DIVINE WEAPONS

 HERE ARE GIVEN SOME OF THE DIVINE WEAPONS USED IN ANCIENT HINDU TEXTS.

·        Ankusha (also Elephant Goad) - An elephant goad is one of the eight auspicious objects known as Astamangala. Ankusha is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha.

·        Balachita - The Halayudha, is a plough used as a weapon by Balaram, brother of Krishna.

·        Chentu - A horse whip which looks like a crooked stick, and is a typical attribute of Aiyanar, Krishna in his aspect as Rajagopala, and Shiva with Nandi.

Danda ·      Brahmadanda - The rod of Brahma (also known as Meru-danda).  The Brahmadanda is capable of nullifying the effects of any divine weapon, no matter how destructive.  If hurled, the impact of this weapon is excruciatingly lethal to even the celestials. ·      Kaladanda - the staff of Death is a special and lethal club used by the God Yama or God of Naraka or Hell in Hinduism.  It was the ultimate weapon; once fired it would kill anybody before it no matter what boons he had to protect himself. ·      Kankaalam - The deadly Pounder weapons that are wielded by demons ·        Kankanam - Weapons that are wielded by demons, Rod for the elimination of those very demons. ·        Kapaalam - Weapons that are wielded by demons, Rod for the elimination of those very demons ·        Khaṭvāṅga - In Hinduism, the god Shiva - Rudra carried the khatvāṅga as a staff weapon and are thus referred to as khatvāṅgīs. ·      Saunanda - The mushala (cylindrical rod), weapon of Balaram. Gada ·      Ekasha Gada - The mace of Lord Shiva. A blow from the weapon is the equivalent of being hit by a million elephants. ·      Gada - the main weapon of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, son of Añjanā. ·      Kaumodaki - Kaumodaki is the gada (mace) of the Hindu god Vishnu ·      Mace of Bhima - It was presented by Mayasura. It was used by Danavas King Vrishaparva. ·      Modaki Mace - The Beater mace ·        Shibika (a club) - The weapon of Kubera, god of wealth. ·      Shikhari Mace - The tower of Protection mace Khaḍga ·      Aruval - Tamils revere the weapon, a type of billhook, as a symbol of Karupannar.  ·      Asi (also Sword of Drona) - a legendary sword in Hinduism. ·      Chandrahas - Sword of Lord Shiva.  The divine sword Chandrahas (literally the laughter of the moon but referring to the shape formed by a crescent moon which resembles a smile)  was given to Ravana by Lord Shiva, who was pleased by Ravana's intense devotion. Ravana gave this sword to Indrajit on different occasions especially to fight against Devas. ·      Girish - A special sword of Shiva with unique characteristics. ·      Indra Kaakam - The sword of Indra; having a crescent shaped tip. ·      Khanda - The khanda is a symbol of Shiva. Khanda often appears in Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh scriptures and art. ·      Kharga - The Sword of Kali, which slaughters demons indiscriminately and without mercy. ·      Nandaka - Is the sword of the Hindu god, Vishnu. ·      Nistrimsha - The sword of Pradyumna, son of Krishna. ·      Pattayudha - The divine sword of Lord Virabhadra, commander of Lord Shiva's Armies. Parashu ·      Parashu - The parashu is an Indian battle-axe. It is generally wielded with two hands but could also be used with only one.  It is depicted as the primary weapon of Parashurama. ·      Sakthi - A Hatchet-like weapon, seen in Ganesha's iconography. ·      Tanka - The axe of Indra, God of thunder. Pasha ·      Dharma Paasha - The pasha of Lord Dharma. ·      Ganesha Paasha - The pasha of Ganesha. ·      Kaala Paasha - The pasha of Time. ·      Naga Pasha - Pasha of The Nagas.  Upon impact, this weapon would bind the target in the coils of living venomous snakes. ·      Shiva Parham - A long noose (of Shiva) from which even the Gods can't escape from. ·      Varuna Paasha - Pasha of Varuna, god of water. Can hook any beings be they Deva, Asura or human.  Impossible to escape from the hook of this weapon. ·      Yama Paasha - Pasha of Yama, god of death. It arrests and plucks out the life force of any living being.  Except for the Trimurti's, no being can escape from this weapon. Shula ·      Vel - Vel is a divine javelin (spear) associated with the Hindu war god Murugan. It is foremost of all weapons in Hinduism.  Adi shakti herself turned to vel and rested in hands of Murugan when he was about to encounter Surapadman, the mightiest of all demons.  No astra or weapon is its equal as it adishakti herself who is power source of all Hindu gods. ·      Jayantha Vel - A spear which contains the power of the third eye of Lord Shiva. ·      Trident of Madhu - It was given as a boon by Shiva to Madhu, a Rakshasa.  Then he gave it to his son Lavanasura. It was a very powerful weapon.  It destroys anyone who directly fights with its master. ·      Trishula - The trident of Shiva, stylized by some as used as a missile weapon and often included a crossed stabilizer to facilitate flight when thrown.  Considered to be the most powerful weapon. Astra  ·      Agneyastra - The weapon discharged would emit flames inextinguishable through normal means. ·      Astra (Sanskrit: अस्त्र) is a supernatural weapon, presided over by a specific deity.  Later it 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}).   The bearer of the weapon is called Astradhari (Sanskrit: अस्त्रधारी). ·      Brahmanda Astra - It is said in the epic Mahabharata that the weapon manifests with the all five heads of Lord Brahma as its tip.  Brahma earlier lost his fifth head when he fought with Lord Shiva.  This weapon is said to possess the power to destroy entire solar system or Brahmand, the 14 realms according to Hindu cosmology. ·      Brahmashirsha Astra - It is thought that the Brahmashirsha Astra is the evolution of the Brahmastra, and 4 times stronger than Brahmastra.  The weapon manifests with the four heads of Lord Brahma as its tip.  When it strikes an area it will cause complete destruction and nothing will grow not even a blade of grass, for the next 12 years.  It will not rain for 12 years in that area, and everything including metal and earth become poisoned. ·      Brahmastra - 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 counterattack nor a defense that could stop it. ·      Indraastra - Would bring about a rain of arrows from the sky. ·      Narayanastra - The personal missile of Vishnu in his Narayana or Naraina form. ·      Pashupatastra - An irresistible and most destructive personal weapon of Shiva and Kali, discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow. ·      Samvarta Astra - Weapon belonging to Yama. Used by Emperor Bharata to annihilate thirty million gandharvas in a moment, tearing them to pieces. ·      Vaishnavastra - The most powerful weapon of Lord Vishnu - capable of destroying hurled against anything. It is fastest astra.  Both vaishnavatra and narayanastra are same but narayanastra can hit many targets this is for single target. ·      Varunastra - A water weapon (a storm) according to the Indian scriptures, incepted by Varuna. In stories it is said to assume any weapon's shape, just like water.  This weapon is commonly mentioned as being used to counter the Agneyastra. Dhanush & Shara ·      Ājagava - The bow of Rājā Māndātā and Pŗthu. ·      Arrow of Brahma - The arrow given by the sage Agastya to Rama and was used to kill Ravana. ·      Arrow of Shiva - It can destroy creation. Returns to the quiver after being used. ·        Gandiva (also called Ājagava) - created by Brahma and given by Varuna to Arjuna on Agni's request and used by Arjuna in Mahabharat.  Gandiva has 108 divine strings. ·      Govardhana - A powerful bow of Vishnu. During the Mahabharata, Vishnu gave Vidura this bow. ·      Indra's dart (also Vasavi Shakti) - Vasavi Shakti was used by Karna against Ghatotkacha in the Mahabharata war. ·      Kaundinya's bow - A magic bow wielded by the Brahman Kaundinya I, who used it to make the Nāga princess Soma fall in love with him.  ·      Kodandam - Rama's bow. ·      Pinaka or (Shiva's bow), also called Ājagava - The great bow of Shiva, arrows fired from the bow could not be intercepted.  The bow given by Shiva to Janaka as it was broken already by shiva as it couldn't handle his masculinity and remaining broken by Rama during Sita's swayamvara. ·      Pushpa Dhanu - The bow of Kama, God of love; made of sugarcane with a string of honeybees. ·      Pushpa Shar - The floral arrows of Kama ·      Sharanga - the bow of the Hindu God Vishnu ·      Sharkha - The bow of Krishna, 8th avatar of Vishnu. ·      Teen Baan - Shiva gave Barbarika three infallible arrows (Teen Baan).  A single arrow was enough to destroy all opponents in any war, and it would then return to Barbarika's quiver. ·      Vijaya Dhanush (also Shiv Dhanush) - Karna possessed this bow which was given by Lord Parashurama. Chakra ·      Danda Chakra - The punisher chakra. ·      Dharma Chakra - The virtue chakra. ·        Indra Chakra - The chakra of Indra ·      Kaal Chakra - The Time chakra, renders the enemy in a piteous state; full with magical powers. ·      Maheshwara Chakra - The Chakra of Lord Shiva. ·      Sudarshana Chakra - The legendary discus of Vishnu, which cannot be stopped by anyone, except by Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.  It has tremendous occult and spiritual powers, by which it is able to destroy anything. ·      Vishnu Chakra - It first sparkles with cosmic radiance, revolves with one lakh revolutions per foot. Vajra ·      Shiva Vajra - A vajra 100 times more powerful than Indra's Vajra ·      Indra's Thunderbolt - A lightning thunderbolt wielded by Indra, called vajra.