Questions tagged [weapon]
For questions about Astra (Sanskrit: अस्त्र), a divine/supernatural weapon like Brahmaastra, Trishul, Sudarshana Chakra etc.
118
questions
4
votes
2
answers
116
views
Like Sudarshana Chakra, do any other weapons have a form?
The Sudarshana Chakra is said to have a form somewhat:
Like the Sudharshana Chakra, do any other weapons also have an anthropomorphic form? What, if any, scriptures mention this?
- 1,053
1
vote
0
answers
25
views
Are there instances when Brahma used the Brahmastra?
Siva uses the Pashupatasstra as his ultimate weapon and Vishnu the Vaishnavastra or Narayanastra.
Brahma is not depicted as engaging in war that frequently - but is he known to have used his own ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
49
views
What weapons were Rama & Lakshmana trained to use?
Lakshmana uses a sword to mutilate the unarmed Surpanakha - but apart from that both Rama and Lakshmana seem to have only fought with bow-and-arrows.
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
108
views
Is Krishna answering the question "who is the better wielder of weapons" between Arjuna and Rama in BG 10.31?
https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/10/verse/31
पवन: पवतामस्मि राम: शस्त्रभृतामहम् | झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी || 31||
BG 10.31: Amongst purifiers, I am the wind, and amongst ...
- 1
3
votes
0
answers
69
views
Which astras can be countered by surrendering to them?
In the answer to this question
Are Vaishnavastra and Narayanastra the same?
It is stated that Narayanastra can be made harmless by surrendering to it.
Usually astras are countered by the same astra or ...
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
51
views
Are these the most powerful astra of each of the tridevas?
I have come across people who say the most powerful astra of Tridevas are:
Lord Shiva- शिवज्ज्वर अथवा माहेश्वरज्जवर(Shivjjwar or Maaheshwarjjwar)
Lord Vishnu- विष्णुज्वर(Vishnujwar)
Lord Brahmaa- ...
- 1,354
4
votes
0
answers
73
views
Mighty warriors in Mahabharata and Ramayana who were left handed
Can you give references of mighty warriors in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana who were left handed in using Bow & Arrow, Mace etc weapons in battlefield ?
- 907
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
What were the circumstances surrounding Srutayudha's birth and how did he become king of Kalinga?
Srutayudha (aka Srutayusha) was king of Kalinga who fought on side of Kauravas in Mahabharata.
And Suvala's son Sakuni, and Salya, Jayadratha and the two princes of Avanti named Vinda and Anuvinda, ...
1
vote
1
answer
129
views
Which astra or celestial weapon contains the power of Shiva's third eye?
Shiva has many astras that are considered to be very destructive such as the Raudrastra and Pashupatastra. My exact question is which astra or celestial weapon contains the power of Shiva's third eye?
- 3,076
0
votes
1
answer
103
views
Which astra resists Varunastra?
Varunastra is a celestial weapon that unleashes water and is used as an encounter to Agneyastra, which releases fires and flames. My question is, how do you counter Varunastra?
- 3,076
3
votes
1
answer
415
views
How do you counter Sammohanastra?
Arjuna used Sammohanastra in Virat army that put the Kuru army to sleep. Sammohanastra is a weapon that puts an enemy to sleep.
If somebody hurled agneyastra or fire weapon, then you counter attack ...
- 3,076
1
vote
1
answer
165
views
Is it possible to use astras in Kali Yuga
Is it possible for human to use ancient weapons in Kaliyuga?
Can humans in Kaliyuga really control it?
How much time does it take to understand those weapons?
- 166
4
votes
5
answers
985
views
Who possessed Pashupatastra other than Arjuna and Shiva?
Shiva gave Pashupatastra to Arjuna but who possessed it besides those two?
- 3,076
3
votes
0
answers
57
views
Was Vasishtha's Brahmadanda a weapon or was it an embodiment of a Brahmin's Tapas?
"danda" just means stick - so it is unlikely that it was a weapon. So when vishwamitra attacked vasishtha - did Vasishtha just use his stick to focus the power of his tapas to repel ...
- 1
6
votes
1
answer
279
views
Where can I find the details about the weapons that kshatriyas had at olden times?
Are there any Vedas, Puranas, or holy scripts that contain their descriptions?
4
votes
0
answers
131
views
Durga Devi's Weapon that killed Mahishasura?
The Legend of Durga , slaying the demon Mahisha talks about that the gods combined their energies (shakti) into the female form of Durga, a fierce manifestation of the Goddess (Devi). She received all ...
- 2,084
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The other bow of Shiva - Ajagava
Lord Shiva had 2 bows - Pinaka and Ajagava. There are few stories associated with the first bow Pinaka like Sita swayamvar.
Are there any distinct stories/incidents associated with Ajagava that have ...
- 8,840
4
votes
1
answer
560
views
Was Vibhishana powerful?
We all know that Vibhishana was a Brahmin-Daitya/Brahmin-Rakshasa and was an ardent follower of Lord Rama. But I think he didn't kill even a single person in the Rama-Ravana war. So, in my view, he ...
user21213
3
votes
0
answers
824
views
What was Karna's Nagastra?
In the Mahabharat there is an incident between the final encounter of Arjuna and Karna where Karna used his Nagastra against Arjuna.
The Suta's son then fixed on his bow-string that foe-killing, ...
- 7,868
4
votes
1
answer
170
views
Are Itihasas and Puranas the only classes of scripture in which celestial weapons are used?
Ramayana, Mahabharata and many Puranas relate conflicts in which Divyastras like Brahmastra get used.
Do these weapons occur in earlier scriptures like Vedas and Brahmanas or any scriptures written ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
90
views
Why is the bow regarded as the foremost of weapons?
In this section of the Mahabharata, Nakula says:
The bow, O grandsire, is regarded as the foremost of weapons in this world.
My question is, what reason does the Mahabharata give for the bow being ...
- 21.9k
1
vote
2
answers
215
views
What are the specific qualities of Lord Shiva's trishul?
Does any epic or purana describes about Lord Shiva's trishul briefly? Specially Shiva Purana & Mahabharata, if I'm not wrong, Upamanyu had described something about Shiva's trishul to Lord Krishna ...
user17603
0
votes
1
answer
355
views
How powerful was Brahmastra? [duplicate]
There's a weapon discussed in Mahabharata called Brahmastra. Maybe Bhishma and Drona had this weapon.
How powerful was it? If any person used it, would it destroy whole world? Was there any technique/...
- 1,060
2
votes
0
answers
88
views
Are there any dedicated Scriptures, that explain these various weapons, vyuhs and war tactics in details?
As I am reading through the Mahabharata (currently on the Drona Parva), I am truly amazed by the amount of details of war that are mentioned.
The types and varieties of weapons are mind-blowing, ...
- 857
7
votes
0
answers
229
views
Who gave Vajra or thunderbolt to Indra - Dadhichi or Usana?
In puranas Dadhichi is primarily known for sacrificing his life so the Devas, or benevolent celestial beings, could make the weapon called "Vajra" from his bones. After being driven out from Svarga, ...
- 17.2k
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Primary weapon of kalki
Many of the avatars of Vishnu that has happened, who were supposed to kill someone or destroy something has some kind of primary weapons.
Though they all can use various kinds of weapons, but had one ...
- 857
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
When paramatma can control souls why does he need various weapons?
When paramatma can control his own souls why does he fight with weapons ?
- 91
14
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How knowledge of weapons (shastra) शस्त्र got lost?
How did the knowledge of great weapons like Bramhastra got lost in Hinduism tradition? As can be seen in Ramayan and Mahabharat, Gurus used to give knowledge of weapons to their shishya which were ...
- 2,166
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Did anyone ever receive Lord Shiva's Trishul as a boon?
In Hindu mythology,different weapons have been received from Lord Shiva.But I was wondering if there is any mention of anyone receiving Lord Shiva's Trishul as a boon.
- 1,305
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the significance of PAsha and Ankusha?
What is the importance PAsha and Ankusha in Devi's hands?
I didn't see these in Sri Parvathi's hands, as Sri Parvathi either holding Kumara in one hand and Lotus in another hand, when along with ...
- 1,155
4
votes
0
answers
188
views
Why is the holding of Chakra different in different images of Vishnu
In northern parts of India, Sri Vishnu holds Sudarshana Chakra on His forefinger. But in the Southern parts of India, He is seen holding the chakra within two fingers (as seen in the enclosed images).
...
user17294
1
vote
0
answers
112
views
Has any Asura or Rakshasa destroyed a city with an Astra, like the Brahmastra?
It is recorded in the Puranas and Itihasas that Krishna and Shiva destroyed some cities, like Kashi and Tripura respectively, with astras and other celestial weapons.
My question is, has any Asura (...
- 21.9k
-4
votes
1
answer
207
views
Do Hindu scriptures allow the use of weapons of mass destruction like the Brahmastra to annihilate the civilian population of a foreign country?
In the Mahabharata, Krishna destroyed the city Kashi with his Sudarshana Chakra.
Is the use of Brahmastras and other celestial Astras, akin to weapons of mass destruction, to destroy entire cities ...
- 21.9k
0
votes
0
answers
73
views
Could anybody learn the secrets of celestial weapons? [duplicate]
I think there is some condemnation of Drona the Brahmin for encroaching on the realm of warriors. Is there a prohibition on non-Kshatriyas learning those weapons?
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
82
views
Which weapon did a lot of actual damage from a single use?
The big name weapons like Brahmastra are often neutralized by the same or similar weapon. When was the most damage inflicted by a single use of a weapon?
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
163
views
Was the "yawning weapon" used in the Banasura war used on any other occasion in any scripture?
The "yawning weapon", which was used during Banasura war, has to be one of the strangest weapons mentioned in scriptures.
Was it used on any other occasions?
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
595
views
Is the roudra weapon really the same weapon as the pashupata weapon?
As I know, when Arjuna did penance to Indra, Shiva referred to the pashupata weapon as "roudra" but also as a pashupata, implying that it is another name of the weapon according to Shiva:
'"O great ...
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why don't the Vanaras use weapons?
I want to know why the Vanara never used weapons such as swords, bows, chakras, clubs, etc., since it has always been shown in Valmiki Ramayana that the Vanara as Hanuman and Sugriva used wrestling, ...
5
votes
0
answers
110
views
How was the succession sequence of the Sudarshana Chakra among the avatars of Vishnu?
I know that the Sudarshana Chakra is one of the most powerful weapons in Hinduism, just as I know that it is associated with Vishnu along with being the weapon that he used the most.
But I want to ...
2
votes
0
answers
52
views
Vaataakarshanashtra (वाताकर्षणास्त्र - a weapon which removes air or O2 from atmosphere)
Shree Navanathas are described to possess Vaataakarshana Astra (वाताकर्षणास्त्र - a weapon which removes air or O2 from atmosphere) in 'Shree Navanath Kathaasaar'.
But I didn't come across any ...
- 1,220
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What are the bows of the warriors of the Mahabharata? [closed]
I want to know what were the names of the bows of the warriors of the Mahabharata, their abilities and how they got them
2
votes
1
answer
755
views
What is the story of Vijaya bow?
Who was the original owner of Vijaya bow?
However it is wielded by Indra Dev, Parashurama and Karna. Who created this bow?
- 283
9
votes
0
answers
380
views
A Time Bomb placed in Patal lok
In 99th Adhyay of Udhyog-Parv of Mahabharat.
When Krishna went to Hastinapur as a peace delegate.
In the assembly of Hastinapur, Devrishi Narad told a story about his visit to Patal-Lok with Matli (...
- 857
2
votes
1
answer
847
views
Significance of weapons in Vishnu's Chaturvyuha avatars
I read somewhere that the combination of weapons in the four hands of Vishnu's chaturvyuha avatars results in 4 factorial or 24 combinations of Vishnu's tattvas but what do each of these signify?
- 21
11
votes
2
answers
902
views
When did Vishnu destroy trident of Shiva?
Vishnu Sahasranama stotram consist of thousand names of Lord Vishnu. The most popular one is from Anushasana parva of Mahabharata which was said by Bhishma to Yudhishtira. But there are other versions ...
- 25.7k
7
votes
0
answers
136
views
Information on list of Sri Vishnu's weapons requested
Sri Madhvacharya, the propagator of Dvaita siddanta and the Brahma sampradaya, has authored a book called TantrasArasaMgraha.
In the same book, under adhyAya 4, verse 18-20, Sri Madhvacharya lists ...
- 1,335
5
votes
0
answers
365
views
Gayatri mantras of Sri Vishnu's weapons
The commonly known weapons of Sri Vishnu are five in number - Panchajanya, Sudarshana, Sharanga, Nandaki and Koumodaki. Among the above 5, the Gayatri mantra of the first 2 are used in Pooja vidhana. ...
- 1,335
3
votes
0
answers
303
views
What is the story of Vishwakarma creating the Saunanda mace used by Balrama?
The Markandeya Puran Section 1.11.5 mentions the following story:
There lives a highly powerful and fierce Danava in Rasatala. He makes the earth yawn and therefore he is called Kujrimbha. Whatever ...
- 19.1k
5
votes
1
answer
359
views
Mentioning of firearms or cannons in Hinduism Scriptures?
The two wikipedia articles says
The earliest known depiction of cannon appeared in Song
dynasty China as early as the 12th century, however solid
archaeological and documentary evidence of ...
- 31.9k
4
votes
1
answer
602
views
Any connection between Brahmastra and Brahmadanda?
I was reading an article here that states:
Brahmastra (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मास्त्र, Brahmāstra) was a weapon created
by the creator Brahma, for the purpose of upholding Dharma and Satya
(truth). ...
- 8,840