The Mahabharata war, an epic battle, took place in Kurukshetra, a battlefield spanning 80 square miles. This war, known as the Mahabharata war, saw participation from almost every kingdom in ancient India. After 18 long and grueling days, the war ended with only 12 warriors surviving, nine from the Pandavas and three from the Kauravas. This colossal war led to the death of 160 million warriors.
The Aftermath of the Mahabharata War
36 years after the Mahabharata war, a civil war broke out among the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, resulting in the death of 50,000 of that race in a single day. Around 5000 BCE, civilizations outside of India were not as advanced as ancient Indians. During times of war, warriors typically used basic earthly weapons such as bows, arrows, swords, and maces.
Ancient Indian Technological Marvels
Ancient Indian scriptures like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana talked about strange and advanced technologies like celestial weapons, which could be summoned through mantras, flying women, men in space suits, space travel, planetary orbits, and divine sight. These technologies were immensely advanced for their time, indicating that the Indian civilization was far ahead of others.
Modern Comparisons
“Weapon of mass destruction” is a term commonly associated with modern nuclear weapons. The first nuclear bomb was tested in Trinity in 1945, followed by the infamous bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S., which led to the end of World War II. Despite these developments in the modern world, some people fail to realize that similar technologies existed in ancient times.
Celestial Weapons in the Mahabharata War
Celestial weapons, or Astra, were invoked by chanting mantras and then directed through a medium such as an arrow. These powerful weapons were not wielded by hand but rather born of the will of the gods. Astra required no physical effort to invoke but demanded intense mental concentration. Improper usage, such as a mispronounced mantra or an unworthy target, could result in disastrous or even fatal consequences.
The Power of Astra
E.g., Arjuna and Drona, prominent figures in the Mahabharata, knew many powerful techniques. Arjuna, recognizing the supreme power of celestial weapons obtained directly from the gods, sought these weapons from Lord Shiva.
Some notable Astra include:
Brahmastra: Capable of destroying an entire universe if not properly aimed.
Narayanastra: Unleashes a powerful tirade of millions of deadly weapons.
These weapons had both physical and illusory effects, ranging from destructive fire and radiation to mental afflictions like confusion, unconsciousness, or sleep.
The Invocation of Astra
To invoke a powerful Astra like the Brahmastra, a specific mantra, the Gayatri Mantra, must be chanted in a particular way. This process involves altering the sound waves in the ether, giving the Brahmastra its divine potency from the sound vibration known as Nada Brahma. There are two types of sound in this context:
Unstruck/Unheard Sound (Anahat Naad): A vibration of the upper or purer air near the celestial realm, an abstraction that only enlightened yogis can hear.
Struck/Heard Sound (Ahad Naad): A vibration of the lower atmosphere closest to earth, encompassing both natural and man-made sounds.
To realize Brahmastra, the unstruck sound is used to chant Gayatri Mantra, not the ordinary heard sound used in typical puja.
The Significance and Lessons
The Mahabharata and Ramayana are not just epic tales but also treasure troves of ancient wisdom and technological prowess. The knowledge of Astra, the celestial weapons, shows the advanced stage of ancient Indian civilization.
The Demise of Astra Knowledge
During the Mahabharata war, those who knew how to invoke these weapons perished, leaving behind very few like Arjuna and Ashwatthama, who were either cursed or chose not to pass on the knowledge due to the destructive potential these weapons possessed.
Thus, the profound knowledge of Astra died with that generation:
- Arjuna, a noble warrior, had no intent to pass the knowledge of such destructive weapons to future generations.
- Those few who survived the Mahabharata war were deemed unworthy of harboring such knowledge.
Finally, if you are fascinated and want to delve deeper into the Mahabharata and its myriad of celestial weapons, watch our comprehensive video on the subject.
Conclusion
The understanding of Astra, the divine weapons of ancient India, opens up a window to the sophistication and wisdom that existed in the past. These weapons, although seemingly fictional, were akin to modern weapons of mass destruction, their knowledge preserved by a select few. Unfortunately, the wisdom and techniques required to wield such forces have faded into the annals of history.
Thank you so much, guys, for reading this post.
