From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (December 2006)

In Hindu scriptures, a Brahmastra (IAST: Brahmāstra, sanskrit: ब्रह्‍मास्‍त्र) is a weapon created by Brahma. As described in a number of the Puranas) it is considered the deadliest weapon. It is said that when a Brahmastra is discharged, there is no withdrawing back of the weapon. It is believed that the Brahmastra never misses its mark and must be used against a single enemy or army. It is believed to be obtained by meditating on The Creator in Hindu Mythology, Lord Brahma and used only once in a lifetime. Since Brahma is considered as the Creator in Hinduism, it is believed that Brahmastra was created by him for anyone who wished to destroy his/her enemy, who also happened to be a part of his creation. The target, if hit by Brahmastra, will be utterly destroyed. There are numerous instances within Hindu scriptures, where the Brahmastra is used or use is threatened, including:

• The confrontation of Arjuna and Ashwatthama, where Arjuna retracts his weapon as ordered, but Ashwatthama, unable to do so, instead sends it to attack Arjuna's unborn grandson, Parikshit, who is subsequently saved by Lord Krishna.
• Rama nearly uses the Brahmastra or a variant weapon to dry up the ocean out of grief and anger over Sita's kidnapping. Earlier, he threatens to do the same to the world but is stopped by Lakshmana.
• In The Ramayan, a Brahmastra is used by Rama as the "final blow" against Rakshasa King Ravana during their battle in Lanka.

It is often compared to the present day nuclear weapon though this claim is utterly disputed by both historians and scientists, since it is impossible to produce enriched uranium (which is the core component of a nuclear weapon) or the process of fusion reaction without the highly specialised tools that are in use today. Despite this contradiction, a few people often strongly feel that nuclear weapons existed during the vedic period.

• Wars of Hindu Mythology
• History of India
• Hindu scriptures
• Hindu Epics
  • Ramayana
  • Mahabharata
  • Puranas
• Hindu mythology

• List of Hinduism-related articles

v • d • e Hindu deities and texts
Female deities	Devi · Saraswati · Lakshmi · Sati · Parvati · Durga · Shakti · Kali · 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
Hinduism · Hindu mythology · Indian epic poetry