Riding through epics: The cultural anthropology of horseback archery in the <i>Mahabharata</i>

Abstract This article analyses the cultural importance of horseback archery as represented in the Mahabharata , investigating its function as a physical martial discipline integrated within the epic's cosmological, social and ethical contexts. Utilising anthropological concepts of embodiment, habitus and human–animal relationality, the research analyses mounted archery not solely as a martial skill but as a ritualised expression of warrior identity, caste obligation ( dharma ) and cosmic order. The analysis emphasises the profound, multisensory connection between human and horse, framing the animal as an active participant in martial performance rather than a mere tool of war. By closely reading the text and comparing it to living mounted archery traditions in Mongolia, Japan and Central Asia, the paper puts the martial scenes in the Mahabharata into a bigger anthropological context of intangible cultural heritage, the passing down of performance skills, and the way epic stories continue to shape collective memory. This study integrates literary analysis with cross‐cultural ethnography, emphasising horseback archery as a locus where myth, embodiment and human–animal interaction intersect, thereby providing novel insights into the anthropology of epic martial traditions.