Vajra

**Vajra**, according to Hindu Mythology, is the main weapon of Lord Indra. As of the *Pandava Quintet*, it is the prized and main weapon of Aru Shah. It is made of a material which isn't made of metal or stone or wood and is neither dry nor wet. It is a lightning bolt, taller than five feet.

## History

### Rigveda

The earliest mention of the Vajra is in the Rigveda, part of the four Vedas. It is described as the weapon of Indra, the chief among Gods. Indra is described as using the Vajra to kill sinners and ignorant persons. The Rigveda states that the weapon was made for Indra by Tvastar, the maker of divine instruments. The associated story describes Indra using the Vajra, which he held in his hand, to slay the asura Vritra, who took the form of a serpent.

On account of his skill in wielding the Vajra, some epithets used for Lord Indra in the Rigveda were *Vajrabhrit* (bearing the Vajra), *Vajrivat* or *Vajrin* (armed with the Vajra), *Vajradaksina* (holding the Vajra in his right hand), and *Vajrabahu* or *Vajrahasta* (holding the Vajra in his hand). The association of the Vajra with Indra was continued with some modifications in the later Puranic literature, and in Buddhist works. Buddhaghoṣa, a major figure of Theravada Buddhism in the 5th century, identified the Bodhisattva Vajrapani with Indra.

### Puranas

Many later puranas describe the Vajra, with the story modified from the Rigvedic original. One major addition involves the role of the Sage Dadhichi. According to one account, Indra, the king of the Devas was once driven out of Devaloka (Amaravati) by an asura named Vritra. The asura was the recipient of a boon whereby he could not be killed by any weapon that was known till the date of his receiving the boon and additionally that only weapon which was not made of stone or metal or wood and was neither dry nor wet could harm him. Indra, who had lost all hope of recovering his kingdom was said to have approached Shiva who could not help him. Indra along with Shiva and Brahma went to seek the aid of Vishnu. Vishnu revealed to Indra that only the weapon made from the bones of Dadhichi would defeat Vritra. Indra and the other devas therefore approached the sage, whom Indra had once beheaded, and asked him for his aid in defeating Vritra. Dadhichi acceded to the deva's request but said that he wished that he had time to go on a pilgrimage to all the holy rivers before he gave up his life for them. Indra then brought together all the waters of the holy rivers to Naimisha Forest, thereby allowing the sage to have his wish fulfilled without a further loss of time. Dadhichi is then said to have given up his life by the art of yoga after which the gods fashioned the Vajrayudha from his spine. This weapon was then used to defeat the asura, allowing Indra to reclaim his place as the king of Devaloka.

Another version of the story exists where Dadhichi was asked to safeguard the weapons of the gods as they were unable to match the arcane arts being employed by the asura to obtain them. Dadhichi is said to have kept at the task for a very long time and finally tiring of the job, he is said to have dissolved the weapons in sacred water which he drank. The devas returned a long time later and asked him to return their weapons so that they might defeat the asura, headed by Vritra, once and for all. Dadhichi however told them of what he had done and informed them that their weapons were now a part of his bones. However, Dadhichi, realising that his bones were the only way by which the deva could defeat the asura willingly gave his life in a pit of mystical flames he summoned with the power of his austerities. Brahma is then said to have fashioned a large number of weapons from Dadhichi's bones, including the Vajrayudha, which was fashioned from his spine. The deva are then said to have defeated the asura using the weapons thus created.

There have also been instances where the war god, Skanda (Kartikeya) is described as holding a vajra. Skanda is also the name of a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who wields a vajra.

## *The Pandava Quintet*

### *Aru Shah and the End of Time*

Aru is first given Vajra in the form of a ping-pong ball as a gift from Indra after he claims her as his daughter. For almost the first half of the book, the weapon does absolutely nothing, staying in its form as a ping-pong ball. The only thing it an do is zoom back to Aru, if she holds her hand out and says, 'Vajra!' Because of that, Aru dryly says that if she dies, at least she'll die with a ping-pong ball in her hand. It does come to help while defeating Bhasmasura, as it is revealed to emit 'godly celestial light' which can be lethal to rakhshasas. Throughtout half of the book, it is said to stay as a ping-pong until finally, while in the battle inside the mouth of the giant whale, it changes into a fishing rod made of light and then into a lightning bolt. From then on, Aru continues using Vajra as her main weapon.

### *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*

In this book, Vajra is used not only as a lightning bolt, but also as a sword, javelin and a hoverboard.

### *Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes*

In this book, Vajra has appeared as the crush of Sohail, who is a chakora bird, and seems to be returning Sohail's feelings. In this book, Vajra is used as a net made of electricity as well.

## Appearance

When not in use, Vajra can appear as a variety of things. It stayed as a ping-pong ball for most of the time in the first book. It likes to appear as a bracelet and/or a pen. In each of its forms, it is said to glow a bit, in, presumbly divine light.

When in use, Vajra mostly appears as an imperious, huge lightning bolt crackling with energy and electricity. In its many different orms, it looks like:

* **Hoverboard:** It looks like a regular hoverboard, except it seems to be made of light and has tendrils of electricity flowing around it.
* **Javelin:** It looks like a javelin made of light and has tendrils of electricity circling it.
* **Net:** It looks like a net made of tendrils of electricity
* **Sword:** It looks like a sword made of light with tendrils of crackling electricity flowing around it.

## Abilities

Vajra, in its various forms has various different abilities:

* **Board**: It can turn into a long hover board that multiple people can stand on.
* **Javelin**: It can spear people and turn into a net when thrown upon its victms
* **Net:** It can turn into a meshing net and use it to capture enemies.
* **Light Emission**: The ball form of Vajra can be used to emit a bright light to help her see in the dark and stun her enemies. The lght emitted can also be 'divine/celestial light' which is lethal to demons
* **Rope**: It can turn into a lightning rope and bind and enemies hands and feet.
* **Sword**: It can turn into a lightning sword and fight off enemies with it.

One ability which is common among all the different forms is that all of them have the power to electrocute their victims.

## Known Owners

* Lord Indra (the original user)
* Aru Shah (Current owner)

## Trivia

* Vajra seems to be mischievous and has a fun demeanor (just like its owner), despite being a mere weapon
* It probably has a crush on Sohail
* The first time Vajra turned into a lightning bolt, it would not turn back into a ping-pong until finally when Aru commanded it to turn into a flip flop for her dirty feet
* Its first use in combat was in the mouth of a gigantic whale
* It didn't turn into a lightning bolt at first, but into a rope.