Astra (weapon)In Hinduism, an (Sanskrit: अस्त्र) was a supernatural weapon, presided over by a specific deity and imbued with spiritual and occult powers that caused its effect or impact. Later the word came to denote any weapon which was used by releasing it from one's hand (e.g. an arrow), compared to keeping it one's hand (e.g. a sword) (Shastra). In Ramayana and Mahabharata, Rama had more astras than any other warrior. It is believed that Rama possessed all the astras. The bearer of the weapon is called an Astradhari (Sanskrit: अस्त्रधारी).
Kripavignette|Kripa lors de son combat contre Shikhandi Kripa ( Kṛpa , translitération Krpa), également connu sous le nom de Kripacharya (Kṛpācārya , littéralment Kripa le maître ), est une personnalité de l'histoire hindoue. Selon l'épopée du Mahabharata, il siège au conseil du royaume de Kuru et éduque les princes Pandava et Kaurava. Fils du sage et guerrier Sharadvan et de l'apsara Janapadi, Kripa a une sœur : Kripi. Ils ont été adoptés par le roi Shantanu du royaume de Kuru.
Bataille de KurukshetraLa bataille de Kurukshetra (devanagari : कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध) est la bataille qui, pendant 18 jours, opposa les Kauravas aux Pandavas, et forme une partie essentielle de l'épopée sanskrite de la mythologie hindoue, le Mahābhārata. D'après le Mahābhārata, une lutte dynastique entre les clans frères des Kauravas et des Pandavas pour le trône de Hastinapur s'est soldée en une bataille dans laquelle tous les anciens royaumes ont participé en tant qu'alliés des deux clans rivaux. Les Pandavas vaincront et reprendront ainsi le pouvoir.
Hindu mythological warsHindu 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. 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.
NarayanastraIn Hindu mythology, the Narayanastra (नारायणास्त्रम्) is an astra, a celestial missile, affiliated to the Hindu deity, Vishnu, in his form of Narayana. This astra ("celestial weapon" in Sanskrit) fires a volley of millions of deadly missiles simultaneously, the intensity of which rises in proportion to the resistance of the target. The only way to defend against the Narayanastra is, therefore, to show total submission before the missiles hit, which would cause them to stop and spare the target.
UpapandavasIn the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the Upapandavas (, उपपाण्डव, lit. junior Pandavas), also known as Pandavaputras (, पाण्डवपुत्र, lit. sons of Pandavas), Draupadeyas or Panchakumaras (, पञ्चकुमार, lit. five sons) are the five sons of Queen Draupadi from each of the five Pandavas. They are Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Shrutakarma, Shatanika and Shrutasena. They were Atirathis, as mentioned by Bhishma, and fought the Kurukshetra war on the side of the Pandavas and slew many enemy warriors.
KritavarmaKritavarman (कृतवर्मा) is a Vrishni Yadava warrior in Hinduism. He appears as a minor character in the Mahabharata, fighting in the Kurukshetra war for the Kauravas. According to F.E. Pargiter, he was the son of Hṛidika, born in the Andhaka clan of the Yadu dynasty. Syamantaka Kritavarma is said to have encouraged, or in some accounts, participated in the theft of the legendary Syamantaka jewel from King Satrajit. Along with his friend Akrura, he is said to have caused Shatadhanva to murder Satrajit, and steal the jewel for himself.
DronaDroṇa (Droṇa), also referred to as Dronacharya (Droṇācārya), is a major character of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he serves as the royal preceptor of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. He is one of the primary counsellors and warriors featured in the epic. He is a friend of Sukracharya, the guru of the asuras, as well as Mahabali. He is described to be the son of the sage Bharadvaja, and a descendant of the sage Angirasa. The preceptor is a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons known as astras.
ParikshitParikshit (परीक्षित्, ) was a Kuru king who reigned during the Middle Vedic period (12th-10th centuries BCE). Along with his son and successor, Janamejaya, he played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state, the arrangement of Vedic hymns into collections, and the development of the orthodox srauta ritual, transforming the Kuru realm into the dominant political and cultural center of northern Iron Age India. He also appears as a figure in later legends and traditions.
DraupadiDans l'épopée du Mahābhārata, Draupadi (devanāgarī : द्रौपदी) est la fille du roi Drupada du Panchala, et devient la femme commune des cinq Pāndava, héros du Mahābhārata, face aux Kaurava. Elle est l'une des figures féminines essentielles du Mahābhārata. Draupadi apparaît au livre I du Mahābhārata. Elle est la fille de Draupada. Ce dernier, voulant se venger de Drona, organise une cérémonie durant laquelle il invoque les dieux pour qu'il lui donne un fils qui le vengera de Drona.
