Ramanisblog

Tag: Ancient weapons

  • Mahabharata Weapons User Manual Found Kerala

    I have written on the use of weapons in the Mahabharata..

    I have also written articles on

    Rules of War,

    Battle Formations,

    Weapons of Mass Destruction,

    List of Astras,

    Brahmastra Invocation Mantra.

    Now  a manuscript containing the Mantra for the weapons used in the Mahabharata War has been found in Kerala.

    They are a sort of User Manual.

    ‘A manuscript found from the collections of Ashtavaidyan Vaidyamadham Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri, who passed away recently, clearly mentions the mantras to use brahmastra, agneyastra, among others. The 63-folio manuscript in palm leaves, believed to be rewritten about 120 years ago, is the only manuscript retrieved so far in the country that tells how to use all the deadly weapons mentioned in the Mahabharata in about 48 well-described mantras.

    “It was Cheriya Narayanan Namboodiri’s wish to digitize all his manuscript collections — 1,300 bundles — for the benefit of researchers, students and the future generation. The particular manuscript was noticed while we were digitizing the collections using the most reliable method, reprography,” said A R Krishnakumar, project manager at Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). Krishnakumar is part of a team from the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi that has been bestowed with the responsibility of digitizing all the manuscripts available with both public and private parties in the country. “People may wonder why the manuscripts should be digitized. It is because they would throw light on our history, culture, customs, ancient religions besides giving information on the environment, health and science of ancient times,” said Krishnakumar.

    “Till now, we haven’t even used 15% of the information from the manuscripts being written on ayurveda. Yet ayurveda is considered to be one of the most accepted system of medicine in the world. Now imagine if the knowledge in five lakh-odd bundles of manuscripts are made available to the society, how much more effective would ayurveda be,” he added.

    “We had digitized a portion of the manuscripts available with libraries, colleges, universities and other institutions in Kerala a few years ago. We started the second phase of the initiative from Vaidyamadham at Mezhathur in Palakkad district. Our next destination is Kanippayyur Mana near Kunnamkulam, famous for thachu sasthra (architectural science), and other centres that have hundreds of manuscripts preserved with them. Thankfully, all these private parties are now coming forward to share the knowledge they have been preserving from the past,” said senior reprographic officer of IGNCA Krishnakumar B. ‘

    Citation.

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Found-User-guide-for-Mahabharata-weapons/articleshow/26762484.cms

  • Weapons Used In Mahabharata War List

    The Mahabharata war between the Kauravas and Panadvas was of epic proportions and it lasted for eighteen days.

    Millions were killed and only a few remained alive after the war.

    Please read my post on this.

    What were the weapons used and with what effect?

    The war started on Kartheeka Bahula Amavasya (end of the Kartheeka and the start of the Margasira lunar month), moon on Jyesta star, on Tuesday early morning.( This is under dispute, I shall be posting on this)

    Solar eclipse also happened on that day and this Muhurth was kept by SriKrishna himself.

    As usual Krishna did not directly fix the Muhurta.

    Mahabharata War.Image.jpg.
    Mahabharata War.

    Sahadeva fixed it and Krishna manipulated the Solar Eclipse to happen a Day earlier, knowing well it was started on the Day of Solar Eclipse the one who  chooses that date  would win.

    Duryodhana was tricked into fixing this date.

    This day was not the Amavasya, when Solar Eclipse happens, but a Day earlier.

    This Amavasya is called the Bodhayana Amavasya.

    Asi , Special Sword of Brahma.

    Brahma performed a Yagna, when 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 ,very tall ,slim and very powerful.

    Simultaneously, the earth started shaking, there were turmoil 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.(Shantiparva,Mahabharata)

    Sudarsan Chakra.

    2.Vishnu/Krishna’s Disk.

    Though Krishna vowed not to bear arms in the mahabharata War, he became angry at the rate Bhishma was killing the Pandava Sena, He bore the Disk on His hand .

    As Bhishma Bowed and prayed Krishna reminding subtly that He had vowed not to bear arms Krishna withdrew it.

    3.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.

    This was used by all the warriors in the War.

    4.The elephant/hathi goad or Ankusa (Sanskrit) .

    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.

    5.Kandiva, the Bow of Arjuna.

    This was given to him by Agni after Ajuna allowed Agni(Fire) to devour the Kandava Forest.

    This was kept in the custody of Varuna.

    Beside Lord Krishna no one except Arjuna could wield the bow in the mortal world.

    6.Khatvanga is a long, club or staff 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.

    7.Narayanastra.

    One of the three Great weapons of Mass destruction, others being Brahmastra, Pasupatastra, Narayanstra would destroy anything and the only way to escape its wrath is to drop all the weapons and prostrate before it.

    Aswathama used it unsuccessfully and under instructions from Krishna Arjuna had it withdrawn.

    8.Brahmastra-Though not used in the Mahabharata war, it is one of the Great weapons.

    Please read my post on this.

    9.Pasupathstra.

    Though this was obtained by Arjuna from Lord Shiva, Karna from Parasurama, Arjuna did not have the occasion to use this and Karna could not as he

    was cursed to forget the launching Mantra, by Parasurama.

    10.Aindra astra:
    Presiding Deity: Indra, the god of weather
    Weapon’s Effect: Would bring about a shower of arrows from the sky.

    Used by both the sides.

    11.Varunasta.

    Presiding Deity,Varuna, Water.

    This will ensure heavy downpour.

    12.Vayvastra,

    Presiding Deity, Vayu, God of Wind.

    This will create uncontrollable winds.

    13.Vasvi astra: A deadly weapon like Pasupata.

    Karna used this.

    14.Vajra: Indra’s favorite weapon.
    Arjuna used this.

    15.Indrastra.

    A powerful missile used to scatter the opposing army.
    Users. Arjuna,Drona, Ashwatthama, Yudhishthira.

    16.

    Naga astra:
    Presiding Deity: The Nagas
    Weapon’s Effect: The weapon would have an un-erring aim and take on the form of a snake, proving deadly upon impact.

    Karna used this unsuccessfully against Arjuna.

    Krishna saved Arjuna from its wrath.

    Apart from these traditional weapons like Sword, Spear, Bows and Arrows, Gada, Dagger were used.

    Citation.

    http://thekarna.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/ancient-weapons/

    http://www.chakranews.com/powerful-spiritual-and-physical-weapons-from-ancient-hindu-texts/2762p

    Image Credit.

    http://mahabharathascience.blogspot.in/p/weapons-of-mass-destruction.html

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  • Brahmastra Invocation Mantra Other Astras.

    Brahmastra was a weapon used by the ancient Hindus  in war.

    It is very powerful and it can not be countered.

    There are two more Astras of this Kind.

    Effect of Brahmastra.Image.jpg.
    Effect of Brahmastra.Image Credit. http://protectacow.typepad.com/

    The Paupatastra and the Narayanastra.

    The Brahmastra has Lord Brahma as the presiding deity.

    Pasupathastra Lord Shiva and the Narayanastra Lord Narayana.

    As for as I read the texts, while there is no mention of Pasupathastra being fired except in One instance,

    According to Kurma Puran, in the battle between the Purusha and demonic forces, Narasimha avatar escapes a powerful weapon called Pashupata.

    It returned without causing any harm since it can be used only to uphold Dharma.

    The Mantra for invoking the Pasupathastra was sealed by Lord Shiva to prevent misuse in Kaliyug.

    This is the weapon of Lord Shiva and Kali.

    Arjuna got this from Shiva and did not use it in the Mahabharata war.

    Karna was cursed by Parashurama to the effect that he would forget the Invoking Mantra because he lied to Parashurama that he (Karna) was a Brahmin.

    The Narayanastra was used by Aswathama in the Mahabharata war at Arjuna after Aswathama’s father Drona was killed.

    The Narayanastra is also unstoppable.

    Lord Krishna advised all those who were present to drop all their arms and prostrate before it.

    They did so, it did not harm them and instead started destroying the Universe, because Aswathama did not know how to recall it.

    Narada advised him to offer a target for it and Aswathama offered his Precious jewel on this head.

    For this irresponsible act, Aswathama was cursed by Narada to become Immortal and be wandering in the forest alone.

    What is the Mantra to invoke the Brahmastra?

    It is the Gayatri Mantra, intoned in a specific way.

    It is by altering the sound waves in the Ether that the Brahmastra got its potency.

    Sound is referred to as the “Nada Brahma” or the divine sound, that is to say, in abstraction too there is a connection with the divine.

    There are two types of sound: un-struck/un-heard sound and struck/heard sound.

    Un-struck sound is a vibration of ether, the upper or purer air near the celestial realm.

    The enlightened yogis seek the unstruck sound called “Anaahata Nada”, and only they can hear it.

    The struck sound or “Aahata Nada”, is the vibration of air in the lower atmosphere closer to the earth.

    It is any sound that we hear in nature or man-made sounds, musical, and non-musical.

    So to release Brahmastra it’s the Anahata sound which is used to chant Gayatri and not the normal Aahata sound which we use for puja.

    Stephen Knapp writes.

    A key point in this regard is the ancient use of mantras, as already mentioned earlier. Not only could certain results be attained by the proper use of vibrations in sounds, but even today the use of particular mantras are known for calming the mind, lowering blood pressure, relieving one from unnecessary anxieties by changing one’s focus in life, and so on. It is also understood that certain mantras and prayers, such as the chanting of the spiritual names of God, bring to one the transcendental vibration of the spiritual world from where it comes. This means it is like a conductor, bringing the spiritual energy and frequencies that come from the transcendental strata. One of the classic mantras for this use is the Hare Krishna mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare). Experiments have already been performed that show the changes in those who regularly use this mantra. Plus, sages of India have used this mantra successfully for centuries in order to reach spiritual states of being.

    Thus, by absorbing one’s consciousness in the sound vibration of these names of God, it will do several things, such as alter and improve the electrical impulses that are generated by the body, and help defend oneself from the negative impulses that one may encounter. In this way, it helps create a peaceful attitude within the individual and a healthier disposition. It also prepares one’s consciousness for perceiving higher levels of reality, opens one up to the spiritual world, gradually reveals one’s true spiritual identity, which would also allow one to see the unity between all people. It also harmonizes one’s existence with nature, and even begins to rekindle one’s real relationship with the Supreme Soul, God. Once the higher vibration of the spiritual realm is invoked on a regular basis in this way, and is opened for its use among the people in general, the chances for world change become enormous.

    More on how sound can kill at Stephen Knapp’s site provided below.

    Citations.

    http://adhyatmikasampada.blogspot.in/2010/02/14-understanding-brahmastra-physical.html

    Frequencies can kill. by Stephen Knapp

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