantry in gripping the chariots, shooting arrows on it, in hurdling clubs cudgels, in wearing mail armour in equipment, in driving a chariot, in capturing seats in a chariot and in controlling chariot horses.

Superintendent of Chariot shall keep an account of provision as well as wages of all those who are engaged either temporarily or permanently to prepare chariot and other things. He shall also make efforts to keep the artisans and all the workers who are involved in preparing chariots with rewards, gifts and timely incentives as even their role matters as they carry information regarding the strength and weakness of each chariot.

Thus superintendent of chariot had been mentioned significantly in Arthashastra as it forms a major part of Mauryan army. The success of a battle would completely depend on the successful use of al these three wings with complete mastery.

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