Hindu mythology is made out of numerous traditional narrative in which the most famous of them are Ramayana , the Mahabharata and the Tamil sangam .In all of these narrations its explains about the Gods,Devans, Demon,Sages,Kingdoms and Wars. Right now we are going to talk more on top 20 War Weaponry(Astra) used by the Gods and Devans used to defeat the Demons or Evil force and these weaponries(Astra) can cause of Annihilation of the enemies and they description in the ancient scripts tell us that they are extremely dangerous and some of them can be used once in a person’s life time.
Mythological Objects embodies several weapons or various types of item likes clothing,armor etc that were used by Hindu God. So here is a list of top 20 mythological objects that Hindu God or Goddess used against their enemies:
1.Sudarshana Chakra
One of the eminent weapons of Lord Vishnu, this disc like weapon has surfaced in Hindu mythology time and again. Sudarshana Chakra is a circular disk like weapon which has 108 serrated edges. It is also well known as Chakrrath Azhwar. Lord Vishnu used to hold this Sudarshan Chakra in one of his four hands with Shankh, Gada and Padma in the remaining three hands. Chakra also symbolizes that Lord Vishnu also used to own celestial bodies and the heavens. It is used for the ultimate devastation of enemy of law and order. Sudarshana is composed of two words Su which means divine and Darshana which means vision and Chakra alone signifies mobility. It is the mobile weapon used to shield the negative powers and devils from our body. Vishnu used to hold it in his index finger of the rear right hand and continue using to revolve around this finger.
What does it do – Works and stops only at Vishnu’s command, and destroys target completely.
Similar to – Modern day missiles.
2. Trishula
Trishula is simply a trident which in the hands of the lord Shiva or goddess Shakthi .Unlike the Poisedan’s Trident where it can only controls oceans , A Trishula has way more powerful features lord Shiva has used it to destroy many numbers of demon we can possibly imagine of and control anything. A Trishula can nullify any supernatural weapons and once used it can never be stopped or controlled unless its Stopped by the Lord Shiva himself .Its said of beheaded lord Ganesha who is the most powerful diety of Hindu mythology . Lord Ganesha was put back together by Lord Shiva himself
The three points of the trishula symbolize various meanings in various regard, commonly the trinities-creation, maintenance and destruction; the three gunas; the past, present and future. In the human body, it represents the common center of the three nadis, the energy channels, i.e. Ida,pingala and shushmana. Shiva’s trishul is said to have devastated the three worlds: the physical world, the forefather’s world and the world of mind. Trishula also symbolizes the triratna of Buddha’s.
3. Brahmastra
Created by the god Brahma, this weapon was used in the war of Kurukshetra. It was also used upon Rama and his army by Indrajit, in the Ramayana.
It is the death defying weapon created and held by Lord Brahma. It is said that when Lord Brahma is upset he used this Brahmaastra to destroy his enemy to maintain his Dharma and Satya. The weapon not only destroy the one for whom it was used but also annihilate the environment and the land where it was used became barren. Sometimes it also becomes the foremost reason for the cracks in the land. According to Sanskrit mythology it is believed that invocation to this Brahmaastra can be made through the key phrase and it can be used only once in a life time. It can be achieved through the eminent amount of concentration. It is used by Vishvamitra against Vasishth, Sri Ram against Ravana,Arjun against Ashwatthama etc.
What does it do – Complete Annihilation of the target. It can also destroy multiple realms at once.
Similar to – Nuclear bomb
4. Vajra
This is another weapon owned by the king of gods, Indra, and is similar to Zeus’ thunderbolt. The literal meaning of the word is ‘lightning.’
Vajrayudha is more like the Hammer of Thor that is said to set struck with bolts of lightning on the enemies on the larger scales and this weapon made from the bone of sage Dadhichi. According to myth, Indra, the king of the deva was once driven out of devaloka (Heaven)by an asura named Vritra. The asura was the recipient of a boon whereby he could not be killed by any weapon that was known till the date of his receiving the boon and additionally that no weapon made of wood or metal could harm him .So this asura (Demon) steals all the water of the world and leaves the entire planet to die in thrist .Indra seeks the help of lord vishnu and Vishnu revealed to Indra that only the weapon made from the bones of the sage Dadhichi would defeat Vritra. Dadhichi is then said to have given up his life by the art of yoga after which the gods fashioned the vajrayudha from his spine .
What does it do – It will make the target get struck by lightning.
Similar to – Modern day tasers, that give electric shock.
5. Gada
The mace, popularly known as the Gada, is a weapon from the weapon time and holds an important position in the history of Hindu religion. It was carried by Lord Hanuman, Bhim, and others who were symbols of power and strength. The mace is said to be representing the concentrated Prana. As the Earth revolves round the sun and derives life force from it and then stores it, similarly, the Gada also moves around the user’s body to gather life force. It is the shape of a ball which symbolizes the earth rotating on its axis, the handle. It is a symbol of great power, valor, bravery and strength.
6. Shiv Dhanush
Shiv Dhanush was the divine bow which was 8.5 m in length upheld by Lord Shiva. It is also known as Pinaka which was gifted by Lord Shiva to Parshuram for following all his disciples and he in turn gifted it to King Janaka. King Janaka also used this as a backdrop in Sita’s Swayamvar. He announced whoever wanted to marry Sita had to lift this bow and string it. Parshuram challenged Rama during their return and confronted him to fight. Instead of holding Vishnu’s bow Rama defeated Parshuram and made him realize his superiority as Rama was Vishnu’s Incarnation. This weapon possessed mysterious energy and used against the enemy for its full devastation.
7. Indraastra
Owned by the king of Gods, Indra, this powerful weapon could kill many people at once.
What does it do – It can produce a shower of arrows upon the enemy army.
Similar to – Machine guns, obviously.
8. Pashupatastra
This the one of the most deadliest weapon ever known to man kind next to Trishula .Its said that this weapon must never to be used against lesser enemies or by lesser warriors, the Pashupatastra is capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings.In the MahabharataArjuna obtained this weapon from Lord Shiva but did not use it because this weapon would destroy the entire world, if used against a mortal enemy. Arjun didn’t used this astra to slay Jayadaratha. It is said that the mantra to obtain and discharge the astra is sealed by Shiva to prevent its misuse in the Kali Yuga. It is said that no one in the three worlds can resist lord Shiva when he shows his prowess.Apart from Arjun,no other warrior possessed this weapon.When released, the weapon summons several monsters and a huge spirit which personifies the weapon. Sometimes it can cause a catastrophic explosion similar to a hydrogen bomb. Each time the weapon is summoned, its head is never the same This weapon had to be obtained from Shiva directly. Infallible, though can be nullified only by any other Astra of Lord Shiva or by an Astra of Lord Vishnu.
A shape-shifting weapon that had to be obtained directly from Lord Shiva.
What does it do – Destroys its target completely from the face of the earth, irrespective of the target’s nature.
Similar to – Impact wise, it is pretty much similar to a hydrogen bomb.
9. Narayanastra
Narayanastra was the deadliest and powerful weapon used by Lord Vishnu in his Narayan avatar. This weapon throws millions of missiles all together and the only way to save ourselves is just submit yourself before it hits.Aswathama used this weapon against the Pandavas in Mahabharata. Henceforth Krishna advised them to surrender to the power of weapon by dropping all their weapons and armors and lay down on the ground. It is a fact that this weapon can only be used by the user once in his war and if he tries to use this again it will destroy his own army only. Whenever this weapon is used other weapons like Gadha, Chakram, arrows simultaneously appear in the sky for the devastation of their enemy.
Its the most personal weapon of lord Vishnu it turn fires a powerful tirade of millions of deadly missiles simultaneously. The intensity of the shower increases with increase in resistance. The only way of defense towards this missile, is to show total submission before the missiles hit. This in turn will cause this weapon to stop and spare the target.Ashwathama,uses this weapons against the Panadavas in the battle of Kurukshetra to escape from this warriors need to drop their weapons and lie down on the ground, so that they all surrender completely to the power of the weapon. It was also said that this weapon can be used only once in a war and if one tries to use it twice, then it would devour the user’s own army.
10. The Mantras
Throughout Hindu mythology, we see the importance that mantras were given. Whether to invoke spirits, or activate weapons, or please and praise gods, mantras were highly essential
What does it do – Invokes spirits and weapons that can be used on enemies.
11. Agneyastra
Owned by the fire god Agni, this weapon could emit flames that were inextinguishable.
What does it do – Throws fire flames.
Similar to – Flame-throwers.
12. Shiva’s teen baan
In Mahabharata, Bhima’s grandson Barbarika was granted this weapon by Lord Shiva.
What does it do – After zeroing on a target, it destroys it. It never misses it’s targets.
Similar to – Modern torpedo.
13. Twashtar Astra
Tvaṣṭṛ is a solar deity in the epic of Mahabharata and the Harivaṃsa. He is mentioned as the son of Kasyapa and Aditi, and is said to have made the three worlds with pieces of the Sun god Surya.When used against a group of opponents (such as an army), would cause them to mistake each other for enemies and fight each other. This fantastic weapon was owned by the heavenly builder Twashtri.
What does it do – It confuses a band of army to mistake their own for enemies, which would inevitably lead the enemy to destroy themselves.
Similar to – Various gases that get used in todays warfares.
14.Brahmadanda
Its described as a mythical equivalent of modern day atomic weapons, nuclear and thermonuclear bombs.
Its described in the Mahabharata, is a weapon which is said to be a single projectile charged with all the power of the universe. It is considered equivalent to modern day atom bomb. In Hindu Puranas after a Brahmastra is used it looks more of the nuclear fallout similarly to that of Hiroshima, the event is described as “An incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as ten thousand suns rose in all its splendour: it was an unknown weapon, an iron thunderbolt, a gigantic messenger of death, which reduced to ashes the entire race of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas the corpses were so burned as to be unrecognizable. Their hair and nails fell out; pottery broke without apparent cause, and the birds turned white. After a few hours all foodstuffs were infected…to escape from this fire the soldiers threw themselves in streams to wash themselves and their equipment.” This weapon was used by Arjun in Kurukshetra war and was said to be neutralised by Karna.This weapon can be obtained only through Lord Brahma or from a Guru who knows it and it could only be used once in a day. The user would have to display immense amounts of mental concentration.
15. Brahmashira
Brahmashirsha astra is the evolution of the Brahmadanda , 4 times stronger than the Brahmadanda . It is similar to modern day hydrogen bombs or thermonuclear (fusion) bombs. In the Mahabharata, it is said that the weapon would manifest with the four heads of Lord Brahma as its tip. This astra can be invoked by using sacred mantras onto any object, even to a blade of grass.
In the Mahabharata, it is explained that when this weapon is invoked “it blazes up with terrible flames within a huge sphere of fire. Numerous peals of thunder were heard; thousands of meteors fell; and all living creatures became filled with great dread. The entire welkin seemed to be filled with noise and assumed a terrible aspect with those flames of fire. The whole earth with her mountains and waters and trees, trembled.” When it strikes an area it will cause complete destruction and nothing will grow, not even a blade of grass for next 12 years. It will not rain for 12 years in that area and everything including metal or earth would be poisoned.
16. Bhargavastra
Parsurama is owner of this astra and he provided this powerful weapon to Karna.This astra possesses Parashurama’s skill in archery. Infallible. It brings a shower of much more powerful weapons than the Indrastra and could cause total destruction of a planet if not retracted.Even though Arjuna claimed Bhargava Weapon couldnt be baffled,yet Arjuna had managed to neutralise Karna’s Bhargava weapon by his own Brahmastra.This happened in section 89 of Karna Parva.Arjuna launched Brahmastra on Karna’s Bhargavastra after waiting for a long time since Brahmastra could only be used if other weapons fails to nullify the opponent’s weapon.If Bhargava weapon was not neutralised,it would have consumed the entire Pandava Army but thanks to Arjuna’s Brahmastra,it didnt happen.
17. Devastra
Devastra is another name for Divyastra which means a divine weapon.Agneya Astra is connected to the Fire God Agni,it may be similar to a packet of inflammatory material that is attached to the tip of an arrow. 2. Varunastra is connect to the rain God Varuna,may be a packet of water that can drench the fire of the above astra 3. Vayavya Astra is connected to the Air God Vayu, it may be a packet of compressed air that will spread the fire created by the Agneya stra .
18. Kaumodaki
Kaumodaki is the weapon which was held by Vishnu’s in his lower left hand. It is the source of Vishnu’s divine power, his physical strength, mental strength. This weapon represents Vishnu’s power to end all the ‘anarthsinside a person’s mind and hinders them from reaching the God. He used this weapon to purify the spirits within us and uplift us from materialistic bonds. It is a mace which is omni-potent and heavy powereredweapon which is impossible to defeat.
19. Varunastra
Varunastra is the water weapon possessed by Lord Varuna. Lord Varuna is the master of the oceans and rivers. The most astounding fact of this weapon is that this weapon can be carved in any shape just like flowing water. Many great warriors have made use of this weapon against their enemies like Arjun, Dronacharya, Dhrishtadhuymna or Satyaki and many more. This weapon could be obtained by full mental concentration and meditation on Lord Varuna or Lord Shiva. this weapon must be used with great care and skills as one single mistake of the user or inexperienced warrior can prove to be fatal to himself.
20. Chakram
The Chakram is the circular weapon of diameter about 4.7-12 inches and has sharp cuts at the outer edge. The enemy is attacked by throwing the weapon at him. It is also known as circles or chalikar. The Chakra has a very important position in mythology as it is upheld by Lord Krishna. Now Sikhs are associated with this as they wear it on their arms, around necks and sometimes on their turbans too. It is made of steel, brass or gold. This weapon is used against the enemy by twirling it in the index finger and thrown out with spin to add more power and vigor. Lord Krishna used to hold this everytime in his index finger.
True, many of these weapons probably have inspired scientists to create a modern day equivalent. But to think that these weapons might have existed even thousands of years ago, is truly astounding!
