(The TH in these names are pronounced like 'th' in 'with'. The SH in the second name is pronounced like one between 's' in 'sip' and 'sh' in 'ship'.)
The weapons used in ancient Indian wars ( Puranic wars rather ) were broadly of two types.
Shasthra
A fight without using any weapons too was fought, just like wrestling ( but not wrestling). That was known as 'baahu-yuddham' or niyuddham' or 'mushthiyuddham' all meaning ' fist-fighting or hand-fight'.)
Shasthra means any physical weapon that was used to fight the enemy. Examples are, Bow and arrows, sword, spear, mace,javeline etc.
Shasthra's power varies with the skill of its user in aiming and shooting. Expertise in the usage of shathras of all types was a part of elementary martial training given to the princes and other fighting class those days. Archery was the principal warfare technology adopted by almost all the warriors and it was considered to be the august art of fighting.
Yet, we see that some warriors specialised in a particular faculty. For example, Balaraama, Duryodhana, Bheema, Shalya and Jaraasandha were class mace-fighters. Nakula, Sahadeva, Sathyaki, Asvaththaama and Bhurishravas were specialists in sword fighting. A warrior mounted on elephant mostly used arrows
and javelines. Horse-mounted fighters used arrows or swords. Foot-soldiers used different weapons from sticks to maces .
Ashthra
An asthra is different from a shasthra in that the former is linked to a particular chant or manthra
of supernatural power This manthra is like the password we use today to trigger off some activities in computerised operations . Similarly, every asthra has another manthra to withdraw it from its action. This withdrawal of an asthra should be done by the very person who invoked it . Should there be an occassion of one person withdrawing the asthra invoked by another, that results in a famine of 12 years. Interestingly, such situation occured in the Mahaabbhaaratha itself . It needs great concentraton and self control both for invoking and withdrawing an asthra which is a mass destructive missile. Every asthra has its own deity. Proper execution ( chanting )of the manthra invoking the deity and directing the power towards the enemy is enough to kill him. the target can be either a single person or a mass of people. Notably, an asthra needs no particular physical weapon as such to employ it. Literally, any thing available can be got possessed with the power of the desired asthra and that will hit the enemy to kill him. But, commonly,many warriors used specially designed weapons to be used in association with their favourite asthras.
Ashthras are not got by practice but only by authoritative award from a teacher who himself is a master of that asthra. Different asthras have different powers of varying abilities to create havoc among enemies.
The name of the asthra is given after its deity. Almost every asthra is defeated by another suitable asthra.
The following table shows some principal asthras with their deities and effects .
An asthra named Shakthi was mentioned to have been used by many of the fighters very frequently.
That asthra, when used , destroyed its target be it men , animals or vehicles .
ASTHRA DEITY EFFECT OF THE ASTHRA
Vaayavya Vaayu, the wind God Creates a gale to harass the enemy
Aagneya Agni, the fire God Creates a fire to harass the enemy
Varuna Varuna, the rain and water god Creates a downpour, counter to Aagneya
Achala Mountain God Counter to Vaayavya Sammohana Mohini Goddess Makes the enemy faint Prajgna Not mentioned Counter to Sammohana Brahma Brahma Total destruction Brahmashiras Brahma total destruction Naaraayana Vishnu Total destruction Paashupatha Pashupathi or Shiva total destruction Ayndra Indra Heavy damage "After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA