Astra (weapon)
In Hinduism, an astra (Sanskrit: अस्त्र) was a supernatural weapon, presided over by a specific deity and imbued with spiritual and occult powers that caused its effect or impact. Later the word came to denote any weapon which was used by releasing it from one's hand (e.g. an arrow), compared to keeping it one's hand (e.g. a sword) (Shastra). In Ramayana and Mahabharata, Rama had more astras than any other warrior. It is believed that Rama possessed all the astras.
The bearer of the weapon is called an Astradhari (Sanskrit: अस्त्रधारी).
Brief overview and origin
Astras are supernatural weapons which can be invoked using Mantras. In battle, the warrior would use the Mantra to convert any weapon (usually an arrow) into a divine weapon. There are four classes of weapons. The origin of Astras is elaborated in the Ahirbudhnya Samhita, which is a dialogue between Sage Narada and Lord Shiva.
When Narada asks Lord Shiva about the origin of Astras, the god narrates the story- Eons ago, when the universe wasn't created, Lord Vishnu assumed many forms for his own amusement. Eventually, he assumed the form of Lord Brahma and created the universe. In order to protect the universe from some wicked beings of his own creation, Vishnu created the Sudarshan Chakra. However, only he could wield the Chakra, while none of the gods and kings could do so. Hence, using the power of the Sudarshan Chakra, Lord Vishnu created over a hundred different Astras. They were categorised according to their origin- from Lord Vishnu's mouth, chest, thighs, and feet, and other parts like the upper chest, waist, and lower abdomen.
Summoning of an Astra
To summon or use an astra required use of a specific incantation or invocation. The deity invoked would then endow the weapon with supernatural powers, making it impossible to counter through regular means. Specific conditions existed involving the usage of astras, the violation of which could be fatal. Because of the power involved, the knowledge involving an astra was passed in the Guru-shishya tradition from a Guru (teacher) to a Shishya (pupil) by word of mouth alone, and only following the establishment of the student's character. Certain astras had to be handed down from the deity involved directly, knowledge of the incantation being insufficient.
Astras in Hindu epics
Astras come into importance mainly in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, where they are used in the great battles described in each epic. They are depicted as used by archers such as Parashurama, Rama, Lakshman, Meghanada (Indrajit), Ravana, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwatthama, Arjuna and other warriors.
The divya ("divine") astras were generally invoked into arrows, although they could potentially be used with anything. Ashwatthama invoked Brahmashirsha astra using a blade of grass as his weapon. Arjuna was capable of shooting all of his celestial weapons including Pashupatastra by the power of his mind alone.
| Astra | Deity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Brahmastra | Brahma, the Creator | It would destroy entire armies at once and could also counter most other astras. In the epic Mahabharata, it is said that the weapon manifests with the head of Lord Brahma as its tip. In the Mahabharata era, Parasurama, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Arjuna, and in other eras several other Maharathis possessed the knowledge to invoke this weapon. It was the only weapon capable of piercing the Brahma Kavach; the invincible armor of Lord Brahma. Atikaya, one of Raavan's sons, possessed the invincible armor of Lord Brahma that could only be pierced by a Brahmastra and was killed by Lakshmana, brother of Lord Rama, using a Brahmastra. In ancient Sanskrit writings, the Brahmastra was a weapon created by Brahma, along with its more powerful versions: the Brahmashira Astra
(The most powerful Astra that is four times more powerful than the original and has the ability to destroy Devas through causing a chain reaction of massive explosions) |
| Trishula | Shiva, the Destroyer | It was the Trident of Lord Shiva. According to Shaiva traditions, the most powerful weapon in Hindu mythology, infallible, cannot be stopped by anyone and can destroy anything, except Lord Shiva himself and Goddess Shakti; the consort of Lord Shiva in Parvati form. |
| Sudarshana Chakra | Vishnu, the Preserver | The legendary discus of Lord Vishnu, was created for him by Vishvakarma. The most powerful weapon in Hindu mythology, according to Vaishnav traditions, infallible, flies at the command of Lord Vishnu. It could be stopped only by Lord Vishnu's wish. It has tremendous occult and spiritual power that could protect or destroy anything. It was used by Krishna, Vishnu's 8th avatar, to behead his cousin Shishupala. |
| Barbarika's Teen Baan (three infallible arrows) | Shiva, the Destroyer | Lord Shiva gave Barbarika three infallible arrows (Teen Baan). A single arrow was enough to destroy all opponents in any war, and it would then return to Barbarika's quiver. The first arrow was used to mark all the things that Barbarika wants to destroy. On releasing the third arrow, it would destroy all the things that are marked and then would return to Barbarika's quiver. If Barbarika uses the second arrow, then the second arrow would mark all the things that Barbarika wants to save. On using the third arrow, it would destroy all the things that are not marked, such as when one of his arrows fired at a leaf that was under Krishna's feet within the Mahabharata, the arrow hovered over his foot. In other words, with one arrow Barbarika could fix all his targets and with the other, he can destroy them. Barbarika came to be known by the appellation Teen Baandhaari, the "Bearer of the Three Arrows". Barbarika was the son of Ghatotkacha and the grandson of Bhima, second of the Pandava brothers, and Hidimbi. |
| Indrastra | Indra, God of Weather | It would bring about a 'shower' of arrows, like rain, from the sky. Arjuna displayed this astra first in Rangabhoomi.It was also possessed by some other warriors like Lakshman, Meghanad, Lord Rama, etc. |
| Vasavi Shakti | Indra, God of Weather | The second weapon of Indra, inferior to Vajra. It could be used only once and upon usage, it killed the opponent.Karna used it on Ghatotkacha and killed him. |
| Praswapastra | Vasus, Gods of Skies | This weapon would cause the afflicted to fall asleep on the battlefield. Bhishma was stopped by the Akashvani from using this weapon against his Guru, Lord Parashurama. In Ramayana and Mahabharat, Rama and Bhishma had this weapon. |
| Agneyastra | Agni, God of Fire | The weapon discharged would emit flames inextinguishable through normal means. Arjuna used it against Angaraparna, the Gandharva. |
| Varunastra | Varuna, God of Water | The weapon discharged would release torrential volumes of water. This weapon is commonly mentioned as used to counter the Agneyastra. It was possessed by Rama, Indrajit, Ravana, Lakshman, Arjuna, Bhishma, Drona. |
| Manavastra | Manu, Father of the Human Race | It could overcome supernatural protections and carry the target hundreds of miles away. It could inspire humane traits in an evil being. This weapon was used by Lord Rama on the rakshasa, Maricha in the Ramayana. Arjuna also possessed this weapon. |
| Varunapasha | Varuna, God of Oceans | A powerful noose which not even other gods could escape from. Warriors including Rama, Indrajit and Arjuna possessed this weapon. |
| Bhaumastra | Bhūmi, Goddess of Earth | The weapon could create tunnels deep into the earth and summon jewels. Only Arjuna had this Astra. |
| Bhargavastra | Parashurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu | Lord Parashurama was the creator of this Astra which he imparted to his disciple Karna. |
| Nagastra | The Nagas | The weapon would have an unerring aim and take on the form of a snake, proving deadly upon impact. It was used by many warriors. Arjuna used this against Susharma. |
| Nagapasha | The Nagas | Upon impact, this weapon would bind the target in coils of living venomous snakes. In the Ramayana, it was used against Rama and Lakshmana by Indrajit. Arjuna obtained it from his wife Ulupi. |
| Garudastra | Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu | A weapon that can defend against Nagastra when attacked by the opponents. It was possessed by Rama and Arjuna. It was used by Lord Rama in Ramayana. |
| Anjalika Astra | Indra, God of Weather | Arjuna killed Karna using this astra, which passed through his chest when his wheel was stuck in the mud. |
| Vayuvyastra | Vayu, God of Wind | Brings about a gale capable of lifting armies off the ground. On the 14th day of the Kurukshetra War, when the battle continued after the sunset Ashwatthama used this weapon to penetrate the illusions made by Anjanaparvan the son of Ghatotkacha. Arjuna, Indrajit, Rama also had this weapon. |
| Adityastra | Aditya, God of the Light, Fire and Destruction | Creates a dazzling light that would dispel any darkness about and dry up water bodies also starts a great fire. Which would be used by Lord Aditya to destroy the universe at the end of the Kali Yuga. Only Lord Rama and Lord Aditya has ever possessed this astra. |
| Maghavan | Indra | Swift and flaming weapon capable of baffling arms shower used especially in illusionary warfare. Arjuna obtained this weapon from Indra. |
| Vajra | Indra, God of Weather | Target would be struck with bolts of lightning (vajra referring to Indra's thunderbolt). Apart from Indra, only Arjuna possessed Vajra. Indra gave this Astra to his son Arjuna. |
| Mohini Astra | Mohini, an Avatar of Vishnu | Dispel any form of maya or sorcery in the vicinity. Arjuna used this astra against Nivatakavachas and dispelled all illusion created by them. |
| Twashtar Astra | Twashtri, the Heavenly Builder | When used against a group of opponents (such as an army), would cause them to mistake each other for enemies and fight each other. Only Arjuna and Rama possessed this weapon. |
| Sammohana/Pramohana | Gandharvas | Would cause entire hosts/armies to collapse in a trance. Arjuna uses this weapon against the Kaurava army during the Virata war. On the 6th day of Kurukshetra war, Dhrishtadyumna used it against Kauravas which caused them to be unconscious but Drona used his Prajna astra to stop its effect. |
| Parvatastra | Would cause a Parvata (mountain) to fall on the target from the skies. Arjuna possessed this astra. | |
| Brahmashirsha astra | Brahma, the Creator | Capable of killing devas. Was used by Ashwatthama on Parikshit. It is thought that the Brahmashirsha astra is the evolution of the Brahmastra and is a secret infallible weapon creates by Lord Brahma 4 times stronger than Brahmastra. In the epic Mahabharata, it is said that the weapon manifest with the four heads of Lord Brahma as its tip. In Mahabharata era Sage Agnivesha, Drona, Arjuna and Ashwatthama (only Arjuna got the knowledge to release the astra and retract it) while all the other three possessed the knowledge only to invoke this weapon. Could erase beings from the past, present and future. |
| Brahmadanda | Brahma, the Creator | A defensive personal weapon divine rod (danda) possessed only by Bhramana. Capable of repelling other higher energy weapons . Used by Vashishta against Vishwamitra. This high energy is used only as defence. |
| Narayanastra | Vishnu, the Preserver | Would create showers of arrows and discs. The astra's power would increase with the resistance offered to it. This weapon had to be obtained from the Narayana form Vishnu directly, and could be used only once. It is one of the most powerful weapons of Hindu mythology.
Any attempt of invoking it a second time would rebound back on the user and his troops. In Mahabharata era, Lord Vishnu in Narayana form blessed Drona with this weapon. Drona as presented this astra to his son Ashwatthama. In Mahabharata war Ashwatthama used this weapon against Pandava army after the death of Drona. It destroyed one Akshauhini of Pandava army.The only way to escape is total submission before the weapon, which prompts this weapon to spare the target as stated by Krishna. When it was used, Ekadasha (Eleven) Rudras appear in the sky to destroy the targets. Millions of types of weapons like Chakra, Gadha, ultra sharp arrows appeared in rage to destroy the target or an opposing army as seen in the Mahabharata. Who ever tries to resist it will be destroyed. |
| Vaishnavastra | Vishnu, the Preserver | Would destroy target completely, irrespective of target's nature. Infallible. Had to be obtained from Lord Vishnu directly. The only counter to this weapon was to invoke another Vaishnavastra to counter the attacking Vaishnavastra or for the presiding deity of the Vaishnavastra to stop the Vaishnavastra. In Mahabharata era Bhagadatta, Krishna and Arjuna had this weapon. Bhagadatta used this weapon on Arjuna but Krishna stood up before Arjuna to retrieve the weapon. Sri Rama used this weapon to destroy the energy of Bharghava Rama. |
| Kaumodaki Gada | Vishnu, the Preserver | Divine mace of Vishnu. Would destroy whole armies. Infallible and without parallel. Lord Krishna slayed the Demon Dantavakra with it. |
| Sharanga (bow) | Vishnu, the Preserver | The bow of Lord Vishnu, also called as Vaishnav Dhanush was used by Sri Rama then Sri Krishna. |
| Nandaka | Vishnu, the Preserver | The sacred sword of Vishnu. It had a blade which was indestructible. It was used by Lord Krishna to kill countless demons. |
| Vijaya ( Bow ) | Indra, The Chief of Demi Gods . | The bow was made by Vishvakarma. Vijaya Dhanush was claimed to be the personal bow of Lord Shiva, which was regarded as the foremost of bows. Indra used it who on instruction from Lord Shiva gave it to Sage Parashurama. Warrior Parashurama used this as his personal bow. The Sanskrit name 'Vijaya' means 'victory' and this bow is said to give sure victory to the possessor. But the Vijaya bow unlike its name never made its welder victorious upon using it including Parashurama .it is so heavy that normal person cannot lift and weld it. Every time an arrow is released from this bow, it created a terrible twang, which is said to be loud as thunder causing terrible fear in enemies and produces flashes of light as brilliant as lightning, which blinds the enemy. Vijaya Dhanush is unparalleled as Arjuna's Gandiva bow and could be used by someone of skilled levels.
The only time Karna ever fought using the Vijaya Dhanush https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08064.htm was on the 17th day of the Kurukshetra war when he fought against Arjuna and met his fate with Anjalikastra. |
| Pinaka (bow) | Shiva, the Destroyer | Also called as Shiva Dhanush, was the bow of Lord Shiva, which he used to kill countless Asuras in battle (The city of Tripura was destroyed by Lord Shiva using the Pinaka). It was given to Parashurama By Lord Shiva. |
| Maheshwarastra | Shiva, the Destroyer | Contains the power of Shiva's third eye. Shoots a really fast fiery beam which can turn even celestial beings to complete ashes. It has the power to turn the entire creation to ashes. |
| Rudra Astra | Shiva, the Destroyer | Contains the power of a Rudra. When it is used, it invokes the power of Rudra out of the Ekadasha (Eleven) Rudras and destroys the target. In Mahabharata Arjuna uses this astra in war against 30 Million Nivatakavachas and Kalakeyas. Only Arjuna possessed this weapon in Mahabharata. |
| Pashupatastra | Shiva, the Destroyer | One of the most powerful weapons among all the astras. Every time it was summoned, its head would never be the same. It summons a larger number of monsters and a huge spirit which personifies the weapon. Would destroy target completely, irrespective of target's nature. This Astra was capable to destroy whole world. In Dvapara Yuga, only Arjuna possessed Pashupatastra. In Treta Yuga, sage Vishwamitra possessed this weapon |
| Parashu (axe) | Lord Shiva | The Parashu (axe) was an unconquerable and indestructible divine weapon given to Parashurama by his Guru Lord Shiva along with other divine weapons due to the extreme devotion of Parashurama. Lord Parashurama later gave this axe to Ganesha. Parashurama means Rama who wields the axe as Rama was the name Lord Parashurama was known by until he acquired the axe from Lord Shiva. |
| Chandrahas | Shiva, | The divine sword Chandrahas (Chandra-Moon, Has-laugh, literally 'the laughter of the moon' but referring to the shape formed by a crescent moon which resembles a smile) was given to Raavan with a warning that if it was used for unjust causes, it would return to the three-eyed Lord Shiva and Ravana's days would be numbered. |
| Gandiva (bow) | Brahma, the creator | This invincible bow was created by Brahma, the Creator of universe. Brahma held it first for a thousand years, then Prajapati held it for five hundred and three years, Indra, for five hundred and eighty years, and Soma for five hundred years. After that Varuna held it for a hundred years before handing it to Arjuna along with a Kapi/Hanuman bannered chariot, and two inexhaustible quivers, as requested by Agni during the Khandava-daha Parva. The bow was decorated with hundreds of gold bosses, and had radiant ends. The bow was worshiped by Devas, Gandharvas and Danavas. No person other than Arjuna could wield the Gandiva and Arjuna was wielder of Gandiva then he came to be known as gandivdhari (carrier of gandiva bow). |
| Sabda-veda astra | This weapon prevents an opponent from turning invisible. Used by Arjuna against the Ghandarva king Chitrasena. In Mahabharat era, only Arjuna and Krishna knew this weapon | |
| Antardhana Astra | Kubera | The Antardhana Astra would make things, people or entire places disappear. It was given to Arjuna by Kubera. |
| Prajnastra | This weapon was used to restore the senses and thoughts of someone. It was a good counter to the Sammohanastra. Warriors like Arjuna and Drona used this astra in war. | |
| Suryastra | Surya,god of solar energy | The Sequestrator of the brilliance of enemies. Karna obtained this from Lord Surya which was again used by yudhistra on the 18th day while killing shalya as karna gave the knowledge and usage to yudhistira while he was in his last stage i.e. before his death. |
| Sailastra | Vayu | The Sailastra was used to make heavy winds disappear, meaning it was the counter to Vayvayastra, the wind weapon. It was possessed by warriors Rama, Krishna, Indrajit and Arjuna. |
| Visoshana | Indra, god of weather | The Visoshana was the drying weapon. It could dry anything.It was an amazing counter to the Varunastra. Arjuna obtained this weapon from Indra at heaven. |
| Jyotiksha Astra | Surya, god of solar energy | The Jyotiksha Astra could brighten a dark area. Arjuna had this astra in the Mahabharata. |
| Sauparna | The Sauparna weapon would release crazy birds. Hence, it was a good counter to the Nagastra. It was used by Susharma in the Mahabharata war when Arjuna used the Nagastra on the Sampshapataka army. | |
| Govardhana (bow) | Vishnu, the Preserver | The Govardhana was a powerful bow of Vishnu. During the Mahabharata, Vishnu gave Vidura this bow. |