Here are some images of ancient Indian warriors which will be part of an upcoming video storybook entitled 'Defenders Of Bharat' which recounts the story of the ferocious Umayyad invasion of India which was the first in a series of destructive infiltrations by Muslim conquerors which were, according to the 20th century historian Will Durant, the bloodiest in history. 

The Kshatriya Caste was similar in many aspects to the European knight or the Samurai of Japan, a class of warriors trained from birth for the sole purpose of defending or expanding the frontiers of kingdoms in the service of their Raja.  While India is known for its spiritual contributions which encourage peace and contentment, ancient Bharat boasted a fierce warrior tradition, evident in the martial art discipline known as Kalaripayattu which originated in southern India. The great subcontinent was invaded for many millennia by foreign invaders seeking to plunder the wealth of  these kingdoms, destroying their accomplishments and subjugating the natives whom were viewed as inferior. However, we should not be duped into believing the inhabitants were incapable of holding their own  against powerful foes, as the unacknowledged stories of willful men and brave warrior women unfold time and again, hidden within the pages of ancient India's scriptures and even in the annals of the conquerors. It is worthy to note that after every violent conquest, India civilized and transformed the many invaders, begetting new symbiotic cultures that contributed so much to human civilization.