The Astras

BY: SUN STAFF - 12.1 2017

Sudarshana-chakra

 A survey of transcendental weaponry.

According to the Vedas, there are more than 3,300 unique weapons possessed by various incarnations of the Lord and the demigods. Each of these transcendental weapons is presided over by a particular deity, and sastra describes many pastimes in which the weapons are bestowed by the controlling deity for someone's use in battle. For example, Lord Shiva gave Arjuna use of his Pashupati-astra, after Arjuna performed tapas in order to get the boon.

The astras are used to fight in the countless battles that go on between the demigods and the asuras. On some occasions, the super-weapons are given as a boon to very devout asuras or rakshasas, who perform austerities in order to get them.

Among the most celebrated of all divine weaponry are Sri Krsna's Sudarshan-chakra, Lord Brahma's Brahma-astra, Lord Siva's Pashupati-astra, and Lord Visnu's Vaishnava-astra. Lord Indra has his famous Indra-astra and Vajra thunderbolts, like the Hirany-astra, similar to Siva's lightening-bolt weapons.

Mention is found in the Puranas of the Asura-astra, Pramohana-astra, Devi-astra, Shakti-astra, Trishul, Garuda-astra, Varuna-astra and Chakra-astra. The Marut-astra was the astra of the Maruts, and Agni-astra, belonged to Bhairava and Shakti.

Lord Krsna, in each of His limitless incarnations and expansions, has many different astras, each with its own specific empowerments. Lord Visnu's Narayana-astra can be used only once when invoked in war, against one particular enemy. Some astras will return to their original owner once used, like Lord Rama's use of the Narayana-astra in His battle with Ravana. That same astra was later used by the son of Dronacharya, Ashwattama, in battle against the Kauravas at Kurukshetra.

Deva Holding a Golden Vajra, Lord Indra's Celestial Weapon
Other paraphernalia (clockwise): shakti vel, cudgel, sword, noose, flag, mace, chakra, umbrella, and trishula

Some astras have very specific purposes and realms of use, like the Vidyastra, a weapon of intellect, and the Virajaya-astra, a weapon for victory. The Agneya-astra was used to invoke fire upon the enemy, while the Varunastra is used to manifest water, to fight fire. The Naga-astra brings forth a torrent of poisonous snakes.

Over the course of this series, we will explore many of these transcendental weapons, beginning tomorrow with Lord Siva's fearsome Pasupati-astra.