Hindu mythological wars

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The Samudra Manthana, a major conflict between the devas and the asuras Barattage de l'ocean de lait.jpg
The Samudra Manthana, a major conflict between the devas and the asuras
The Battle of Kurukshetra, fought between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, recorded in the Mahabharata. Kurukshetra.jpg
The Battle of Kurukshetra, fought between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, recorded in the Mahabharata .

Hindu mythological wars are the wars described in the Hindu texts of ancient India. These wars depicted both mortals of great prowess as well as deities and supernatural beings, often wielding supernatural weapons of great power. Hindu teachings prescribe war as the final option, to be employed only after all peaceful methods are exhausted. [1] Participation in righteous war, or dharmayuddha , was said to be honourable and was a principal duty of the Kshatriya or the warrior varna, and victory in such wars was regarded as a matter of honour. [2]

Contents

In Vedic literature

Indra and Vritra

The central battle in the Vedas is between Indra and Vritra, and the defeat of the demon Vritra leads to the liberation of rivers, cattle and Ushas (dawn/light).

The Kshatriya class

War sacrifices

  • Ashvamedha : 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 abode of Indra after death.
  • Vishvajit Yagna: a sacrifice performed by Brahmins after a king had won a war. [3]

In Puranic literature

The Devasura War

The perennial battle between the devas and asuras is undertaken over the dominion of the three worlds: Svarga, Bhumi, and Patala, (Heaven, Earth, and the underworld). Both races are technically equal, possessors of great religious and martial powers, but the devas are committed to the worship of the Supreme Being and the 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. [4] [ better source needed ]

Twelve Battles

In the Varaha kalpa, twelve battles between the devas and the asuras are described in the Brahmanda Purana: [5]

  1. Narasimha and Hiranyakashipu
  2. Vamana and Mahabali
  3. Varaha and Hiranyaksha
  4. Samudra Manthana: The churning of the ocean
  5. Tarakamaya War: Soma and Brihaspati
  6. Adibaka: According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, [6] the king Harishchandra promised before to Varuna that he would celebrate for his propitiation the great Naramedha sacrifice, when he would offer his own son as a victim to be immolated to cure himself of his disease. When he had second thoughts, the guru Vashishta suggested that he sacrifice a Brahmin boy instead, and the king acquired a boy called Sunasepha for the deed. Vishvamitra urged him to release the innocent child, and when the king refused, taught him a mantram of Varuna, which often invoked, freed him. Vashishta cursed Vishvamitra to be born in his next birth as a baka (crane), and the latter cursed the former to take birth as an adi (myna). The crane Visvamitra built its nest on the top of a tree on the Manasarovara lake and began to live there. Vashistha, too, assumed the form of an adi bird, and built his nest on the top of another tree and lived there. Thus the two rishis spent their days in full enmity towards each other. These two birds used to shriek so terribly loud that they became a nuisance to all, and they fought daily with each other. Brahma then freed them from these curses, and the gurus returned to their ashrams.
  7. Traipura: Tripurasura and Shiva
  8. Andhakara: Andhaka and Shiva
  9. Dhvaja: In the battle called Dhvaja, the danava Vipracitti, described as the "terror of the celestials", adept in the art of maya and a being who threatened the three worlds, was killed by Indra after penetrating a hundred thousand dhvajas (banners). [7]
  10. Varta: The asura Vritra and Indra
  11. Halahala: According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the Halahalas were a sect of asuras who were the first creation of the Trimurtis, when they also possessed the power of creation. The Halahalas, who became very powerful within a short period of time, earned from Brahma all the boons they wanted, and they then conquered the three worlds. At last, they barricaded Kailasa and Vaikuntha as well, so Vishnu and Shiva defeated them after a fierce fight lasting for a thousand years. The deities returned to their abodes and spoke about their achievements. Their wives laughed at the bravado of their husbands. At this Vishnu got angry with Lakshmi and Shiva with Parvati, and in protest the Devis left their husbands. From that day onwards, Vishnu and Shiva began losing their power. Brahma, who divined the reason for the growing weakness of Vishnu and Shiva persuaded Lakshmi and Parvati to return to their rightful places and support their husbands. Yet, Brahma told them that in future he alone would handle the work of creation. Thus were Vishnu and Shiva divested of their right to creation. [8]
  12. Kolahala: According to the Padma Purana, Kolahala was a famous asura. In the battle between the devas and the asuras carried on by Subrahmanya, this asura confronted Malyavan and was killed. [9]

War sacrifices conducted

Vyuha: Cohorts of battle

Pralaya: The end of the world

The 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. Wat phra keaw ramayana fresco.jpg
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.

Atirathis:

Maharathis:

Atimaharathis:

War sacrifices conducted

The Mahabharata

Levels of warrior excellence according to Bhishma in the Mahabharata

Before war, Bhishma mistreated Karna by calling him Artha-rathi because he despised Karna's antagonistic nature towards the Pandavas. [17] [18]

Atimaharathis in the enitre Mahabharata

According to Bhishma, there are only two atimaharathis in the entire Mahabharata:

Both of whom are avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Deities mentioned

War sacrifices conducted

Levels of warrior excellence

Major deities

An idol of Vishnu Vishnu Kumartuli Park Sarbojanin Arnab Dutta 2010.JPG
An idol of Vishnu

Vishnu

Vishnu, the preserver deity, is considered to be the Ultimate Reality in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. He is the spouse of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. In the Puranas, he periodically takes birth as an avatar upon the earth. Vishnu has 10 avatars: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Balarama or Buddha, Krishna, and Kalki. Vishnu is also said to have total of 36 forms other than these ten incarnations, including Mohini, Nara-Narayana, Arjuna, Dattatreya, Dhanvantari, Hayagriva, and several others. In battle, the avatars of Vishnu are aided by a variety of astra, or celestial weapons. The mantra employed to invoke him is Om Namo Narayanaya. His two most popular human avatars, Rama and Krishna, possess many celestial weapons. Krishna also employed a few of these weapons in the Mahabharata. These include:

Shiva

11th-century statue of Shiva as Nataraja, the lord of the dance Shiva as the Lord of Dance LACMA.jpg
11th-century statue of Shiva as Nataraja, the lord of the dance

Shiva, the destroyer deity, is the Ultimate Reality in Shaiva tradition. He is the spouse of Parvati, the goddess of power. He is represented by his forms, Mahakala and Bhairava. Shiva is often pictured holding the damaruka, an hourglass-shaped drum, along with his trishula, a trident-staff. The mantra to invoke him is Om Namah Shivaya . [25] Shiva is also considered as the Mahadeva, the great god. He is often worshipped in his phallic representation, the lingam.

Assigned with the task of destroying all of the universe at the end of time, Shiva is one of the most fearsome warriors as well as the revered yogis in Hindu tradition. Tandava is the dance of this destroyer deity, which he performs over the body of a demon. Shiva employs his power to kill the Asura Tripura, destroying the flying three cities of Tripura. In battle, Shiva and his amshas (spirits) deploy formidable weapons controlled by him. Some of these are:

Lakshmi, among the most popular manifestations of Shakti Ravi Varma-Lakshmi.jpg
Lakshmi, among the most popular manifestations of Shakti

Shakti

Shakti is the supreme goddess in Shaktism, the goddess-centric sect of Hinduism. Both a supreme being and an energy that is considered to be the source of all works of creation, preservation and destruction, Adi Parashakti is held by Shaktas to be the source of the Trimurti, the universe and all of creation. She is regarded to have assumed many incarnations to fight with demons, including Parvati, wife of Shiva, Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu, [26] the complete avatar of Shakti herself, according to the Devi Gita and Durga Saptashati, the main scriptures for Shakti worshipers. As the goddess Parvati, she is considered to be the most powerful of all deities. [27]

Sometimes, the gods worship Parvati, who came before them in different avatars:

Shakti is usually depicted as having the weapons of all the gods, including those of the Trimurti. She holds the trishula of Shiva, the chakra of Vishnu, the Vajra of Indra, and the gada of Yama.

Celestial weapons

An astra is a powerful celestial weapon or missile that is to be hurled at an enemy. Generally astra is in form of an arrow. Astras can be invoked using incantations (mantras). Different astras have different power. A Shastra is a personal weapon like swords, bows, spades, axes, spears and maces which must be constantly operated by a warrior.

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