The astras

we have all enjoyed the mythological serials in TV, especially the fight scenes where they fight arrow with arrow. They call the arrows by different names. They called it the astra. An astra was a supernatural weapon, presided over by a specific deity. The astras were generally invoked into arrows, although they could potentially be used with anything—Ashwatthama invoked an astra using a blade of grass as his weapon

Now let us see what these astras meant:

Aindraastra - Would bring about a 'shower' of arrows from the sky.
Agneyastra - The weapon discharged would emit flames inextinguishable through normal means.
Varunaastra - The weapon discharged would release torrential volumes of water. This weapon is commonly mentioned as used to counter the Agneyastra.
Nagastra - The weapon would have an inerring aim and take on the shape of a snake, proving deadly upon impact.
Vayvayaastra - Bring about a gale capable of lifting armies off the ground.
Suryastra - Create a dazzling light that would dispel any darkness about.
Vajrastra - Target would be struck with bolts of lightning (vajra referring to Indra's thunderbolt).
Mohiniastra - Dispel any form of maya or sorcery in the vicinity.
Twashtarastra - When used against a group of opponents (such as an army), would cause them to mistake each other for enemies and fight each other
Pramohana - Would cause entire hosts/armies to collapse in a trance.
Brahmaastra - Would destroy entire hosts at once. Could also counter most other astras.
Brahmasirsha - Capable of killing devas. Was used by Ashwatthama on Parikshit.
Narayanaastra - Would create showers of arrows and discs. The astra's power would increase with the resistance offered to it. This weapon had to be obtained from Vishnu directly, and could be used only once.
Vaishnavaastra- Would destroy target completely, irrespective of target's nature. Infallible. This weapon had to be obtained from Vishnu directly.
Pashupatastra - Would destroy target completely, irrespective of target's nature. Infallible. This weapon had to be obtained from Shiva directly.

Source:www.urday.com

Mohan Rao.

Never do anything standing that you can do sitting, or anything sitting that you can do lying down.
- Zen proverb