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{{short description| Indo-Iranian term for a spoked-wheel chariot}}

[[Image:Krishna and Arjun on the chariot, Mahabharata, 18th-19th century, India.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Krishna]], [[Arjuna]] at [[Kurukshetra]], 18th- to 19th-century painting.]]
'''Ratha''' ([[Proto-Indo-Iranian language|Proto-Indo-Iranian]]: [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-Iranian/Hrátʰas|''*Hrátʰas'']], [[Sanskrit]]: रथ, ''{{IAST|rátha}}''; [[Avestan]]: ''raθa'') is the [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]] term for a [[spoke]]d-wheel '''[[chariot]]''' or a '''cart'''. The term has been used since antiquity for both fast chariots and other wheeled vehicles pulled by animals or humans, in particular the large processional carts still used in Indian religious processions to carry images of a deity.

==Harappan Civilisation==
[[File:Bullock cart with driver, National Museum, New Delhi.jpg|thumb|right|]]
[[File:Coach driver Indus 01.jpg|thumb|right|Copper sculpture of a bull-cart and rider, from a hoard at [[Daimabad]], Maharashtra - Late Harappan, c2000 BCE]]
The [[Indus Valley Civilization]] sites of [[Daimabad]] and [[Harappa]] in the Indian subcontinent, there is evidence for the use of terracotta model carts as early as 3500 BC during the Ravi Phase. There is evidence of wheeled vehicles (especially miniature models) in the Indus Valley Civilization, but not of chariots.<ref>Bryant 2001</ref> According to Kenoyer,
{{quote|During the Harappan Period (Harappa Phase, 2600–1900 BC) there was a dramatic increase in the terracotta cart and wheel types at Harappa and other sites throughout the Indus region. The diversity in carts and wheels, including depictions of what may be spoked wheels, during this period of urban expansion and trade may reflect different functional needs, as well as stylistic and cultural preferences. The unique fonts and the early appearance of carts in the Indus valley region suggest that they are the result of indigenous technological development and not diffusion from West Asia or Central Asia as proposed by earlier scholars.<ref name="Kenoyer - Wheeled Vehicles of the Indus Valley Civilization of Pakistan and India.">{{Citation |last1=Kenoyer |first1=Jonathan Mark |date=2004 |chapter=Die KalTen der InduskuItur Pakistans und Indiens |trans-chapter=Wheeled Vehicles of the Indus Valley Civilization of Pakistan and India |editor1-last=Fansa |editor1-first=M. |editor2-last=Burmeister |editor2-first=S. |title=Rad und Wagen: Der Ursprung einer Innovation Wagen im Vorderen Orient und Europa |trans-title=Wheel and Wagon - origins of an innovation |publisher=Verlagg Philipp von Zabem |chapter-url=https://www.harappa.com/content/wheeled-vehicles-indus-valley-civilization |via=a.harappa.com |access-date=23 January 2015}}</ref>}}

[[Indigenous Aryans|Indo-Aryan Indigenists]] have argued for the presence of chariots before its introduction by the Indo-Aryans in the early 2nd millennium BCE. Archaeologist [[B. B. Lal]] argues that finds of terracotta wheels painted lines (or low relief lines) and similar seals indicate the existence and use of spoked wheel chariots in Harappan Civilization, as showed in the Bhirrana excavations in 2005–06.<ref>The Sarasvati Flows on, 2002, pp. 74–75, Figs 3.28 to 331</ref> Bhagwan Singh has made a similar assertion<ref>Harappan Civilization and the Vedic Literature, in Hindi, 1987</ref> and S.R. Rao has presented evidence of chariots in bronze models from [[Daimabad]] (Late Harappan).<ref>L.S.Rao, ''Harappan Spoked Wheels Rattled Down the Streets of Bhirrana'', Dist. Fatehabad, Haryana</ref>{{refn|group=note| The archaeologists at Daimabad are not unanimous about the date of the bronzes discovered there. On the basis of the circumstantial evidence, M. N. Deshpande, S. R. Rao and S. A. Sali are of the view that these objects belong to the Late Harappan period. Looking at the analysis of the elemental composition of these artifacts, [[D. P. Agarwal]] concluded that these objects may belong to the historical period. His conclusion is based on these objects containing more than 1% [[arsenic]], while no arsenical alloying has been found in any other [[Chalcolithic]] artifacts.<ref name=dhavalikar>{{cite book|last=Dhavalikar|first=M. K.|title=Daimabad Bronzes|url=http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref_files/1218186467.pdf|series=in Gregory L. Possehl. ed. ''Harappan Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective''|year=1982|publisher=Aris and Phillips |location=Warminster|isbn=0-85668-211-X|pages=361– "66}}</ref>}}

The earliest Copper-Bronze Age carts remains that have been found in India (at [[Sinauli]]) have been dated to 1900BCE which were interpreted by some as horse-pulled [[Chariot|"chariots"]], predating the arrival of the horse-centred Indo-Aryans.{{sfn|Witzel|2019|p=5}}{{sfn|Parpola|2020}}{{sfn|Daniyal|2018}}
Others object, noting that solid wheels belong to carts, not chariots.{{sfn|Witzel|2019|p=5}}{{sfn|Parpola|2020}}

==Indo-Aryans==

===Proto-Indo-Iranians===
[[Image:Andronovo culture.png|thumb|300px|The area of the spoke-wheeled chariot finds within the [[Sintashta-Petrovka]] culture is indicated in purple.]]

Horse-drawn chariots, as well as its cult and associated rituals, were spread by the Indo-Iranians,{{sfn|Kuz'mina|2007|p=321-322}} and horses and horse-drawn chariots were introduced in India by the Indo-Aryans.{{sfn|Flood|1996|p=34}}{{sfn|Witzel|2019|p=12, 21}}{{sfn|Olson|2007|p=11}}{{refn|group=note|According to Raulwing, the chariot must not necessarily be regarded as a marker for Indo-European or Indo-Iranian presence.<ref>Cf. Raulwing 2000</ref> According to Raulwing, ''it is an undeniable fact that only comparative Indo-European linguistics is able to furnish the methodological basics of the hypothesis of a "PIE chariot", in other words: "Ausserhalb der Sprachwissenschaft winkt keine Rettung!<ref>I. e., "Outside of linguistics there's no hope."</ref> "<ref>Raulwing 2000:83</ref>''<ref>Cf. Henri Paul Francfort in Fussman, G.; Kellens, J.; Francfort, H.-P.; Tremblay, X. (2005), p. 272-276</ref>}}

The earliest evidence for chariots in southern [[Central Asia]] (on the [[Oxus river]]) dates to the [[Achaemenid]] period (apart from chariots harnessed by oxen, as seen on [[petroglyph]]s).<ref>They were not used for warfare. [[H. P. Francfort]], Fouilles de Shortugai, Recherches sur L'Asie Centrale Protohistorique Paris: Diffusion de Boccard, 1989, p. 452. Cf. Henri Paul Francfort in Fussman, G.; Kellens, J.; Francfort, H.-P.; Tremblay, X. (2005), p.272</ref> No Andronovian chariot burial has been found south of the [[Oxus]].<ref>H. P. Francfort in Fussman, G.; Kellens, J.; Francfort, H.-P.; Tremblay, X. (2005), p. 220 - 272; H.-P. Francfort, Fouilles de Shortugai</ref>

===Textual evidence===
[[File:Rama goes to forest.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Rama]] goes to the forest on a ratha.]]

Chariots figure prominently in the [[Rigveda]], evidencing their presence in India in the 2nd millennium BCE. Notably, the Rigveda differentiates between the ''Ratha'' (chariot) and the ''Anas'' (often translated as "cart").<ref>A discussion of the difference between ratha and anas is found e.g. in Kazanas, Nicholas. 2001. The AIT and Scholarship</ref> Rigvedic chariots are described as made of the wood of [[Salmali]] (RV 10.85.20), Khadira and Simsapa (RV 3.53.19) trees. While the number of [[wheel]]s varies, chariot measurements for each configuration are found in the [[Shulba Sutra]]s.

Chariots also feature prominently in later texts, including the other [[Veda]]s, the [[Purana]]s and the great Hindu epics ([[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]]). Indeed, most of the deities in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]] are portrayed as riding them. Among [[Rigvedic deities]], notably [[Ushas]] (the dawn) rides in a chariot, as well as [[Agni]] in his function as a messenger between gods and men. In RV 6.61.13, the [[Sarasvati river]] is described as being wide and speedy, like a (Rigvedic) chariot.

===Remains===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Horse drawn chariot Darasuram.jpg
| width1 = 150
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Chariot spoked wheel Darasuram.jpg
| width2 = 150
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Horse-drawn chariot carved onto the ''mandapam'' of Airavateswarar temple, Darasuram ''(left)'', c. 12th century CE.
}}

There are a few depictions of chariots among the [[petroglyphs]] in the sandstone of the [[Vindhya]] range. Two depictions of chariots are found in [[Morhana Pahar]], [[Mirzapur]] district. One shows a team of two horses, with the head of a single driver visible. The other one is drawn by four horses, has six-spoked wheels, and shows a driver standing up in a large chariot-box. This chariot is being attacked, with a figure wielding a shield and a mace standing at its path, and another figure armed with bow and arrow threatening its right flank. It has been suggested (Sparreboom 1985:87) that the drawings record a story, most probably dating to the early centuries BC, from some center in the area of the [[Ganges]]–[[Yamuna]] plain into the territory of still neolithic hunting tribes. The drawings would then be a representation of foreign technology, comparable to the [[Arnhem Land]] [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] rock paintings depicting Westerners. The very realistic chariots carved into the [[Sanchi]] [[stupa]]s are dated to roughly the 1st century BCE.

== In Hindu temple festivals ==
{{main|Temple car}}

Ratha or Rath means a [[chariot]] or car made from wood with wheels. The Ratha may be driven manually by rope, pulled by horses or elephants. Rathas are used mostly by the [[Hindu temples]] of [[South India]] for Rathoutsava ([[Temple car|Car]] festival). During the festival, the temple deities are driven through the streets, accompanied by the chanting of [[mantra]], [[hymns]], [[shloka]] or [[bhajan]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}

[[Ratha Yatra]] is a huge [[Hindu festival]] associated with Lord [[Jagannath]] held at [[Puri (city)|Puri]] in the [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Orissa, India]] during the months of June or July.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lochtefeld |first=James G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GnmPzgEACAAJ&newbks=0&hl=en |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z |date=2002 |publisher=Rosen |isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4 |pages=567 |language=en}}</ref>

<gallery caption="Ratha or chariots" widths="150px" perrow="4">
File:Rath Yatra Puri 2007 11071 crop.jpg|The Rath Jatra in the Grand Avenue at the Jagannath Temple, [[Puri]], 2007.
Image:tiruvannaikkaval4.jpg | The Towering Rajagopuram with one of the Temple Rathas
File:Thear 2.jpg | [[Tiruvarur Chariot festival|The Great Thear (ஆழித் தேர்)]] of Sri Thyagarajaswami, [[Tiruvarur]]
File:Rath Yatra Puri 07-11027.jpg | [[Ratha-Yatra|The Rath Yatra]] in Puri in modern times showing the three chariots of the deities with the [[Temple]] in the background
File:Nellaiappar Temple Golden Car Nov 2 2009.jpg | Picture of [[Tirunelveli]] Nellaiappar Temple Golden Ratha
File:Decorated chariot, Udupi, India.jpg|Temple car (decorated), Sri Krishna temple, [[Udupi]], Karnataka, [[India]]
Image:JagannathRathYatra.JPG | [[ISKCON]] Rath Yatra at [[Thiruvananthapuram]], India.
File:Tiruvarur temple car festival 2010.jpg|[[Tiruvarur]] The largest Temple Ratha car in [[Tamil Nadu]]
File:Srivilliputhur_Skyline.jpg | [[Srivilliputtur]] Andal Ther - 2nd largest Temple Rath in [[Tamil Nadu]]
File:505th Car Festival of Tirunelveli Nellaiappar Temple.jpg | [[Tirunelveli]] [[Nellaiappar Temple]] Car - 3rd largest Temple Ratha in Tamil Nadu
File:Scattered Temple.jpg | Temple Ratha in [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]]
File:Temple car.jpg | Temple Ratha in [[Chennai]], [[India]]
Image:Rath Yatra.jpg | Rath Yatra festival in [[New York City]] organized by [[ISKCON]]
Image:makingofchariot.jpg | Construction of ratha
Image:Banashankari Car.jpg|[[Banashankari Amma Temple]]'s wooden Ratha, Badami, Karnataka
File:MundkurRatha.JPG|Decorated Ratha, [[Mundkur]], Udupi District, Karnataka.
File:Rato Machhindranath Chariot 01, Nepal.jpg|[[Rato Machhindranath Jatra]] at [[Lalitpur, Nepal|Lalitpur]], [[Nepal]]
File:Jagadishpur Hat Ratha Yatra 2022.jpg|Chariot of [[Jagadishpur]], in [[West Bengal]].
</gallery>

==Rathas buildings==
In some [[Hindu temples]], there are shrines or buildings named rathas because they have the shape of a huge chariot or because they contain a divinity as does a temple chariot.{{cn|date=July 2022}}

The most known are the ''[[Pancha Rathas]]'' (=5 rathas) in [[Mahabalipuram]], although not with the shape of a chariot.

Another example is the [[Jaga mohan]] of the [[Konark Sun Temple]] in Konarâk, built on a platform with twelve sculptures of wheels, as a symbol of the chariot of the Sun.

<gallery caption="Buildings" widths="150px" perrow="5">
Image:Panja pandava ratham.jpg|[[Pancha Rathas|'Five Rathas']] at Mamallapuram, [[Tamil Nadu]].
Image:Hampi, Vittala Temple, Kallina Ratha, India.jpg|Sculpture of an elephant drawn ratha, [[Hampi]], [[Karnataka]]
Image:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Mandapa at night 4, India.jpg|[[Airavatesvara Temple]] sanctum in the form of a chariot, [[Darasuram]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
Image:Thaaraasuram TherPolKovil.JPG|Temple chariot of the Airavatesvara Temple in [[Darasuram]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
Image:Chariot Wheel Konark Sun Temple.JPG|[[Konark Sun Temple]] Ratha wheel
</gallery>

==Rathas in architecture==
{{Main|Ratha (architecture)}}
[[Image:Triratha-Pancharatha-Saptaratha.jpg|thumb|right|Plans of the main types of buildings with rathas]]
In [[Hindu temple architecture]], a '''ratha''' is a facet or vertical offset projections on the tower (generally a [[Shikhara]]).

{{Clear}}

==See also==
*[[Ashva]]
*[[History of the horse in the Indian subcontinent]]
* [[Volante (carriage)|Types of carriages]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{reflist|group=web}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
{{commons category}}
{{refbegin}}
* Edwin Bryant (2001). ''The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture.'' Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-513777-9}}
* {{cite web |first=Shoaib |last=Daniyal |date=14 June 2018 |url=https://scroll.in/article/882188/putting-the-horse-before-the-cart-what-the-discovery-of-4000-year-old-chariot-in-up-signifies |title=Putting the horse before the cart: What the discovery of 4,000-year-old ‘chariot’ in UP signifies |website=Scroll.in}}
* {{Citation | last =Flood | first =Gavin D. | year =1996 | title =An Introduction to Hinduism | publisher =Cambridge University Press}}
* [[Gérard Fussman|Fussman, G.]]; Kellens, J.; [[Henri-Paul Francfort|Francfort, H.-P.]]; Tremblay, X. (2005). ''Aryas, Aryens et Iraniens en Asie Centrale.'' Institut Civilisation Indienne {{ISBN|2-86803-072-6}}
* {{Citation | last =Kuz'mina | editor1-first =J | editor1-last =Mallory | year =2007 | title =The Origin of the Indo-Iranians | publisher =Brill | doi =10.1163/ej.9789004160545.i-763| isbn =9789047420712 }}
* {{Citation | last =Olson | first =Carl | year =2007 | title =The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-historical Introduction | publisher =Rutgers University Press}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Parpola|first=Asko|title=Royal "Chariot" Burials of Sanauli near Delhi and Archaeological Correlates of Prehistoric Indo-Iranian Languages |date=2020|url=https://journal.fi/store/article/view/98032/56890|journal=Studia Orientalia Electronica|volume=8|page=176|doi=10.23993/store.98032|via=|doi-access=free}}
*Peter Raulwing (2000). ''Horses, Chariots and Indo-Europeans, Foundations and Methods of Chariotry Research from the Viewpoint of Comparative Indo-European Linguistics.'' Archaeolingua, Series Minor 13, Budapest.
* Vasudha Venugopal ET bureau, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mahabharata-much-older-say-asi-archaeologists/articleshow/71658119.cms ''Mahabharata much older, say ASI Archaeologists '', The Economic Times
* {{Citation | last =Witzel | first =Michael | title =Early 'Aryans' and their neighbors outside and inside India | journal=Journal of Biosciences |year=2019 |volume=44 | issue =3 |page=58 | doi =10.1007/s12038-019-9881-7| pmid =31389347 | s2cid =195804491 }}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Chariots]]
[[Category:Indian inventions]]

Ratha - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article