Week 10 Storylab: Project Research

 

Source

 

Weapons of the Gods: Astra

Vaishnayastra - Vishnu the Preserver

Would destroy target completely, irrespective of target's nature. Infallible. Had to be obtained from Lord Vishnu directly. The only counter to this weapon was to invoke another Vaishnavastra to counter the attacking Vaishnavastra or for the presiding deity of the Vaishnavastra to stop the Vaishnavastra. In Mahabharata era Bhagadatta, Krishna had this weapon. Bhagadatta used this weapon on Arjuna but Krishna stood up before Arjuna to retrieve the weapon. Sri Rama used this weapon to destroy the energy of Bharghava Rama.

Narayanastra - Vishnu the Preserver

Would create showers of arrows and discs. The astra's power would increase with the resistance offered to it. This weapon had to be obtained from the Narayana form Vishnu directly, and could be used only once. It is one of the most powerful weapons of Hindu mythology. ^[15]

Any attempt of invoking it a second time would rebound back on user and his troops. In Mahabharata era, Lord Vishnu in Narayana form blessed Drona with this weapon . Drona as presented this astra to his son Ashwatthama. In Mahabharata war Ashwatthama used this weapon against Pandava army after the death of Drona.^[16] It destroyed one Akshauhini of Pandava army.The only way to escape is total submission before the weapon, which prompts this weapon to spare the target as stated by Krishna. When it was used, Ekadasha (Eleven) Rudras appear in the sky to destroy the targets. Millions of types of weapons like Chakra, Gadha, ultra sharp arrows appeared in rage to destroy the target. Who ever tries to resist it will be destroyed. 

 

 

Pashupatastra - Shiva the Destroyer

One of the most powerful weapons among all the astras. Every time it was summoned, its head would never be the same. It summons a larger number of monsters and a huge spirit which personifies the weapon. Would destroy target completely, irrespective of target's nature. This Astra was capable to destroy whole world. In Dvapara Yuga, only Arjuna possessed Pashupatastra.^[21] In Treta Yuga, sage Vishwamitra possessed this weapon ^[22]

 

Bibliography:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_f3YXGGuA

https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/ancientman/1054.html

https://www.jstor.org/stable/24663434?seq=1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashupatastra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmastra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayanastra

https://www.mysteryofindia.com/2014/08/myth-of-ancient-nuclear-war.html