Military Thinking of Ancient India

War is not only a medium to maintain a state`s security and consolidation of peace but it also executes policies in order to achieve various interests to enhance political power, pride and prestige. The history of warfare is closely linked not only with political history but also with cultural and socio-economic history. In ancient India, the importance of military power was seen as an important aspect of statecraft. Thus, the development of ancient India military thinking was the culmination of various social and political thinking that emerged within Indian society. In this background, the ancient Indian thinkers not only realized the importance of military power influencing the pattern of society and state but also regarded foreign policy and diplomacy as an instrument of war. An effort has been made to identify and study those ancient Indian thinkers who were more concerned with the development of military power in protecting the state from various internal and external threats.