Hindu mythological wars

The Wars of Hindu history depict great heroes and demons in battles filled with the force of celestial weapons and beings, religious mysticism, magic, and the supernatural. Overriding the battles is a deeper depiction of religion and fate.

War in religion and lore

While no Hindu Epic or scripture fails to describe the horrors of war and its fallout, major wars are fought with a religious purpose: often to eliminate demonic beings or lords and rulers who pursue war wantonly for ambition and domination.

The most destructive wars in Hindu Lore are driven with the mission of good triumphing over evil.

Hindu teachings prescribe war as the final option, to be employed only after all peaceful methods are exhausted. But when this time comes, war is taught to be a matter of great personal and religious importance, where every man must do his duty (if he belongs to the warrior caste) and exemplify courage, honor, and fearsome prowess even against all the odds and even at high cost of life.

The Bhagavad Gita places duty above all gain and loss, triumph and destruction, no matter how terrible or personal it becomes. In fact, war without attachment may help the warrior to transcend the limited personal identity.

Vedas

• Indra and Vrtra- The central battle in the Vedas is between Indra and Vrtra, and the defeat of the serpent demon Vrtra leads to the liberation of rivers, cattle and Ushas (dawn/light)
• Battle of the Ten Kings- An internecine battle alluded to in the Rig Veda, in which the Trtsu clan led by King Sudas defeat the Puru confederation of ten Indo Aryan clans

The avatars of Vishnu

Main articles: Avatar#Avatars of Vishnu and Daśāvatāra

Vishnu, the Inconceivable Supreme, periodically takes birth, an Avatar upon earth to destroy evil and deliver the pious. He is also the refuge of the Devas in their battles against Asuras.

The most martial Avatars include Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parshuram, Rama, Balarama, Krishna, Kalki.

• Narayanastra(Naraina-astra): The personal missile weapon of Vishnu in his Narayana(Naraina) 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. The Narayanastra was first used by Lord Rama in the 'Ramayana'. Then, thousands of years later, this astra was again used by Ashwatthama in the Mahabharata war against the Pandava army.
• Vaishnavastra: The personal missile weapon of Vishnu, once fired it cannot be thwarted by any means, save by the will of Vishnu Himself. This astra was used by King Bhagadatta, son of Narakasura and King of Prajyogsta (modern day Burma) in the Mahabharata war against Arjuna. This Vaisnhavastra was stopped by Shri Krishna himself as Arjun couldn't stop it even with his most powerful weapons.
• Kaumodaki: The divine mace weapon of Vishnu; invincible and without parallel.
• Sudarshana Chakra: The magical chakra, a spinning disc with sharp outer spears. The Sudarshan flies at the command of Vishnu, spinning away to tear off the heads of His opponents, or to perform any function desired by Vishnu. It was most famously used by His Avatar Krishna in the Mahabharata.
• Nandaki: The Sword of Lord Vishnu.
• Saranga: The Celestial Bow of Lord Vishnu.

Shiva

Main article: Shiva

Mahadeva literally means "Highest of all god". Shiva is also known as Maheshvar, the great Lord, Mahadeva, the great God, Shambhu, Hara, Pinakadhrik, bearer of the axe and Mrityunjaya, conqueror of death. He is the spouse of Shakti, the goddess. He also is represented by Mahakala and Bhairava, the terrible, as well as many other forms including Rudra. Shiva is often pictured holding the damaru (sound file .wav format: 190K), an hour-glass shape drum, shown below with his trishula. His usual mantra is Om Namah Shivaya. The Lord Destroyer, Sarvaripati Shiva is the most fearsome manifestation of the Supreme God. Assigned with destroying all of the universe at the end of time, Shiva is the most fearsome warrior, unconquerable by any and all.

• Trishula: The terrifying trident-staff of Shiva
• Pinakin: The bow of Shiva
• Tandava: Is the dance of the Destroyer, which He performs over the body of a demon, and simultaneously destroys all creation, all beings, material and illusion alike: the ultimate martial art.

Shiva employs his power to kill the Asura Tripura, destroying the flying three cities of Tripura. He is restrained and not involved in the wars of the worlds prior to dissolution.

The Kshatriya order

Main article: Kshatriya

War Sacrifices

• Ashwamedha: The famous horse-sacrifice was conducted by allowing a horse to roam freely for a slated period of time, with the king performing the sacrifice laying claim to all the lands it touched. The king whose authority is contested must prove himself in battle or accept the imperial supremacy of the challenging king. When the horse returns safely after the period of time, the main sacrifice is performed, and the king, if successful in obtaining dominance over other kings, is crowned Emperor of the World. The Ashwamedha allows the opportunity to maintain peace if the kings do not choose to contest the sacrificial horse
• Rajasuya: Considered the ultimate sacrifice, the king performing the sacrifice must openly challenge every king in the world to accept his supremacy or defeat him in battle. If and when the king returns successfully, having beaten all other known rulers, the performance of the sacrifice will send him to the highest abode of Lord Indra. It was performed by the Pandava hero Yudhisthira in the Mahabharata epic.
• Vajpeya: Akin to the conduct of the Rajasuya, save only that the entire sacrifice is to please Lord Vishnu, who is the Supreme God^{[citation needed]}.

Levels of Warrior Excellence

• Mahamaharathi: A warrior capable of fighting 24 Atimaharathi warriors simultaneously. No one (There are no 24 Atimaharathi at one point of time).
• Atimaharathi: A warrior capable of fighting 12 Maharathi warriors simultaneously. Rama, Hanuman and Indrajit are Atimaharathi's.
• Maharathi: A warrior capable of fighting 60,000 warriors simultaneously; circumspect in his mastery of all forms of weapons and combat skills.
• Atirathi: A warrior capable of contending with 10,000 warriors simultaneously.

Strategic Formations: The Vyuha

• Krauncha Vyuha: The crane-shaped formation of an army; forces are distributed to form spanning wing-sides, with a formidable, penetrating centre depicting the crane's head and beak.
• Padma Vyuha or the Chakra Vyuha: A winding, ever-rotating circular formation; considered impenetrable during the Mahabharata age by all warriors except Arjuna, Bhisma, Drona, Krishna, Pradyumna and Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu, had learnt how to break into the formation (in the womb of Subhadra) but not how to break out of it and is trapped inside during the Mahabharata war.
• Sarpa Vyuha: Winding Snake Formation.
• Makara Vyuha: Crocodile Formation
• Sakata Vyuha: Cart Formation
• Shukar Vyuha: Pig Formation

Shakti and her avatars

Once you speak about war, When all gods become incapable to do any war then shakti is the last option for gods. Shakti is considered as mother. But Shakti is actual source of all works whether creation, preservation and destruction. Scientifically it is true that energy is base of all existence. So to maintain cosmic balance, shakti typically be the last option to fight for righteousness. Shakti usually took many incarnations to fight with demons she can be angry on anyone who tried to disturb balance whether god or demnon as She is mother of universe and all creation. But if we talk about war, Shakti took many forms from the warth of Parvati, the complete Avtaar of Shakti herself, as per Devi Gita and Durga Saptashati, the main scriptures for Shakti worshipers. She is Wife of Shiva. Goddess Parvati is considered as most powerful of all deities including Lord Shiva, because she is shakti herself.^[1]

When trimurti became helpless to fight with demons then gods at last worshiped Goddess Parvati, then she come before them in different avtaars and forms.

• Durga, the one who killed demon Durgamasur, She is rides on lion.
• Kali, the most ferocious Form of the Goddess, who can not be pacified by any one after war. No one can stop her because she is the only deity who is limit less or infinite, means she is free from all rules and regulations.
• Chandi, the gentle and manifestation of Goddess Durga or Kali, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, who killed Demon Mahishasura in battle of Alkapuri.
• Kanyakumari, the one who killed Banasura
• Chamunda, Who killed Chand mund and Rakta vijya
• Goddess Kaushiki, who killed Shumbha and Nishumbha
• Goddess Meenakshi, who defeated all the demigods and destroyed the arrogance of all demi-gods.

Apart from Goddess Parvati, there are some demons who were killed by Goddess Laksmi's incarnation. One example is Demon Muru, who was killed by the Goddess and she saved her consort Lord Vishnu.^[2]

Weapons of Shakti

Shakti usually have weapons of all gods and even Trimurti. She has trident of Shiva, Chakra of Vishnu, Vajra of Lord Indra, Gada of Yamaraaj,.^[3] that means she is one who is above any kind of power or we can say all powers of this universe or beyond are in Shakti. Answer is simple i.e. Shakti is one who is in everyone.

• Pashupata: Discharged by the mind, eyes, words or a bow, the Pashupata is the irresistible and most destructive personal weapon of Goddess Kali. Never to be used against lesser enemies and by lesser warriors, the Pashupata is capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings.^[4]

Devastras

An Astra is a missile-type weapon which is to be hurled at an enemy. Examples include arrows from bows. A Shastra is a personal weapon, like swords and maces, that must be constantly operated by the warrior.

• Brahmadanda : This is the most powerful weapon in the universe. It contained the spiritual power of the 7 greatest sages of Hinduism - Bhrigu, Agastya, Jamadagni, Vasistha, Bharadwaja, Gautama and Kashyapa.

No other weapon in the universe be it the Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, Brahmasira, Amoghashakti, Vajra, Narayanaastra, Vaishnavastra or even the Sudharshana Chakra can hold cradle to it. This astra is the most powerful weapon of Lord Brahma.

• Pashupatastra: It is believed in Hindu mythology that Pashupatastra is one of the most devastating weapon as it is the weapon of the consort of Godhead Mahadeva, i.e. Mahakali. Mahadeva literally means "Highest of all god" and Mahakali means Goddess who is beyond time. The weapon granted to Arjuna by Lord Shiva is one of the most destructive & forbidden weapon in The Mahabharata. It is said to have the power to change the course of Creation and Destruction. This irresistible Pashupatastra was used twice by Arjuna in the entire Mahabharata war at Kurukshetra to kill Jayadratha, the monarch of SINDHU empire(modern day Pakistan)and by killing the entire host of kalakeyas,enemies of indra
• Narayanastra: Invincible painful astra only way to conquer is submission to this most powerful astra.
• Brahmashir Astra: A weapon capable of greater destruction than the Brahmastra. It is said to be evolution of brahmastra. It can burn all creation to ashes once discharged.
• Brahmastra: Imbibed with the mystical force of Creator Brahma, this is considered the most fearsome weapon in mythological works. The releaser of millions of missiles, great fires and a destructive potential capable of extinguishing all creation, if not used by and aimed only at a celestial fighter. Modern speculation has equated its destructive nature to be similar to that of a nuclear weapon.
• Nagastra: The snake weapon, used by Karna against Arjuna in Kurukshetra war. It is considered as an irresistible weapon equal to the Brahmastra. It has a fame that it never misses its target.
• Vasavi Shakti: The magical dart weapon of Indra, unfailing at executing its target. Indra granted it to Karna during the Kurukshetra war. The Mahabharata also refers to it as the Amoghastra.
• Vajra: The thunderbolt weapon of Indra, who is the God of Thunder and Lightning, akin to Zeus and Jupiter in Greek and Roman mythology.
• Agneyastra: The fire weapon, incepted by God Agni, master of the flames.
• Varunastra: The water weapon, incepted by God Varuna, master of the oceans, rivers and lakes.
• Vayavastra: The wind weapon, incepted by God Vayu, master of wind.
• Parjanya : This is a divine weapon by which a person can drink pure water of any river, lake,sea or ocean of the world according to his/her wish.

Although the power astras are said to be capable of destroying creation they did not harm Shakti or Vishnu or Shiva or Brahma. Because all of them are the impersonification of God. Shakti is Power of GOD, without Shakti weapons can not be created as said by Devi-Bhagavata Purana .

The Devas and Asuras

The perennial battle between the Devas and Asuras is undertaken over the dominion of the three worlds: Swarga, Bhumi and Patala, or Heaven, Earth and the Nether worlds. Both races are technically equal, possessor of great religious and martial powers, but the Devas are committed to the worship of the Supreme Lord and practice of virtue. The Asuras have atheistic and devious tendencies that grow over time. The divide is the greatest in the Kali Yuga, the final age.

• Sukracharya: is the Preceptor of the Asuras, their chief priest and martial guru. Sukracharya is a great worshipper of the Supreme Lord, but remains supportive of the Asuras, who are often identified as atheistic and demonic in nature.
• Brihaspati: is the Guru Preceptor of the Devas. Possessing unparalleled knowledge of the Vedas, scripture, religion and mysticism, Brihaspati's mastery of the military arts is akin to Sukracharya, his counterpart.
• Indra: the God of thunder and lightning, he is the King of Swarga, or Heaven, and the leader of all the Devas against the demon hordes. The greatest performer of sacrifices, Indra is the most famous and fearsome warrior in the three worlds, but faces opponents often equal or greater to him, and is sometimes unable to vanquish enemies like Indrajit, who was able to humiliate Indra owing to his past sins. When facing opponents like Vritra, Indra seeks the aid of Lord Vishnu.
• Skanda: the Vedic God of War, more so the generalissimo.
• Narakasura: the great Asura opponent of Vishnu.
• Vritra: the brahmin Asura, who was performing a sacrifice to obtain sovereignty of the three worlds.

The Ramayana

Main article: Ramayana

The epic story of Ramayana was adopted by several cultures across Asia. Shown here is a Thai historic artwork depicting the battle which took place between Rama and Ravana.

• Vishwamitra: is the preceptor of Rama and Lakshmana, a powerful tapasvin and Brahmarishi. He bestows the knowledge of all divine weaponry to Rama and Lakshmana, leads them to kill powerful demons and instructs them in advanced religion and military arts.
• Rama: is the Seventh Avatar of Vishnu, and the greatest warrior-tapasvin in the three worlds. His knowledge, powers and tapasya is above all. Rama single-handedly slays the 14,000 demon hordes of Khara (in 14 minutes, according to the Ramayana), the demons Maricha and Subahu, Ravana's chief commander Prahasta and is responsible for the ultimate killing of Ravana himself.
• Lakshmana: is as powerful and excellent a warrior as his brother, and slays extremely powerful demons, including Atikaya and Indrajit - which is considered to be the turning point of the war.
• Hanuman: the Vanara minister of Sugriva is the greatest devotee of Rama, famous for his unerring service, absolute loyalty and great feats of courage. Hanuman is responsible for killing many demons, as well as burning the city of Lanka. His strength is given by his father Vayu, and by virtue of the boons bestowed on him by various Gods, he could increase his size and strength beyond any limit he desired.
• Prahasta: the chief commander of Lanka's army, Prahasta defeated the host of the Gods, and subjugated many kings on Ravana's behalf.
• Ravana: is blessed by his fearsome 10,000 year tapasya to be the most powerful being on earth, invulnerable to every God, demon and living being, save man. Although an expert on the Vedas and a great king, and a numero uno devotee of Lord Shiva, he is the Emperor of evil by his patronage of demons, desecration of women, the murder of kings and humiliation of the Gods headed by Indra.
• Indrajit: as his name suggests, Ravana's first-born son defeated Indra, king of Gods. Master of mystical warfare and celestial weapons, and blessed by boons from Gods, Indrajit was considered the most fearful warrior, virtually invincible.He was an AtiMaharathi greater warrior than any past or future warrior .
• Kumbhakarna: the gigantic brother of Ravana is a fearsome monster-demon who sleeps for six months at a stretch, rising for only day and then returning to his slumber. Kumbhakarna is a giant who can slay hundreds of warriors by the sweep of his hand or step of his foot. He is slain by Rama in the war.

The Mahabharata

Main article: Mahabharata

• Kuru Army: of 11 Akshauhinis is formed by the kingdom of Hastinapura in alliance with races like the Samshaptakas, Trigartas, the Narayana army, the Sindhu army and Shalya of Madra.
  • Commanders in Chief: Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Shalya, Shakuni
  • Atirathis: Shalya, Somadatta, Bhurishravas, Bhagadatta, Jayadratha, Kritavarma
  • Maharathis: Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwathama, Shrutyudha, Duryodhana
• Pandava Army: is a coalition of 7 Akshauhinis, primarily the Panchala and Matsya forces, the Rakshasa forces of Bhima's son, and Vrishni-Yadava heroes.
  • Commanders in Chief: Dhristadyumna
  • Atirathis: Ghatotkacha, Satyaki, Yuyutsu
  • Maharathis: Arjuna,Bhima,Abhimanyu, Nakul, Sahadev, Yudhistra, Dristadyumna, Dhrupad, Viraat
• Bhishma: the most consummate warrior trained by Parashurama, Bhishma is indestructible by any warrior when he lifts his weapons. Having mastered his preceptor himself and all the kings of the earth, he is the Commander in Chief of the Kuru Army. He has the boon of wishful death.
• Drona: the preceptor of the kshatriyas and kings of the age, Drona is a great master of Vedic military arts, almost every celestial weapon, with great religious knowledge and wisdom. He becomes the second Kuru commander, and Arjuna is his favorite student. Drona's rejection of Karna as a student, owing to his unknown caste lays the foundation for the great Karna-Arjuna rivalry.
• Arjuna: known all over the three worlds as the foremost warrior alive that time, he is the son of Indra and the most powerful maharathi. He was greatest Archer on Earth. He single handedly defeated entire kuru army with all its warriors including karna who had powers of all five Pandavas combined at battle of Viratnagar. He is responsible for vanquishing Bhishma, as well as exterminating an entire Akshauhini of warriors and Maharathas in one day, in addition to the armies of Samshaptakas, Trigartas and Narayanas - millions of soldiers and heroic warriors. He is also the protagonist of the most intense personal rivalry of the war, between the two reputed greatest warriors, with Karna, whom he slays. (Pandava's chief army general was Drushtadhymna and not Arjuna as it was mentioned in the earlier editions of this page^{[clarification needed]})
• Bhima:He was one of the four supreme physical powers, others were Balrama, Shalya & Kichaka. He was the second and most impetuous Pandava, Bhima's personal strength is phenomenal. He is an unsurpassed master of the mace weapon, and a consummate wrestler. He slays all but one of the one hundred Kuru brothers, and the chief antagonist of the saga, Duryodhana.
• Abhimanyu: the son of Arjuna, Abhimanyu is a consummate warrior almost equal to his father. When he enters the unbreakable Chakra vyuha, he holds the entire Kuru host, with Drona, Karna and hundreds of other heroic warriors, in addition to hundreds of thousands of foot soldiers at bay single-handedly. He is killed however, by deceit and a merciless and most unlawful slaying while he is unarmed and without a chariot, by all these powerful Kuru heroes.
• Nakul: the fourth brother of the Pandavas. It is said that he was the most handsome man in the world. He was an expert in the art of sword warfare and astronomy. He was also greatly associated with horses. During the Kurukshetra war he was the one who killed all the offspring of all the Kauravas. he also killed the only son of Shakuni, Ulloka.
• Karna: the tragic hero of the epic, Karna is the first-born of Kunti, the mother of the five Pandavas, but abandoned as a child owing his mother's maidenhood and fear of destroying her honor. As a result, Karna is raised by charioteers and denied the recognition and benefits of belonging to the Kshatriya order. Karna has to employ deceit to dodge the question of his caste, but obtains training from Parashurama. The entire rivalry is a question of who is truly superior. Karna's prowess meets par with Arjuna's, and Karna devises a fearsome plot to kill the Pandava prince. He uses snake arrow against Arjuna. His plot is thwarted by Krishna, who sinks Arjuna's chariot just so as the arrow passes Arjuna's head by an inch.

The end of the world

• The end of the world, all creation and illusion is prophesied to happen at the end of the Kali Yuga.
• Lord Shiva Nataraja, the Destroyer kills the paramount demon of the time and performs the Tandava Nritya (The Dance of Tandava) on his back.
• The mystical dance is the penultimate martial art, destroying all forms of matter and energy, materials, beings and illusions, which are absorbed within the Supreme Brahman.
• Kalki, the final Avatar of God Vishnu is also prophesized to appear the end of the Kali yuga, to wage the final battle between good and evil. It is not clear how to reconcile this prophecy with Shiva's role as the Destroyer, but Kalki will appear upon a white horse, amassing an army of the few pious remaining, and incarnations of all of Hindu God-head, to destroy the demons and sin manifest in the world.

References

1. ^ www.shaktisadhana.org
2. ^ www.shaktisadhana.org
3. ^ Devi bhagwat Puran
4. ^ www.shaktisadhana.org