(CHAKRA) There are many examples of symbolism and
descriptions of weapons in Hinduism scriptures. Here is a list of the
weapons/astras that are mentioned in various hindu texts and epics such
as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A few of these weapons in modern day
are just used for religious symbols, but some have evolved and can be
connected to other similar weapons used all around the world.
Brahma's Arrow
Brahma’s Arrow
In the Ramayana, Lord Rama faced Ravana where he shot arrows and
knocked off each of Ravana’s ten heads, but they grew back immediately.
The new heads doubled Ravana’s strength so Lord Rama fired the arrow of
Brahma that had been imparted to him by Agastya, a sage and heavenly
historian, while Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana were exiled in Dandaka
Forest. The arrow of Brahma burst Ravana’s chest, passed through his
body, and returned to Rama’s quiver. Ravana was destroyed and Rama was
able to return home in victory. The arrow of Brahma that Rama shot had
feathers of winds. The points were sun and flames. The shaft was Mount
Meru, the hub of the universe and where Brahma lived.
Asi
A legend concerning the sword appears in the Shantiparva section of
Mahabharata where a demon-like being sprang from the midst of the
sacrificial fires scattering flames all around. His teeth were sharp and
terrible, stomach lean and skinny and stature very tall and slim. He
was of exceeding energy and power. Simultaneously, the earth started
shaking, there were turmoils in the oceans, the forceful winds started
howling all around, the trees started falling and being torn apart, and
the meteors started blazing through the skies! Brahma declared: The
‘being’ I have conceived is Asi. It shall effect the destruction of the
enemies of the gods and restore the Dharma. Upon this, the creature
assumed the form of a blazing, sharp-edged sword, glowing like the
flames at the end of the Kalpa.
Arjuna
Brahmastra & Brahmashira
It is sometimes known as the Brahma Astra. As described in a number
of the Puranas, it was considered the deadliest weapon. It was said that
when the Brahmastra was discharged, there was neither a counter attack
nor a defense that could stop it, except by Brahmadanda, a stick also
created by Brahma. It was believed to be obtained by meditating on the
Creator in the Vedas,
Lord Brahma; it could only be used once in a lifetime. The user would
have to display immense amounts of mental concentration. According to
ancient Sanskrit writings, the Brahmastra is invoked by a key phrase or
invocation that is bestowed upon the user when given this weapon.
Through this invocation the user can call upon the weapon and use it via
a medium against his adversary. Since Brahma is considered the Creator
in Sanatana Dharma, it is believed by Hindus
that Brahmastra was created by him for the purpose of upholding Dharma
and Satya, to be used by anyone who wished to destroy an enemy who would
also happen to be a part of his (Brahma’s) creation. The target, when
hit by Brahmastra, would be utterly destroyed. Brahma had created a
weapon even more powerful than the Brahmastra, called the Brahmashira.
The Brahmashira was never used in war, as it had four times more power
than the Brahmastra, i.e. Fourth power square, as the name suggests,
since Brahma has Four Heads. Only Arjuna and Ashwatthama possessed the
knowledge to summon the Brahmashira. The Brahmastra was an elite weapon
with only a handful of greatest of religious and devoted archers (ref)
maheshwarananda, Swami.”the vedic
system” having access to it. It could not be acquired by mere training
or meditation, it could only be bestowed upon a warrior by Lord Shiva or
Lord Brahma. It required great sacrifice and devotion to be granted a
Brahmastra, only a few people in the Mahabharata had this weapon at
their disposal.
Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra
Sudarshan Chakra
The Sudarshana Chakra is a spinning, disk-like super weapon with 108
serrated edges used by Lord Vishnu. Its shape is of a circle with a
sharp outer edge. Earliest references to the chakram come from the
Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana where the Sudarshana Chakra is the
weapon of the god Vishnu. The use of Sudarshana Chakra is occasionally
mentioned in the Hindu texts of Rigveda, Yajurveda and Puranas, as an
ultimate weapon to eliminate the enemy of law, order and preservation.
Such enemies are enumerated variously as rakshasas, asura, and
vikrutatma. In one such instance, as scribed in the stanzas of the
Mahabharat, Lord Shri Krishna, the Avatar of Lord Vishnu, beheads
Shishupala with the use of the Sudarshana Chakra, for his rapacious
behaviour (committing 100 mistakes each worthy of death) at the Rajsuya
yagna celebration of Emperor Yudhishthira.
Ayyanar's Chentu
Chentu
A chentu is a horse whip which looks like a crooked stick, and is a
typical attribute of Lord Ayyanar, Krishna in his aspect as Rajagopala,
and Shiva with Nandi. The attribute of chentu, which is etymologically
derived from a Tamil word, generally appears in Southern India,
especially in Hindu images of Tamil Nadu state, India.
Ganesha's Ankusa
Ankusa
The elephant/hathi goad or Ankusa (Sanskrit) is a tool employed in
the handling and training of elephants. It consists of a hook (usually
bronze or steel) which is attached to a handle. The hook is inserted
into the elephant’s sensitive skin, either slightly or more deeply, to
cause pain and induce the elephant to behave in a certain manner. A
relief at Sanchi and a fresco at the Ajanta Caves depict a three person
crew on the war elephant, the driver with an elephant goad, what appears
to be a noble warrior behind the driver and another attendant on the
posterior of the elephant. 2 elephant goads, perfectly preserved were
recovered from an archaeological site at Taxila and are dated from 3rd
century BCE to the 1st century CE.
Arjuna uses Gandiva
Gandiva
Gandiva is a holy bow created by Brahman of old, not to be confused
with Brahma, the Creator. Brahma held it first for a thousand years. The
bow was worshiped by Devas, Gandharvas and Danavas. Arjuna used it in
Kurukshetra war and he was invincible. It is said that beside Lord
Krishna no one except Arjuna could wield the bow in the mortal world.
The bow, when twanged made the sound of thunder. Gandiva is parallel in
its fame to its famous wielder. The name of Arjuna and Gandiva are
spoken in single breath.
Khatvanga
Khatvanga is a long, club or staff originally created to be used as a
weapon. It is a divine weapon of polysemic significance and
accoutrement of chthonic deities and ‘left-handed path’ (Sanskrit:
vamamarga) holy people in Dharmic Traditions such as Shaivism. The
Khatvanga was adopted by some lineages of historical Tantra though it
preceded such traditions. Lord Shiva as well as Lord Rudra carried the
Khatwang as a staff.
Narayanastra
The personal missile of lord Vishnu in his Narayan form. This astra
in turn fires 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, a Kuru warrior-hero in the epic Mahabharata
unleashes this weapon on the Pandava forces. Lord Krishna, who is an
Avatar of Vishnu tells the Pandavas and their warriors to drop their
weapons and lie down on the ground, so that they all surrender
completely to the power of the weapon. This secret of nullifying the
power of this weapon by this method was known only to three warriors
namely Drona, Aswathama, and Krishna. Even Arjuna was not aware of this
secret. 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.
Parshurama's Parashu
Parashu
The parashu is an Indian battle-axe. It is generally wielded with two
hands but could also be used with only one. The parashu was the choice
weapon of Lord Parashurama, sixth Avatar of Vishnu. Parashurama was the
guru of Dronacharya, the guru who instructed the Pandavas in the epic of
the Mahabharata. Bhishma and Karna, half brother of Pandava also took
instruction in weaponry from Parashurama, a disciple of lord Shiva, and
was known to have terrible temper having lost his father to the evil
Asura. Parashurama’s parashu had supernatural powers. It had four
cutting edges, one on each end of the blade head and one on each end of
the shaft.
Shiva's Pashupata
Pashupatastra
The Pashupatastra is the most destructive personal weapon of Lord
Shiva, discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow. Never to be
used against lesser enemies or by lesser warriors, the Pashupatastra is
capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings. It was used
in the Mahabharata war by Arjuna to kill Jayadratha. It was used against
Lakshmana by Meghanada. It is returned without causing any harm since
it can be used only to uphold Dharma.
Shiva's Trishul
Trishula
A trishula is a type of Indian trident but also found in Southeast
Asia. It is commonly used as a Hindu & Buddhist religious symbol.
The word means “3 spear” in Sanskrit and Pali. The trishula is wielded
by Lord Shiva and is said to have been used to sever the original head
of Lord Ganesh. Durga also holds trishula, as one of her many weapons.
There are many other gods and deities, who hold the weapon trishula. The
three points have various meanings and significance, and, common to
Hindu religion, have many stories behind them. They are commonly said to
represent various trinities—creation, maintenance and destruction,
past, present and future, the three guna. When looked upon as a weapon
of Shiva, the trishula is said to destroy the three worlds: the physical
world, the world of the forefathers (representing culture drawn from
the past) and the world of the mind (representing the processes of
sensing and acting). The three worlds are supposed to be destroyed by
Shiva into a single non-dual plane of existence, that is bliss alone.
The trisula’s central point represents Shushmana, and that is why it is
longer than the other two, representing ida and pingala.
Indra's Vajra
Vajra
The vajra is believed to represent firmness of spirit and spiritual
power. As a material device, the vajra is a ritual object, a short metal
weapon, originally used as a kind of fist iron. The earliest mention of
the Vajra is in the Rigveda, believed to have been composed between
1700 and 1100 BCE. It is described as the weapon of Indra. Indra is
described as using the Vajra to kill sinners. The Rigveda states that
the weapon was made for Indra by Tvastar, the maker of divine
instruments. It is similar to the Japanese weapon called Yawara
Murugan's Vel
Vel
The Vel is the divine javelin (spear) of the Lord Murugan. Goddess
Parvati presented the Vel to Murugan as an emobodiment of Her shakti or
power in order to vanquish the evil asura Soorapadman. According to the
Skanda Purana , Murugan used His Vel to defeat all the evil forces of
Soorapadman. Murugan, too keen for the deception, hurled his Vel and
split the mango tree in to two halves, one becoming Seval (a rooster)
and the other Mayil (a peacock). Murugan, henceforth, had the peacock as
His vahanam and the rooster became the emblem on His battle flag. The
Vel became the symbol of valour, and of the triumph of good over evil.
The spear used by ancient Tamils in warfare is also commonly known by
this name.
Hanuman's Gada
Gada
A Gada (also known as a mace) is a blunt weapon, a type of club or
virge—that uses a round and very heavy head on the end of a handle to
deliver powerful blows. The usage of gadas in warfare was very prevalent
in the Indian epics of Ramayana and Mahabarata. The gada is also
carried in the right hand of Lord Hanuman, where is can symbolize
self-sovereinty, the authority of governance and the power to rule.
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