Thuvandha Yutham comes under the Ancient Rules of War. It was a duel. General Rules of War : Before the start of battle, the soldiers and knights will assemble and make their promises to follow the rules. A knight should oppose another knight only who is equal to him, and not the ordinary soldiers. The soldier or knight who wants to leave in the middle of battle, or lost his weapons, or turns back or lost his sheidl should never be attacked. A soldier without arms should never be attacked. The messengers coming into the battle to give some messages to the kings should never be attacked.the servants who assist the soldiers should not be attacked. If a soldier is fighting with another one, or without paying attention should be never attacked by other. At the end of war, probably after sunset both sides can mingle among themselves, cross the borders, and pick the wounded ones and take them to their for treatment. Thuvandha Yutham means the duel between two knights with the weapons, venue, and time they wish. It should be between equal ones, with equal arms. Others will never interfere. Sangula Yutham means the battle between ordinary soldiers in which any one can face a single, double or more number of soldiers as he can, But he should never be attacked from behind. An Example in Chola history for this duel:After losing a battle Salukya Someswaran sent a letter inviting Virarajendran, son of RJC for a duel, with soldiers mentioning the venue, Koodal Sangamam, (riverside of Tungabadra) on 10th September, Monday, 1067. Virarajendran accepted Someswaran's invitation and went there. But Someswaran didnot turnout even after a month from the date he mentioned.. It was said Someswaran became ill and died about March 29th, 1068 drowing himself in Tungabadra. (Ref: Manimangalam inscriptions-(Sii- III)
In simple terms it is a fight among equals with equal weapons. With others not interfering
In mahabharath what started as Thuvandha YUDDHAM degraded to a Sangula YUDDHAM as days progressed with classic examples of killing of bhishma drona , abhimanyu,and the fight continuing in the night without stop
Sivasankar Babu
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