Hindu mythological wars


Ancient Hindu wars are the battles described in the Hindu texts of ancient India over Adharma. The purpose of the wars is often described as the removal of demonic beings or lords and rulers who pursued war with ambition and domination. Hindu teachings prescribe war as the final option, to be employed only after all peaceful methods are exhausted. But, when this time comes, war is taught to be a matter of great personal and social importance, where every man who belongs to the warrior caste must do his duty, exemplifying courage, honor, and fearsome prowess against all odds and even at the cost of his life.
The major Hindu gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, often engage in war, either in the form of Avatars or in their true form. They and many Hindu heroes use astra – celestial weapons with fearsome supernatural power – to aid them in battle.
s and the Pandavas, recorded in the Mahabharata.

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. While this battle does reinforce the timeless good against evil theme, close examination of various hymns and verses in the Rigveda suggest this might have been an allegorical account of the end of the last ice age in the Himalayan glacial system.
Another important battle is the historic Battle of the Ten Kings, alluded to in the Rigveda, in which the Tritsu clan, led by Sudas, defeat the Puru confederation of ten Indo Aryan clans.

The Devas and Asuras

The perennial battle between the Devas and Asuras is undertaken over the dominion of the three worlds: Svarga, Bhumi, and Patala, or Heaven, Earth, and the Nether worlds. 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.
War Sacrifices:
Atirathis:
Maharathis:
Atimaharathis:
Before war, Bhishma ill-treated Karna by calling him Artha-rathi because Karna had a very bad habit of flying away from battlefield after being defeated. But Karna was potentially equal to 1 Maharathi warrior
From Kaurava side
Rathis
Atirathis
Maharathis
From Pandava side
Rathis
Atirathis
Maharathis
Atimaharathis
According to Bhishma, only Arjuna was the Atimaharathi at time of Mahabharata war.

Levels of Warrior Excellence

Vishnu

is the Supreme God in Vaishnavism sect of Hinduism. "Vishnu" means "all pervading" supreme being, the source of everything. In the Vishnu Sahasranama, he is called Paramatma and is periodically reborn as an Avatar upon Earth in order to destroy evil and bring deliverance to the pious. He is also the refuge of the Devas in their battles against Asuras. Lord Vishnu has 10 avatars The 10 Avatars of Vishnu include Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parshuram, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki. Vishnu is also said to have total of 22 forms. 12 forms other than Avatars include Mohini, Nara-Narayana, Arjuna, Dattatreya etc. He is also considered to be the first God, 'Adideva'. He is beyond birth, death and time. He is beyond all. In battle, the avatars of Vishnu are aided by a variety of astra or celestial weapons. His two human avatars, Rama and Krishna, were fearsome warriors and possessed many celestial weapons that accompany the past times of Vishnu. Krishna also used a few of these weapons in Mahabharata. These include:
Mahadeva literally means "Highest of all gods" i.e. God of Gods. He is the supreme God in Shaivism sect of Hinduism. Shiva is also known as Maheshwar, "the great Lord", Mahadeva, the great God, Shambhu, Hara, Pinakadharik, "bearer of the Pinaka" and Mrityunjaya, "conqueror of death". He is the spouse of Shakti. He also is represented by Mahakala and Bhairava. Shiva is often pictured holding the damaruka, an hourglass-shaped drum, along with his trishula, a trident-staff. His usual mantra is Om Namah Shivaya. Shiva is also considered as the God of Gods. The existence which represents infinity itself. He is the supreme masculine divinity in this universe and is lord of the three worlds and is second to none in wrath and power.
Sarvaripati Shiva is one of the most fearsome manifestation of the supreme God. Assigned with destroying all of the universe at the end of time, Shiva is one of the most fearsome warriors and unconquerable. Tandava is the dance of the destroyer, 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 deploy formidable weapons controlled by him. Some of these are:
Shakti is the supreme God in Shaktism 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 the mother of Trimurti, the universe and all of :wikt:creaton|creation. She took many incarnations to fight with demons, including Parvati, wife of Shiva, 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.
Sometimes, the gods worship Parvati, who came before them in different avatars:
Shakti is usually depicted as having the weapons of all the gods, even the Trimurti. She holds the trident of Shiva, the Chakra of Vishnu, the Vajra of Indra, the Gada of Yamaraj.

Celestial Weapons

An Astra is a power, weapon, missile that is to be hurled at an enemy. Generally astra is in form of an arrow. Astras can be invoked using incantations. 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.
The three potential astras are Vaishnavastra, Pashupatastra and Brahmanda astra. However, these astras cannot harm four principle gods i.e. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi as they are the supreme manifestation of the divine. Any astras cannot harm Hanuman because Brahma gave him a boon that none of the astras would not cause any damage to him.