Shastra Te Shaastra – शस्त्र ते शास्त्र

Just as culture possesses its own instruments, so too do weapons possess a culture of their own. Within India’s weapon culture, arms have never been regarded merely as ‘instruments of war.’ India’s multifaceted weapon culture is revealed through the creation and trade of arms, their presence in religious and cultural customs and traditions, their role in folk rituals, and their significance within the realm of spirituality. An exploration of the cultural history of weapons is not—in the conventional sense—an inquiry solely into the physical ‘weapon’ itself, but rather an investigation into the evolving human perceptions and attitudes surrounding it. Through the book Shastra te Shaastra written by Girija Dudhat, an endeavor has been made to unravel these diverse ceremonial, social, cultural, and religious facets of traditional Indian weaponry.