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Questions tagged [weapon]

For questions about Astra (Sanskrit: अस्त्र), a divine/supernatural weapon like Brahmaastra, Trishul, Sudarshana Chakra etc.

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32 votes
3 answers
10k views

What is the story behind the Brahmasthra? Was it actually ever fired?

In different Puranas there are mentions of the Brahmasthra which is one of the powerful weapons capable of destroying the whole world. I have seen usually in Purana TV serials, these astras (arrows) ...
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26 votes
3 answers
11k views

Who gave weapons to Shri Krishna and Balarama and how?

If I remember, Shri Krishna and Balarama didn't have the weapons Sudarshana chakra and Hala respectively with them when they were fighting with Kamsa. So I am assuming they got these weapons later. ...
Mr_Green's user avatar
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22 votes
1 answer
60k views

Why did Laxman get injured by Indrajit's 'shakti' weapon?

In Ramayana, Indrajit was able to hit Laxman by his special weapon named Shakti. Due to this Laxman went very near to death. Now Lord Hanuman went to Himalaya & brought Sanjivani. This way Laxman ...
Kedarnath's user avatar
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26 votes
3 answers
5k views

What is the story of the "Sudarśana Chakra"?

How did Lord Mahavishnu get the Sudarśana Chakra? Why is it called the ultimate weapon among other weapons?
Kiran RS's user avatar
  • 8,181
11 votes
3 answers
7k views

What is Lord Hanuman's weapon of choice from scriptures?

Lord Hanuman always depicted with carryinging a mace: But during few conversation with our in-house user Sree Charan, he said There is no explicit reference that Hanuman used Gada/mace. In ...
Ankit Sharma's user avatar
  • 6,538
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

What are the symbols and weapons in the hand of Sadashiva?

Sadashiva is described as being eternal form of Lord Shiva. He is represented with Five-faces and ten hands. The five heads of Sadashiva are known as Sadyojata [West facing], Vamadeva [North facing], ...
Tezz's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
3k views

What happened to the divine weapons after Mahabharatha war?

What happened to all those divine weapons after completion of Mahabharatha war? Where are those weapons now in kali Yuga? Who possess those weapons now? Were they dismantled or hidden somewhere? As ...
The Destroyer's user avatar
  • 31.6k
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the significance of the weapons and other items held by the Lord Vishnu?

Lord Vishnu holds a Disc (Chakra), Conch (Sankha), Komidi Gadha, and also holds other elements like a lotus in his hand. Is there any explanation in scriptures of why Lord Vishnu holds these ...
Shree Krishna's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
10k views

How did Shri Krishna get the Shankh named Panchajanya?

As I know, Shri Krishna used to announce the end of the battle for the day in great Mahabharata battle using a Shankh named as Panchajanya. Does anyone know how He got this Shankh?
Mr_Green's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the respective arrangement of Lord Vishnu's weapons in 24 Salagramas?

There are 24 types of Salagramams available for Lord Vishnu. Shank, Chakra, Gadha and Lotus ---- in which order it should come for these 24 types of salagramams and in which purana it is mentioned?
Parthasarathy Raghavan's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
18k views

Why do images of Sudarshana have Yoga Narasimha on the other side?

I'm currently visiting India, and in the Vishnu temple in my native village of Poondi, I saw a shrine dedicated to Chakrathalwar. For those who don't know, that is the Sri Vaishnava name for ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
18k views

what is the difference between astra & Shastra?

I want to know the difference between astra & Shastra and What type of astra & Shastra use in Mahabharata & Ramayana ?
Bhavin's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
1k 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?
Deva's user avatar
  • 273
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Do scriptures describe the effects of Brahmastra?

Brahmastra is debated to be similar in nature to Atom/Nuclear bomb. But my question is, do scriptures describe the effects of Brahmastra?
Ankit Sharma's user avatar
  • 6,538
21 votes
2 answers
8k views

How did Krishna get Vishnu's Sharanga Bow?

As I discuss in this answer, the divine architect Tvashta (AKA Vishwakarma) created two powerful bows, the Pinaka bow for Shiva and the Sharanga bow for Vishnu. Brahma once got Vishnu and Shiva to ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
6k views

Is Indradhanush really bow of Indra?

This question came to my mind when I heard/noticed about Indradhanush (hindi/Sanskrit name for Rainbow). So If Indradhanush is really Bow of Indra does it have a significance? Scientifically ...
Yogi's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why no Divine Weapons in Kali Yuga?

The ancient scriptures speak a lot on divine weapons used in the earlier yugas. There are mention of Brahmastra, Rudrastra, Narayanastra etc. But, why these weapons do not exist in the kali Yuga?
Indu Bhusan Nath's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is the significance of weapons? Why do gods carry multiple weapons?

Every Hindu God carries multiple weapons like Trishul, Chakra, Gada, Pharsha, Danda, Sword or Bow. The same god in different Murthis (statue) carries different weapons. If one weapon is powerful ...
pbvamsi's user avatar
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20 votes
3 answers
3k views

What did the Pandavas do with the oldest sword in the world?

In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma gives advice to Yudishtra and the Pandavas concerning how to be a good king and how to be good person, while he's lying on a bed of arrows after the end ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
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 ...
Lokesh's user avatar
  • 2,083
8 votes
1 answer
7k views

Description of metals in Vedas and Itihasas

I would like to know the metals and alloys named in the Vedas and Itihasas(Ramayana & Mahabharatha) with special attention to mention of Iron. The general assumption is the Itihasas events could ...
Naveen's user avatar
  • 3,780
7 votes
1 answer
2k views

Who is Vijayavalli, wife of the Sudarshana Chakra?

I just performed a Griha Pravesam, the Hindu house warming ceremony, and I noticed an interesting Mantra that the priest chanted. The Mantra, which I assume was from the Pancharatra Agamas, was ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
897 views

What does 'Vajra' mean?

We have heard about the Vajra holded by Dev Indra, which was said to be from the bones of Rishi Dadhichi, but before that, while saving Devi Sati from a rakshas Rishi Dadhichi earned a boon from Lord ...
Mr. K's user avatar
  • 3,467
6 votes
1 answer
5k views

How did Arjuna get the celestial bow Gandiva?

The bow Gandiva was created by Lord Brahma, the Creator. No ordinary person could wield the Gandiva bow. It was one of the most sought after celestial bows. And it was worshiped by Devas, Gandharvas ...
Uday Krishna's user avatar
  • 6,068
6 votes
2 answers
293 views

Mythology war fought without any weapons?

Have there been any wars fought without involvement of any physical weapons astras, but by using supernatural, divine, or yogic powers only? For example, pushing the enemy away with telekinetic ...
Tushar Seth's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
6k views

What are the weapons used by Indra other than Vajra

This question is related to Rainbow question in which I ask about the validity of the word Indra-Dhanusha in Hindu Mythology. I want to know what are the other weapons Indra has since he is DevaRaja ...
Yogi's user avatar
  • 10.5k
5 votes
0 answers
129 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 ...
Gabriel Alexander Gonzalez Agu's user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
1k views

Did Vishnu ever use his mace Kaumodaki?

He used the Chakra a lot and also his bow. I can't think of an occasion when he used his mace either as himself or an avatar.
S K's user avatar
  • 1
4 votes
1 answer
649 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). ...
Just_Do_It's user avatar
  • 8,958
4 votes
7 answers
16k views

Was Vasavi Sakti more powerful than Pasupata?

During the Kurukshetra war, after Karna killed Ghatotkhasa with the Vasavi Sakti weapon; Krishna started dancing. Seeing this Bhima asked why he did so when the son of Bhima was killed. To this ...
Indu Bhusan Nath's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why do Hindu Gods carry weapons?

I always wonder why Hindu Gods carry weapons. I mean they are "Gods", why do they need weapons?
Anshul Patel's user avatar
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 ?
Kno Noth's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Does the Narayanastra weapon of Vishnu summon the Rudras?

The Drona Parva of the Mahabharata describes how Drona's son Ashwatthama, desperate to avenge his father's death, launched the Narayanastra, the illustrious weapon of Vishnu. The Narayanastra wreaked ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
461 views

What are the three Arrows of Barbarika and how he got them?

It is said that Barbarika had Three Arrows which is the Most powerful ones and so he was sacrificed to Mahabharta War. QUESTION : What are the Three Arrows of Barbarika and how he Got them ? Are ...
Sakthi's user avatar
  • 4,196
1 vote
0 answers
885 views

Did Lord Krishna stop the knowledge of Divya-astras from coming to Kali-yuga?

Did Lord Krishna stop the knowledge of Divya-astras from coming to kali-yuga? If yes, please provide the scriptural reference.
Fierce lord's user avatar
  • 3,969