page_title: Astra (weapon)
section_title: Astras in Hindu Epics
hierarchical_section_title: Astra (weapon) / Astras in Hindu Epics
caption_attribution_description: Mahabharata. Published by Geeta Press] in [Gorakhpur . Written in Hindi. Classifications Library of Congress PK3631 A22 G6 ID Numbers Open Library OL23365037M Internet Archive mahabharata01ramauoft
context_page_description: In Hinduism, an astra was a supernatural weapon, presided over by a specific deity and imbued with spiritual and occult powers that caused its effect or impact. Later the word came to denote any weapon which was used by releasing it from one's hand. In Ramayana and Mahabharata, Arjuna had more astras than any other warrior. It is said that Arjuna possessed almost all astras.
context_section_description: Astras come into importance mainly in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, where they are used in the great battles described in each epic. They are depicted as used by archers such as Parashurama, Rama, Lakshman, Meghanada (Indrajit), Ravana, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwatthama, Arjuna and other warriors.
  The divya ("divine") astras were generally invoked into arrows, although they could potentially be used with anything. Ashwatthama invoked Brahmashirsha astra using a blade of grass as his weapon. Arjuna was capable of shooting all of his celestial weapons including Pashupatastra by the power of his mind alone.
caption: Arjuna gifts the Agneyastra to the Gandharva
exif: {"Image Software": "Picasa", "Image DateTime": "2013:04:22 16:17:22", "Image Artist": "Picasa", "Image ExifOffset": "96", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "364", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "8610", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2013:04:22 16:14:03", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "1194", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "1249", "Interoperability InteroperabilityVersion": "[48, 49, 48, 48]", "Interoperability RelatedImageWidth": "2748", "Interoperability RelatedImageLength": "4016", "EXIF InteroperabilityOffset": "228", "EXIF ImageUniqueID": "e3d89d06267f52ec3abf450937b067c7"}