WEAPONS OF MAHADEV

Sarvaripati Shiva is one of the most fearsome manifestations of Mahadev. Assigned with destroying all of the universes at the end of time, Shiva is one of the most fearsome warriors. He is the Mrityunjaya. Here are some weapons associated with him:


TRISHULA: the 3 pointed blades denote creation, maintenance, and destruction or the 3 Kalas – Past, Present and Future. They also represent 3 Gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas). Shiva’s trishul can only be stopped by Shiva himself.


Trishul is also said to represent Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna. These are the three basic nadis – the left, the right and the central – in the pranamaya kosha, or the energy body of the human system.


PARASHU: axe with 4 cutting edges which Shiva gave to Parashurama. In his anger, Parashurama used the parashu to get rid of the all the Earth’s tyrannical kshatriya caste twenty-one times over.


CHANDRAHASA SWORD: The divine sword Chandrahasa literally means ‘the laughter of the moon’. Ravana gave this sword to Indrajit on different occasions especially to fight against Devas. GIRISH: A special sword of Shiva with unique characteristics.


KHATVANGA: a long, studded club carried by Shiva which gave him the name khatvāṅgī. TEEN BAAN: Given to Barbarika by Shiva, the Baan releases 3 arrows; 1st marking target, 3rd destroying the target and returning to the bow and 2nd marking the target the shooter wants to save.


PINAKA: the original bow of Shiva used for total destruction or “Pralaya”. This was the bow which was broken by Rama in Treta Yug. PASHUPATIASTRA: Believed to be one of the most powerful and fierce weapons, it was discharged by the mind, the eyes, the words or a bow.


The Pashupatiastra was so powerful that it was forbidden to be used against lesser enemies or lesser warriors. The Pashupatastra could be neutralized only through another Pashupatasra or any other Astra whose presiding deity is Vishnu.

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