The Narayanastra

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Narayanastra

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The Narayanastra (IAST: nвrвyaṇastra, sanskrit: नारायणास्त्र ) is the personal missile weapon of Vishnu in his Narayana form, this astra lets loose a powerful tirade of millions of deadly missiles simultaneously. The intensity of the shower increases with resistance. The only solution is total submission before the missile, given which it will stop.

Ashwathama, a Kuru warrior-hero in the epic Mahabharata unleashes the weapon on the Pandava forces. Lord Krishna, who is the Avatara of Vishnu tells the Pandavas and their warriors to drop their weapons and lay down on the ground, submitting completely to the power of the weapon. The secret of the weapon was known by only three warriors: Drona, Aswatthama and Krishna. It was also said that the weapon can be used only once in a war and if tried to use it twice it would devour your own army.

The Pandava hero Bhima refuses to do so, thinking it cowardice, and attacks the downpour of fiery arrows. The Narayana weapon concentrates its shower upon him, and he is steadily exhausted. He is not killed, however, as Krishna and his brothers restrain him in time.

[edit] See also

Wars of Hindu Mythology

Mahabharata

Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Indian epic poetry

Female Deities: Devi | Saraswati | Lakshmi | Dakshayani | Parvati | Durga | Shakti | Kali | Gayatri | Sita | Radha | Mahavidya | more...

Male Deities: Deva | Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Murugan | Hanuman | Indra | Surya | more...

Texts: Vedas | Upanishads | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata | Bhagavad Gita

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