Astra (weapon)

Arjuna uses the Agneyastra against Angaraparna

In Hinduism, an astra (Sanskrit: अस्त्र) was a supernatural weapon, presided over by a specific deity. Later it came to denote any weapon which was used by releasing it from one hands (e.g. an arrow, compared to keeping it ones hand e.g. a sword [shastra]).^[1][2][3]

Astradhari

The bearer of the weapon is called Astradhari (Sanskrit: अस्त्रधारी).^[4]

Summoning of Astra

To summon or use an astra required knowledge of a specific incantation/invocation, when armed. The deity invoked would then endow the weapon 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

Arjuna gifts the Agneyastra to the Gandharva

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, Indrajit (Meghnad), Ravana, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwatthaman, Arjuna and other warriors.

The divya astras were generally invoked into arrows, although they could potentially be used with anything. Ashwatthaman invoked Brahmashirsha astra using a blade of grass as his weapon.

Indrajit (Meghnad) the son of Ravana, are believed to be the only person who ever possessed the three ultimate weapons of the trinity. At a very young age, Indrajit (Meghnada) became the possessor of several supreme celestial weapons, including Brahmanda astra, Pashupatastra and Vaishnavastra, under the guidance of Shukracharya, the Guru of the Daityas (demons). Shukracharya was a disciple of Lord Shiva.

Astra	Deity	Effect
Brahmaastra	Brahma, the Creator	Would destroy entire hosts at once. Could also counter most other astras. In the epic Mahabharata, it is said that the weapon manifest with the single head of Lord Brahma as its tip. In Mahabharata era Parasurama, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Arjuna, Yudhishtir and several Maharathis possessed the knowledge to invoke this weapon. It is the only weapon capable of piercing the Brahma Kavach (invincible armour of Lord Brahma). Atikaya, one of Ravan's sons possessed the invincible armour 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 like Brahmashirsha astra and Brahmanda astra.
Trishul	Shiva, the Destroyer	The Trident of Lord Shiva. Infallible, cannot be stopped by anyone, except Lord Shiva himself.
Mace (weapon),गदा	Hanuman	Primary weapon of lord Hanuman. A mace is a blunt weapon, a type of club or virge that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful blows. A mace typically consists of a strong, heavy, wooden or metal shaft, often reinforced with metal, featuring a head made of stone, copper, bronze, iron, or steel. Later, chosen by Bhima and Duryodhana as their primary weapon and used against each other in Mahabharata.
Sudarshana Chakra	Vishnu, the Preserver	The legendary discus of Lord Vishnu. Infallible, flies at the command of Vishnu. Cannot be stopped by anyone, except Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.[5] It has tremendous occult and spiritual power to destroy everything. Used by Vishnu in his Krishna avatar to behead his maternal uncle Kamsa.
Lord Shiva'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 is 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 will then return to Barbarika's quiver. If Barbarika uses the second arrow, then the second arrow will mark all the things that Barbarika wants to save. On using the third arrow, it will destroy all the things that are not marked. In other words, with one arrow Barbarika can fix all his targets and with the other he can destroy them. Krishna disguised as a Brahmin stopped Barbarika to examine his strength. When asked how many days he would take to finish the Kurukshetra War alone, Barbarika answered that he could finish it within few moments. Barbarika came to be known by the appellation Teen Baandhaari, the "Bearer of Three Arrows".Barbarika was the son of Ghatotkacha, and a grandson of Bhima (second of the Pandava brothers) and Hidimbi.
Indraastra	Indra, god of weather	Would bring about a 'shower' of arrows from the sky.
Vasavi Shakti	Indra, god of Weather	Magical dart of Indra. Used by Karna against Ghatotkacha in the Mahabharata war.
Agneyastra	Agni, god of fire	The weapon discharged would emit flames inextinguishable through normal means.
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.
Nalika		In the Drona-vadha Parva of Drona Parva, it is clearly stated that Rishis (sages) had prohibited the use of Nalika arrows in wars. So, it was unfair and immoral to use these arrows in war. Arjuna used these arrows against Karna during the Kurukshetra war.
Manavastra	Manu (Hinduism), father of the human race	Could overcome supernatural protections and carry the target hundreds of miles away. Can inspire humane traits in an evil being. This weapon Was used by Sri Rama on the rakshasa(demon) Maricha.
Varunapasha	Varuna	A powerful noose which not even other gods can escape from.
Bhaumastra	Bhūmi, goddess of earth	The weapon could create tunnels deep into the earth and summon jewels.
Bhargavastra	Lord Parashurama	Parashurama (an avatara of Lord Vishnu) gave this astra to Karna. It caused great damage to Pandavas army.It completely destroyed one Akshauhani of Pandava army.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.
Nagaastra	The Nagas	The weapon would have an unerring aim and take on the form of a snake, proving deadly upon impact. Used by Karna against Arjuna in Mahabharata .In Ramayana, Ravana's son Indrajit used it against Lord Rama.
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.
Garudastra	Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu	A weapon that can defend against Nagaastra when attacked by the opponents. It was used by Lord Rama in Ramayana.
Anjalika Astra		Used by Arjuna to kill weaponless and chariot-less Karna from behind. Karna was lifting his sunken chariot's wheel out from the ground. Arjuna used this astra when unarmed and defenseless Karna could not be killed by ordinary means.
Vayvayastra	Vayu, god of wind	Bring about a gale capable of lifting armies off the ground.
Suryastra	Surya, god of the sun	Create a dazzling light that would dispel any darkness about and dry up water bodies.
Vajra	Indra, god of the skies	Target would be struck with bolts of lightning (vajra referring to Indra's thunderbolt).
Mohini Astra	Mohini, an Avatar of Vishnu	Dispel any form of maya or sorcery in the vicinity.
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.
Sammohana/Pramohana		Would cause entire hosts/armies to collapse in a trance. Arjuna uses this weapon against the Kaurava army during the Virata war.
Parvataastra		Would cause a Parvata/mountain to fall on the target from the skies.
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, 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 the Ramayana, Indrajit invoked the Brahmashira astra and charged its power onto his chariot, bow and arrows. Aided by its exceedingly destructive power, Indrajit was able to slay 670 million vanaras in one day and managed to defeat Rama and Lakshmana. In Mahabharata era Parasurama, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwatthama and Arjuna possessed the knowledge to invoke this weapon.
Brahmanda astra	Brahma, the Creator	A defensive weapon . Capable of repelling the Brahmastra. Used by Vashishta against Vishwamitra. In the epic Mahabharata, it is said that the weapon manifest with the all 5 heads of Lord Brahma as its tip. Brahma earlier lost his fifth head in a fight when he fought with Lord Siva. This weapon is said to possess the power to destroy the entire solar systems or Brahmand, the 14 realms according to Hindu cosmology. In Mahabharata era Parasurama, Bhishma, Drona and Karna possessed the knowledge to invoke this weapon.
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 in a life time. If the user were to attempt invoking it a second time, it would rebound on him, and possibly, his troops.In Mahabharata era Lord Vishnu in his Narayana from blessed Guru Drona and his son Ashwatthama and gifted the knowledge about this weapon. In Mahabharata war Ashwatthama used this weapon against Pandava army after the death of Drona. It destroyed one Akshauhini of Pandava army completely. This astra fires a powerful tirade of millions of deadly missiles simultaneously. The intensity of the shower increases with 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. 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. 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.
Kaumodaki	Vishnu, the Preserver	Divine mace of Vishnu. Would destroy whole armies. Infallible and without parallel. Lord Krishna slayed 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)	Shiva, the Destroyer	Also called as Shiva Dhanush, the Vijaya Dhanusha was the personal bow of Lord Shiva, which was regarded as the foremost of bows. Lord Shiva left it in the care of Indra Dev who on instruction from Lord Shiva happily gave it to Lord Parashurama. Lord Parashurama kept is as his personal bow and being pleased with the devotion of his student Karna, gave the Vijaya Dhanusha to Karna. The Sanskrit name ‘Vijaya’ means ‘victory’ and this bow is said to give sure victory to the possessor. The string of Vijaya Dhanush cannot be broken by any kind of astra (weapon) or divya astra (divine weapon), nor by anyone and it is so heavy that a normal person in any yuga cannot not lift 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. Every time an arrow is aimed, the energy of the arrow is amplified by multiple times as Vijaya Dhanush is charged with sacred mantras. Vijaya Dhanush is unparalleled and except Lord Parasurama, Karna or an equally or more powerful warrior, nobody can even lift it. No weapon, not even the mighty Pashupatastra, can harm a warrior who has Vijaya Dhanush in his hand, as the name Vijaya implies victory to the wielder. The only time Karna ever fought using the Vijaya Dhanusha was on the 17th day of the Kurukshetra war when he fought against and overpowered Arjuna who was using Gandiva bow. Karna came to be known by the name 'Vijayadhari' meaning 'wielder of the Vijaya bow'.
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). Was given to Parashurama By Lord Shiva, which was passed down to King Janaka, the father of Devi Sita, and was broken by Lord Ram in her swayamvara.
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. Infallible and unstoppable. 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 a Rudra out of the Ekadasha (Eleven) Rudras and destroys the target. In Mahabharata era Parashurama and Karna know about this weapon. In the Kurukshetra war Karna invoked Rudra astra against Arjuna and this astra hit Arjuna on his chest piercing the mantra Siva kavach(armour). Arjuna lost his grip on his bow, Gandiva, which fell down from his hand for the first time and Arjuna fell down in a swoon.[6] The mantra for the Siva kavach(armour) was weakened by the rudra astra, while simultaneously much of the energy of the rudra astra was expended in penetrating the Siva kavach(armour). Had Arjuna been hit by the rudra astra at full strength he would've been instantly killed. Also used by Siva residing inside Ashwatthama against Panchala army in the night raid on the 18th day of Kurukshetra war. This weapon is said to have no counter weapon.
Pashupatastra	Shiva, the Destroyer	Would destroy target completely, irrespective of target's nature. When released, the weapon summons several monsters and a huge spirit which personifies the weapon. Each time the weapon is summoned, its head is never the same . This weapon had to be obtained from Shiva directly. It is Infallible and without any parallel which cannot be stopped by anyone except by Lord Shiva. Indrajit, the son of Ravan possessed this weapon in Ramayana and Arjuna in Mahabharata.
Parashu (axe)	Shiva, the Destroyer	The Parashu (axe) was an unconquerable and indestructible divine weapon given to Lord Parashurama by his Guru Lord Shiva along with other divine weapons due to the extreme devotion of Lord Parashurama. Lord Parashurama later gave this axe to Lord Ganesha. Parashurama means Rama who wields the axe as Rama was the name Lord Parashurama was known by till he acquired the axe from Lord Shiva.
Chandrahas	Shiva, the Destroyer	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)		This 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 ordinary person could wield the Gandiva bow. When fired, the bow made the sound of thunder. It has special qualities like being indestructible, having 100 bow strings, etc. which always gave the wielder a heavy advantage over his opponent. Arjuna always used this bow since he acquired it, which gave him a heavy advantage over his opponents. After the death of Krishna Arjuna found it difficult to wield the Gandiva bow.
Sabda-veda astra		This weapon prevents an opponent from turning invisible. Used by Arjuna against the Ghandarva king Chitrasena.

See also

• Astras of Karna
• The Ramayana
• The Mahabharata
• Bhagavata Purana

References

1. Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 72.
2. Mahabharata by Roy, Chandra Pratap
3. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/
4. Astradhari definition
5. http://www.harekrsna.de/artikel/sudarsana-chakra.htm
6. K M Ganguly(1883-1896). The Mahabharatha Book 8: Karna Parva Section 91 Karna ivoking Rudrastra against Arjuna, October 2003,Retrieved 2014-08-11