In ancient Sanskrit writings, the Brahmastra was an astra created by Brahma. The Brahmashirsha astra and Brahmanda astra were similar weapons, created to be even more powerful.
As described in a number of Purana, it was considered as a very destructive weapon. It is said that when the Brahmastra was discharged, there was neither a counterattack nor a defense that could stop it, except by another Brahmastra, Brahmashirsha astra, or a Brahmanda astra. The Brahmastra never missed its mark and had to be used with very specific intent against an individual enemy or army, as the target would face complete annihilation. It was believed to be obtained by meditating upon the Lord Brahma, or from a Guru who knew the invocations. According to ancient Sanskrit writings, the Brahmastra is invoked by a key phrase or invocation that is bestowed upon the user when given this weapon. The user would have to display immense mental concentration. It could only be used once in a day.
Since Lord Brahma is considered the Creator in Sanatana Dharma, it is believed by Hindus that Brahmastra was created by Him for the purpose of upholding Dharma and Satya, to be used by anyone who wished to destroy an enemy who would also happen to be a part of his (Brahma's) creation.[citation needed] The target, when hit by Brahmastra, would be utterly destroyed.
The weapon was also believed to cause severe collateral damage. The land where the weapon was used became barren, and all life in and around that area ceased to exist. Both men and women became infertile. There was also a severe decrease in rainfall with the land developing cracks, as in a drought. The Brahmastra is mentioned in the epics and Vedas as a weapon of last resort and was never to be used in combat. This can be likened to an atomic bomb and Robert Oppenheimer is said to have believed nuclear weapons were used in the Mahabharata.
The Brahmastra, described in the Mahabharata, is a weapon which is said to be a single projectile charged with all the power of the universe.
This creation of Lord Brahma is cited capable of killing the devas themselves. It is believed that the Brahmashirsha astra is the evolution of the brahmastra, 4 times stronger than the brahmastra. In the epic Mahabharata, it is said that the weapon would manifest with the four heads of Lord Brahma as its tip. In the Mahabharata era, Parasurama, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwatthama, and Arjuna possessed the knowledge to invoke this weapon. This astra can be invoked by using sacred mantras onto any object, even to a blade of grass.
In the Mahabharata, it is explained that when this weapon was invoked there would be flames, thunder, and a thousand meteors would fall, accompanied with a great din and a trembling of the earth. When it strikes an area, complete destruction would manifest and it will not rain at that place for the next 12 years.[citation needed]It is believed that Ashwathama and Arjuna were about to use it on each other but they don't after Naradmuni and Vedavyas stop them from doing so.
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