Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

, an (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: 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 ''Shastra'' (, IAST: , ) is a Sanskrit word that means "precept, rules, manual, compendium, book or treatise" in a general sense.Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'zAstra'' The wo ...

). In Ramayana and Mahabharata,

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...

had more astras than any other warrior. It is believed that Rama possessed all astras. Various texts have stated that Arjuna possessed almost all astras except Brahmandastra &

Narayanastra In Hindu mythology, the Narayanastra () is an astra, a celestial missile, affiliated to the Hindu deity, Vishnu, in his form of Narayana. Description This astra ("celestial weapon" in Sanskrit) fires a volley of millions of deadly missile ...

Astradhari

The bearer of the weapon is called an ''Astradhari'' (

: अस्त्रधारी).

Summoning of Astra

To summon or use an ''astra'' required use of a specific incantation or invocation. The

deity A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...

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 Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...

(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

involved directly, knowledge of the incantation being insufficient.

Astras in Hindu epics

Astras come into importance mainly in the

Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...

and

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...

, where they are used in the great battles described in each epic. They are depicted as used by archers such as

Parashurama Parashurama (), also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Veerarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. He is believed to be one of the ''Chiranjeevis'' (Immortals), who will appea ...

Lakshman Lakshmana ( sa, लक्ष्मण, lit=the fortunate one, translit=Lakṣmaṇa), also spelled as Laxmana, is the younger brother of Rama and his loyalist in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He bears the epithets of Saumitra () and Ramanuja (). ...

Meghanada Meghanada (), also referred to by his epithet Indrajita , according to Hindu texts, was the crown prince of Lanka, who conquered Indraloka ( Heaven). He is regarded as one of the greatest warriors in Hindu texts. He is a major character ment ...

(Indrajit),

Ravana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He a ...

, Bhishma, Drona,

Karna Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण, IAST: ''Karṇa''), also known as Vasusena, Anga-raja, and Radheya, is one of the main protagonists of the Hindu epic '' Mahābhārata''. He is the son of the sun god Surya and princess Kunti (mother of the ...

, 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 The Brahmashirā astra is the most destructive weapon described in the ancient Indian texts, capable to end the existence of gods or Devas. It is thought that the Brahmashirā astra is superior than the Brahmāstra, and causes chain reaction of m ...

using a blade of grass as his weapon. Arjuna was capable of shooting all of his celestial weapons including

Pashupatastra The ''Pashupatastra'' ( IAST: Pāśupatāstra, Sanskrit: पाशुपतास्त्र; the weapon of Pashupati, an epithet of Shiva) is an astra, a celestial missile, affiliated to the Hindu deity Shiva, as well as Kali and Adi Parash ...

by the power of his mind alone.Sacred Texts Hinduism, Mahabharata, SECTION CLXIV
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References

{{Reflist Weapons in Hindu mythology

Astradhari

Summoning of Astra

Astras in Hindu epics

See also

References