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{{Short description|Weapon of mass destruction in Hindu mythology}}
{{About||the film|Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2017
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In [[Hindu mythology]], the '''''Brahmastra''''' ([[IAST]]: ''Brahmāstra'') is an ''[[Astra (weapon)|astra]]'' (weapon) that is said to be able to destroy the whole universe, capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings. Only [[Parasurama]], [[Rama]], [[Meghnada]], [[Bhisma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Ashwatthama]], and [[Arjuna]] possessed the knowledge to invoke this weapon. It is one of the most destructive, powerful, and irresistible weapons mentioned in Hinduism. It was created by Lord [[Brahma]] along with its more powerful variants [[Brahmashirsha astra|Brahmashirā astra]], Brahmanda astra and Bhargavastra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How many times was the Brahmastra used in history and who used it? |url=https://www.quora.com/How-many-times-was-the-Brahmastra-used-in-history-and-who-used-it/answer/Chitrarth-Medida |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Quora |language=en}}</ref>

It is termed as a fiery weapon that creates a fierce fireball,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Krishnamoorthy |first1=K. |last2=Channakeshava |first2=B. |last3=Rao |first3=H. V. Nagaraja |title=Ānanda Bhāratī: Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Felicitation Volume |date=1995 |publisher=Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy Felicitation Committee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F91jAAAAMAAJ&q=tremendous |language=en}}</ref> blazing up with terrible flames and countless horrendous thunder flashes. When discharged, all nature including trees, oceans, and animals tremble, and the sky surrounds with flame, glaciers melt and mountains shatter with copious noise all around.

When used, the Brahmastra which is person-centric can destroy a powerful enemy if he does not possess an alternate counter weapon. If it is Brahmashirā astra, it causes [[collateral damage]] to every useful resource in a given area and prevents even a single blade of grass from ever growing in that area again. It is mentioned in Epic that there will be no rainfall for 12 [[Hindu units of time|Brahma years]] (12 Brahma years = 37.32 trillion human years) and climate conditions will worsen. The strike of the Brahmashirā astra will eventually destroy everything.

When [[Ashwatthama]] hurled the Brahmashirā astra against [[Arjuna]], the [[Pandava]] countered by invoking the same weapon; to prevent widespread destruction [[Narada]] and [[Vyasa]] stood between the two ''astras'', ordering the two warriors to withdraw their weapons. (Arjuna, out of nobility, did so; Ashwatthama, however, out of anger refused to recall the astra and rather directed it to [[Uttarā]]'s womb to kill the unborn [[Parikshita]] in an attempt to produce some level of damage to his opponents but [[Krishna]] intervened and saved the child and Ashwatthama was made to surrender the gem on his forehead and cursed by Krishna for 3000 years that he will roam in the forests with blood and puss oozing out of his injuries and cry for death but death would not meet him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mythgyaan |date=2017-10-16 |title=Who is Ashwathama? Why he was cursed by Krishna? Is he still alive? |url=https://mythgyaan.com/ashwathama-curse-still-alive/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Mythgyaan |language=en-US}}</ref>)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m10/m10015.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 10: Sauptika Parva: Section 15 }}</ref>
[[File:Narada and Vyasa came to stop Brahmasironamakastra used by Aswatthama and Arjuna.jpg|thumb|[[Narada]] and [[Veda Vyasa|Vyasa]] come to stop Brahmastra used by [[Ashwatthama]] and [[Arjuna]]]]
The origin of the word comes from the word ''Brahma'', who is the "Creator" in [[Hindu culture]]. The idea that Brahmastra is the most powerful weapon can be understood by the kind of weapons that were used according to Hindu culture. The [[Trimurti]], which consists of the three main Gods, Brahma, [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]], each wielding an astra, have them according to their characteristics.

== Variants ==

=== Brahmashirā Astra ===

The '''Brahmashirā Astra''' (Brahma's head weapon),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Maehle |first1=Gregor |title=Ashtanga Yoga: Mythology, Anatomy, and Practice |date=2009 |publisher=New World Library |isbn=9781577316695 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vWmiAAAAQBAJ&q=Ashtanga%20yoga%20bramhashira&pg=PA191 |language=en}}</ref> manifests with four heads of [[Brahma]] at the front and is four times stronger than the normal Brahmastra. [[Arjuna]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Ashwatthama]] and [[Bhishma]] possessed this knowledge in [[Mahabharata]]. <ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Hinduism|author=
W. J. Johnson |chapter=Brahmaśiras |year=2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001 |isbn=9780198610250 |chapter-url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001/acref-9780198610250-e-542 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Brahma Danda ===

The '''Brahma Danda''' (Brahma's rod) or also known as '''Brahmanda''', is a weapon of self-defence, created by Brahma. It is only to be possessed by Brahmanas and its powers are dependent on its owner. The weapon is a rod capable of absorbing any incoming attack towards its owner. When Vishwamitra, in a fit of anger, unleashed the Brahmastra onto Vasishtha, it was his Brahmadanda that protected him from the lethal weapon.

==Uses==
There are numerous instances within Sanskrit theological scriptures where the Brahmastra is used or its use is threatened, including:

*Maharaja Kaushika (who later became [[Brahmarshi]] [[Vishvamitra]]) used it against [[Maharishi]] [[Vasishta]], but the Brahmastra was swallowed by Vasishta's [[Brahmastra#Brahmashirsha_Astra|Brahmadanda Astra]].
*[[Indrajit]] used the Nagpasha against the army of [[Rama]] in the [[Ramayana]]. Lakshmana was injured by this weapon only. Only the Sanjeevani herbs brought by [[Hanuman]] managed to save the brothers and their army from death. Also, Indrajit used the Brahmastra against Hanuman, but Hanuman survived because of the boon previously given to him by [[Lord Brahma]].
*In the Ramayana, a Brahmastra is used by Shri Rama several times: once against [[Jayanta]] when he hurt [[Sita]], against [[Mareecha]] in their last encounter, and finally the Brahmastra was used in the last battle with the [[Asura]] emperor [[Ravana]].<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/80 80]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> According to the [[Ramayana]], the weapon was also aimed at [[Samudra]] (the sea god) to carve a path out of the sea such that Rama's army could march towards the island of [[Lanka]]. However, as Rama loaded the weapon, Samudra appeared and offered to assist the king in crossing the ocean. But once invoked, the Brahmastra must be discharged, and hence it was instead aimed towards Dhrumatulya, falling at of modern-day [[Rajasthan]], causing it to become a desert for eons to come. This incident is mentioned in Yuddha Kanda 22 Sarga, Verse 31.
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Killing of Rawana Painting by Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi.jpg|Killing of Ravana Painting by Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi
File:Rama Pursues Kakasura with a Magical Grass-Arrow.jpg|Rama Pursues Kakasura ([[Jayanta]]) with a Magical Grass-Arrow
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Indian epic poetry]]
**[[Ramayana]]
**[[Mahabharata]]
**[[Puranas]]
**[[Brahma]]
**[[Brahmani]]
**[[Vyūha]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Hindu deities and texts}}

[[Category:Weapons in Hindu mythology]]

Brahmastra - Revision history

Bot at 14:50, 15 December 2022