One of the three Great weapons of Mass destruction, others being Brahmastra, Pasupatasta, 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Aswathama used it unsuccessfully and under instructions from Krishna Arjuna had it withdrawn.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.
Then, on staying that night there in Tataka forest, on the next day morning the greatly renowned sage Vishvamitra, smilingly and wording sweetly spoke to Rama. “I am highly pleased with you, oh, illustrious prince Rama, let safety be with you, I will now give you all of the divine missiles in utmost fondness of mine. I am going to accord all of those divine missiles by which scores of gods, demons, or even from gandharva-s, uragaa-s and the like, or even earthlings are dominated, humbled down and conquered in war. Let safety be with you.
“Raghava, I am going to give the highly divine Danda disc [Punisher disc]; next, oh, best one among men, Dharma disc [Virtue-disc,] and like that kaala disc [Time-disc]; then oh, brave one, Vishnu disc; similarly oh, dextrous Rama, Indra disc and Thunderbolt missile; the best trident pertaining to Shiva; the missile called Brahma-shira [Brahma-crest]; the missile called the Aishiika missile [Grass-Blade missile,] and that way oh, Raghava, I am going to give the unexcelled and highly formidable missile called Brahma missile.
AiSiika missile is dried blade of grass, which by invoking with hymns will become a projectile weapon. Rama uses on Kakasura. In Mahaa Bharata Ashvadhaama also uses this at the final stage of war, which Krishna nullifies.
“Oh manly tiger prince Rama, I am going to accord two maces that are brilliant by their radiance called, the Modaki, [the Beater,] and Shikhari, [the Tower of Protection.] Oh, Rama, like that I will be giving three nooses called Dharma paasha and kaala-paasha and Varuna paasha, [Virtue noose and Time noose, Rain god’s noose] as well as an unequalled missile called Varuna astra, Rain-god’s missile.
“Oh, Raghu’s scion, I will also give two projectile bolts, one called shushka, [The Drier] and the other aardra, [The Drencher,] and even the missiles of Pinaaka and that of Narayana, [the missiles of god Shiva and Narayana,] I will give. Oh, impeccable Rama, thus a well-known missile shikhari [The Tower,] and another the fond of Fire-god known as prathama [The Blower,] and a missile of Air-god too, I will be giving.
“Oh, Raghava of Kakutstha-s, I will give you two missiles named Haya-shira [The Horse-head] and Krouncha [The Wrester,] and two Impellers, one presided over by the power of Vishnu, and the other by the power of Rudra. I will be giving all those weapons that are wielded by demons, namely the deadly Pounder named Kankaalam, and Rods named as Kapaalam and Kankanam, for the elimination of those very demons.
“Oh, mighty armed son of the best king, I am giving a great missile named Vaidyadhara by its name, and a gem of sword named Nandana. Thus, the missile which is very much liked by Gandharva-s, namely Mohana, [The Stupefier,] the missile called Prasvapana [The Inducer of Sleep,] and the gentle Prashamana, [The Pacifier of enemy’s anger.]
“Oh, highly fortunate Rama, takes these missiles namely, varshaNa, [the Rainer,] shoshana [the Drainer,] santaapana [the Humidifier,] vilaapana [the Weep-inducer,] and oh, prince, an unassailable intoxicator and a dear missile of Manmatha, namely Mohana [The Intoxicator,] and another the fond missile of gandharva-s namely maanava by its name, [The Humane missile,] and oh, tigerly man, a missile dear one to pishaaca-s, monsters, namely paishaca [The Monster missile.]
“Oh, manly-tiger Rama, greatly powered taamasa and saumana missiles, the indomitable missiles like samvarta, mausala, satya, and then the maaya-maya missile; like that oh, mighty armed Rama, a solar missile the sequestrator of others’ brilliance namely teja-prabha; next, the missile of Moon-god named shishira [The Cooler]; and a very deadly missile of tvaSTa namely sudaamana; and even the dangerous missile of bhaga namely shita-iSu, these and the maanava missile of Manu, the earliest ruler of mankind, I will be giving.
“These missiles are, oh, dextrous prince, disguise-wizards, greatly powered, and highly providential ones, oh, Rama, you may take them forthwith.” So said sage Vishvamitra to Rama.
That pre-eminent sage Vishvamitra on performing his personal holy depuration then gave the assortment of extraordinary hymns to Rama facing eastward. The comprehension of which invoking hymns of the missiles is impossible even to gods with their sections and subsections of procedures, that Brahman dedicated such hymns to Raghava.
While that intelligent saint Vishvamitra chanted the hymns, all of those highly venerable missiles came nigh and stood accessible to Raghava in their astral form. All of those highly obliging missiles in astral bodies, gladdening to come under the aegis of Rama, then spoke to him making palms-fold, “here are your thralls, Sire, we are here to accomplish whatever you bid us to do, let safety be with you.” So said the deities presiding over the missiles to Rama.
On receiving them with a pleased heart, then Rama patted them with his palm, and that Rama of Kakutstha-s also spoke this way to those mightily forceful missiles in ethereal bodies saying, “you may manifest yourselves in my cognisance whenever I need you,” and he motivated them to take leave and to come back at his beck and call.
That highly resplendent Rama revered sage Vishvamitra with a thankful heart and readied himself for further journey.
The nature of some astra-s – missiles
There are some verses that depict the nature of these astra-s. A few of them are given under. Though we may not actually acquire a projectile power with these verses, they may at least detail what these missiles are. The source of these verses is untraceable, but they are said to be in puraaNaa-s, and Shiva informs Sage Narada, about the missiles as below:
“It contains air, fire and cosmic poison, two goat-like fangs, full of poison, weighty, emits air, contains mercury, fiery, sparkling, sky is filled with air, enemy killing greatly radiant and it is projected with three hymn, Gayatri at its centre, it is known as brahma-astra…”
“Renders a piteous state, with magical powers, ending in air, and water filled, ends in craters with fire, generates fire and and it is known as Time disc…”
viÿõu cakram
t˜ra p¨rvam ca h®dayam bh˜gy˜t antau vana ˜dima× |
caõýŸþa yukta ˜ÿ˜ýha tŸvra tejasa iti api |
pary˜yam lakÿa saðkhy˜y˜× ˜reti ca padam tata× |
bhŸÿayeti api vaktavyam viÿõu cakram idam vidu× ||
“It first sparkles …with cosmic holes…high degree radiance, with one lakh revolutions per foot, very panicking is its projection…”
I have written articles on the weapons , including WMD, used in ancient India.
There were two types.
Sastra , the physical weapons, like Sword,Mace, Arrows.. and
Brahmastra Design I
Astra, the ones that carry weapons of Mass Destruction on the one hand and another devastating the enemy and his land with specific calamity Like Fire, Rain, Storms and psychological variety like Mohanastra which renders people unconscious, and Sammohanatsra which leaves one confused.
Three Astras are most potent.
They are,
Brahmastra,
Pasupathastra and
Narayanastra.
And there is a very rare Brahmasiroastra.
Please read may articles on each.
I have also provided a detailed list of Astras and the Invocation Mantra for Brahmastra.
Brahmastra is believed to be an Atom Bomb and Brahma Sirastra a Neutron Bomb,
About ancient atomic explosions Oppenheimer stated that “In ancient India, we find words for certain measurements of length, one was the distance of light-years and one was the length of the atom. Only a society that possessed nuclear energy would have the need for such words.”..
Historian Kisai Mohan Ganguli says that Indian sacred writings are full of such descriptions which sound like an atomic blast as experienced in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He says references mention fighting sky chariots and final weapons. An ancient battle is described in the Drona Parva, a section of Mahabharata. “The passage tells of combat where explosions of final weapons decimate entire armies, causing crowds of warriors with steeds and elephants and weapons to be carried away as if they were dry leaves of trees,” says Ganguli.
Consider these verses from the ancient epic Mahabharata,
““A single projectile charged with all the power of the universe. An incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as the thousand suns rose in its entire splendor. A perpendicular explosion with its billowing smoke clouds. The cloud of smoke rising after its explosion formed into expanding round circles like the opening of giant parasols. It was unknown weapon, an ironic thunderbolt, A gigantic messenger of death, which reduced to ashes.
The Devastating Power of a Nuclear Bomb.
Entire race of the Virshins and the Andhakas were destroyed. The corpses were so burned as to be unrecognizable. The hair and nails fell out, pottery broke without apparent cause,And the birds turned white. After a few hours all foodstuffs were infected. To escape from this fire the soldiers threw themselves in streams to wash themselves and their equipment.” Until the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, modern mankind could not imagine any weapon as horrible and devastating as those described in ancient Indian texts. Yet they very accurately described the effects of atomic explosion which is not possible unless they have experienced a similar one those days. Radioactive poisoning will make hair and nails fall out. Immersing oneself in water gives some respite, though it is not a cure.’
There are some verses that depict the nature of these astra-s. A few of them are given under. Though we may not actually acquire a projectile power with these verses, they may at least detail what these missiles are. The source of these verses is untraceable, but they are said to be in puraaNaa-s, and Shiva informs Sage Narada, about the missiles as below:
“It contains air, fire and cosmic poison, two goat-like fangs, full of poison, weighty, emits air, contains mercury, fiery, sparkling, sky is filled with air, enemy-killing, greatly radiant and it is projected with three hymns, Gayatri at its centre, it is known as brahma-astra’
Citation and source for sloka for Bala Kanda Of Valmiki Ramayana Sarga 27 foot note
While Sastras denote conventional weapons like Bow and Arrow,Mace(Gatha)`,Swords of different type…, Astra denote weapons that are energized by Mantras.
Some of these Astras do not any supportive conventional weapon like Bow and Arrow.
Mere uttering of the words will do.
Another type is the one used frequently in Indian legends are the Astras that are used with a bow and arrow simultaneously reciting the Mantra ascribed to the Arrow.
These weapons are to be learnt from a Guru.
The Bow, Dhanus and the Arrows are to be worshiped daily.
Only then they will be effective.
Important fact is that the user must be spiritually inclined and should have attained the status of an effective Sadhaka.
When a Sadhaka meditates and raises his Kundalini (Brahmastra in this context), it derives energy from his base chakra (Mooladhara) and propels upwards.
Then, it penetrates through 5 other chakras deriving energies from each of them at every stage.
Finally it hits the target : Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) and explodes there with a brilliance.
That explosion annihilates all “Illusion(Maaya)“, and leaves the sadhaka with the debris called as “Aham Brahmasmi (I’m Brahma)” feeling.
Otherwise the Astra will not be effective.
It is true that even well-developed Sadhakas turn bad morally, like Ravana.
The Astra will still be effective because of the spiritual efforts involved in obtaining the Astra.
Brahmastra is an Ultimate weapon.
It is energized by chanting Gayatri Mantra by chanting it in a certain way.
Brahmastra leaves destruction all around, including the environment.
How to chant the Brahmastra Mantra, I have explained in one of my earlier posts .
How the Mantras affect weather, bring rainfall, produce heat, change thoughts in human minds around us, control animals and birds are explained thus,
“It contains air, fire and cosmic poison, two goat-like fangs, full of poison, weighty, emits air, contains mercury, fiery, sparkling, sky is filled with air, enemy killing greatly radiant and it is projected with three hymn, Gayatri at its centre, it is known as brahmastra”(Ahirbudhnya Samhita of the Pancharatra Agama volume1)
The counter Astra to Brahmastra is called the BrahmaSirōnāmāstra, which was never used in war, as it had power equivalent to (Brahmāstra),representing 4 heads of Brahma and in Mahabharata war, it was known only to Dronacharya, Aswatthama, Arjuna and Karna.
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