Narayanastra
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The Narayanastra (Sanskrit: नारायणास्त्र, romanized: nārāyaṇastra) (or Narainastra) was the personal weapon of Lord Vishnu in his Narayana form. This astra ("weapon" in Sanskrit) fired a volley of millions of deadly missiles simultaneously, the intensity of which rises in proportion to the resistance of the target.[1] The only way to defend against the narayanastra was therefore to show total submission before the missiles hit, which would cause them to stop and spare the target. It was one of the six 'Mantramukta' weapons that could not be resisted.[2] It was also said that it could be used only once in a war; if one tried to use it twice, it would devour the user's own army.[3]
Ashwathama, a warrior in the epic Mahabharata, came into possession of it and used it against the Pandava forces.[3] Lord Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, told the Pandavas and their warriors to drop their weapons and lie down on the ground if they wished to survive the astra.[citation needed] When it was used, Ekadasha (Eleven) Rudras appeared in the sky to destroy the Pandavas. Millions of weapons such as Chakras, Gadhas, and ultra-sharp arrows appeared and moved to destroy them; all those who resisted were killed. Shri Krishna, who knew how to stop the Narayanastra, advised the Pandavas and their army to immediately drop their weapons and utterly surrender to the great astra of Lord Vishnu.[citation needed]
When targeted, the Pandava hero Bhima refused to surrender, considering it an act of cowardice, and attacked the downpour of fiery arrows. The Narayana weapon concentrated its shower on him, and he gradually became exhausted. However, he was not killed as Krishna and his brothers eventually restrained him.[citation needed]
In Ramayana, only Indrajit (Meghnad) possessed this weapon.He used the weapon in his last fight against Lakshman but the astra refused to harm Adi Shesha.[4]
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References[]
- ^ Menon, Ramesh (2006). The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering. iUniverse. pp. 352–6. ISBN 978-0-595-40188-8.
- ^ Oppert, Gustav Salomon (1880). On the Weapons, Army Organisation, and Political Maxims of the Ancient Hindus: With Special Reference to Gunpowder and Firearms. Higginbotham.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Sarkar, Rabindra Nath (1989). An Episodic Interpretation of the Mahabharata. Atlantic Publishers & Distri.
- ^ "Valmiki Ramayana - Baala Kanda - Sarga 56".
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