2607:FEA8:9359:B5B0:D0DD:52C8:B7AC:D6E9 at 02:13, 29 October 2022

2022-10-29T02:13:12Z

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'''''{{IAST|Asi}}''''' ([[Hindi]]: असि) appears as a personification of the first weapon ever created according to [[Hindu]] epics. 'Asi' means 'sword'. A legend concerning ''Asi'' appears in the Shantiparva section of [[Mahabharata]].<ref name="Asi the weapon of Lord Brahma">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a165.htm | title=Sword of Drona | access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref> In [[Rigvedic Sanskrit]] Asi is still used as a term for a kind of sacrificial dagger or knife.<ref name=khadaga1>Rocky Pendergrass, 2015,[https://books.google.com/books?id=3twNCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=kha%E1%B8%8Dga+or+khanda+is+sword&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQlY_u5orbAhVZU30KHYWKBRMQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=kha%E1%B8%8Dga%20or%20khanda%20is%20sword&f=false Mythological Swords], Page 10.</ref> The common term for [[sword]] in [[Classical Sanskrit]] is ''{{IAST|khaḍga}}'' and [[Khanda (sword)|khanda]] in Hindi.<ref name=khadaga1/>

==Frame narrative==
Out of curiosity [[Nakula]], the fourth son of [[Pandu]] and the master of [[swordsmanship]] questioned the [[The Kurus|Kuru]] Grandsire [[Bhishma]] on his arrow death bed as to which was the best [[weapon]] in all kinds of fighting. In his own personal views Nakula thought the sword to be the most superior since even on having lost one's bow, horse and the chariot, a skillful swordsman could still defend himself against the [[Gada (mace)|mace]] and [[spear]] wielders. Nakula further queried the Grand-sire about the origin and purpose of the [[Khanda (sword)|Khadga]] as well as about its first [[acharya]] ("teacher, preceptor").

Gladdened by these intelligent queries by Nakula, Bhishma related to him the complete ''Itihaasa'' (Sanskrit term for 'History') of the Khadga or "divine sword" starting from its creation down to the present.

===Creation of ''Asi''===
The [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] approached [[Brahma]], the creator of the universe, in ancient time and protested against the unjust rule and evil doings of the demons ([[Danava (Hinduism)|Danavas]] namely [[Asura]]'s who had giant build).
Hearing the protest from the Gods, Brahma collected sacrificial objects and proceeded to perform a grand [[sacrifice]] with the foremost of the [[Rishis]] and Devas at the side of [[Himalaya]].

During the course of the sacrifice, a dreadful creature sprang from the midst of the sacrificial fires scattering flames all around. It was as though a [[moon]] had arisen in the midst of the stars. He was coloured like a deep-blue [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]]. His teeth were sharp and terrible, stomach lean and skinny and stature very tall and slim. He was of exceeding energy and power. Simultaneously the earth started shaking, there were turmoils in the oceans, the forceful winds started howling all around, the trees started falling and being torn apart and the [[meteor]]s started blazing through the skies, Brahma declared

{{Cquote|The 'being' I have conceived is ''Asi''. It shall effect the destruction of the enemies of the gods and restore the [[Dharma]]|Brahma to Sages|}}

Upon this, the creature assumed the form of a blazing sharp-edged sword, glowing like flames. This sword was the primordial weapon created by the Gods for the destruction of evil. The name of the sword was Asi, the personification and the primary energy behind all weapons ever created. As per [[Bhishma]], the constellation under which the sword was born is Krittika, [[Agni]] is its deity, Rohini is its Gotra, [[Rudra]] is its high preceptor and whoever holds this weapon obtains sure victory and have absolute power over any weapon ever created since asi is the primordial source of energy behind all weapons.<ref name="Asi the weapon of Lord Brahma"/>

===Succession of wielders of ''Asi''===
Lord Brahma gave that sword to Lord [[Shiva]] and requested him to put down the sinners and evil-doers and restore the Dharma (righteousness). Lord Shiva assuming his terrible form, took up the sword and started the war against the Danava's, the enemies of the Deva's. The earth became miry with flesh and blood of [[Daitya]]s and he destroyed the entire community of Daityas.

Lord Shiva gave the sword to Lord [[Vishnu]]. On course of time Vishnu gave it to [[Marichi]], Marichi gave it to all the great Rishis. The latter gave it to Vasava. Vasava gave it to the Regents of the world. The Regents gave that sword to [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]] the son of [[Surya]]. In time Manu installed his own son Kshupa in the sovereignty of all creatures and gave him the sword for their protection. From Kshupa it was taken by [[Ikshvaku (Hinduism)|Ikshvaku]] and from Ikshvaku by Pururavas. From Pururavas it was taken by Ayus and from Ayus by Nahusha. From Nahusha it was taken by Yayati and from Yayati by Puru. From [[King Puru|Puru]] it was taken by Amurtarya. From Amurtarya it descended to Bhumisaya. From Bhumisaya it was taken by [[Dushyanta]]'s son [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]]. From Bharata it was taken by the righteous Ailavila. From Ailavila it was taken by king Dhundumara. From Dhundumara it was taken by Kamvoja, and from Kamvoja it was taken by [[Muchukunda]], from Muchukunda it was taken by Marutta and from Marutta by Raivata. From Raivata it was taken by Yuvanaswa and from Yuvanaswa by [[Raghu]]. From Raghu it was taken by Harinaswa. From Harinaswa the sword was taken by Sunaka and from Sunaka by the righteous-souled Usinara. From the last it was taken by the Bhojas and the [[Yadu]]s. From the Yadus it was taken by Sivi. From Sivi it descended to Pratardana of [[Varanasi|Kashi]] . From Pratardana it was received by Ashtaka and from Ashtaka by Prishadaswa. From Prishadaswa it was received by [[Bharadvaja]] and from [[Bharadvaja]] his son [[Drona]] obtained this weapon. [[Drona]] used this weapon in the famous [[Kurukshetra war]] described in the epic [[Mahabharata]]. Drona become unconquerable in [[Kurukshetra war]] because he held this primordial weapon.

After the death of Drona it was taken by [[Kripacharya]]. Kripacharya gifted this sword to [[Nakula]] and from Nakula it went to [[Parikshit]] and from Parikshit it went to [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]]. From Janamejaya it went to his son Satanika. Satanika, who studied the Vedas under Yajnyawalkya and military science from Kripacharya become dissatisfied with sensual enjoyments and obtained spiritual knowledge from the instructions of Saunaka and ultimately obtained salvation. The sword again went back to [[Kripacharya]] for safe keeping till the return of the rightful owner of this weapon, [[Dronacharya]]'s son [[Ashwatthama]].

==See also==
* [[Asigarh Fort]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m12/m12a165.htm Mahabharata Sword ]
*[https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0226252507&id=kp4x3E3FzQ8C&pg=PA586&lpg=PA586&dq=Sword+kamboja&sig=8kSrzi6b_Pm62COOKHwM8RONVTA The Mahabharata: Book 11: The Book of Peace, Part 1, edited by James L Fitzgerald]
*[https://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC03069768&id=sSjpKWS4dR8C&pg=RA1-PR58&lpg=RA1-PR58&dq=Sword+kamboja Durga Puja, pp lviii–lix, Pratāpacandra Ghosha]

{{Hindu deities and texts}}
{{Notable swords}}

[[Category:Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Weapons in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:South Asian swords]]
[[Category:Indian swords]]
[[Category:Mythological swords]]

Asi Mahabharata - Revision history

2607:FEA8:9359:B5B0:D0DD:52C8:B7AC:D6E9 at 02:13, 29 October 2022