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List of mythological objects (Hindu mythology)

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Mythological objects encompass a variety of items (e.g. weapons, armor, clothing) found in Hindu mythology.

Contents

Containers

  • Kalasha - The kalasha is considered a symbol of abundance and "source of life" in the Vedas. It is referred to as "overflowing full vase" in the Vedas. The Kalasha is believed to contain Amrita, the elixir of life, and thus is viewed as a symbol of abundance, wisdom, and immortality. The Kalasha is often seen in Hindu iconography as an attribute, in the hands of Hindu deities like the creator god Brahma, the destroyer god Shiva as a teacher, and the goddess of prosperity Lakshmi.
  • Kamandalu or kamandal or kamandalam - It is an oblong water pot made of a dry gourd (pumpkin) or coconut shell, metal, wood of the Kamandalataru tree, or from clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. The kamandalu is used in Hindu iconography, in depiction of deities related with asceticism or water. It is, thus, viewed as a symbol of ascetism in Hinduism. Adi Shankaracharya’s ashtotaram hymn praises Shiva whose hand is adorned with the kamandalu. Other deities like the fire-god Agni and the preceptor of the gods, Brihaspati, are depicted carrying the kamandalu.
  • Kapala - A kapala (Sanskrit for "skull") or skullcup is a cup made from a human skull used as a ritual implement (bowl) in both Hindu and Buddhist Tantra.
  • Kumbha - A kumbha is a type of pottery in India. It symbolises the womb, thus it represents fertility, life, generative power of human beings and sustenance and is generally associated with devis, particularly Ganga.

    • Dispensers

  • Akshaya Patra - Akshayapatra (means an inexhaustible vessel), is an object from Hindu theology. It was a wonderful vessel given to Yudishtira by the Lord Surya which provided a never-failing supply of food to the Pandavas every day.
  • Akshaya Tunir - inexhaustible quiver of arrows of Arjuna.

    • Flags

  • Garuda Dhwaja - The flag of Vishnu.
  • Indra Dhwaja - The flag of Indra. Also a festival of Indra.
  • Kakkai kodi - The flag of Jyestha, goddess of inauspicious things and misfortune.
  • Kapi Dhwaja or Vanara dwaja (monkey flag) - The flag of Arjuna in the Mahabharata, in which the Lord Hanuman himself resided.
  • Makaradhvaja - The flag of Kama, god of love.
  • Seval Kodi - The war flag of Lord Murugan, god of war. It depicts the rooster, Krichi.

    • Substances

  • Amrita - The nectar produced from the Samudra manthan, which upon consuming, granted the gods immortality.
  • Halahala (also called 'kalakuta') - The Samudra manthan process released a number of things from the Ocean of Milk. One was the lethal poison known as Halahala. This terrified the gods and demons because the poison was so powerful that it could destroy all of creation. Shiva consumed the poison in an act to protect the universe.
  • Soma (Sanskrit) or Haoma (Avestan) - It is described as being prepared by extracting juice from the stalks of a certain plant. In both Vedic and Zoroastrian tradition, the name of the drink and the plant are the same, and also personified as a divinity, the three forming a religious or mythological unity.

    • Treasures

  • Navaratna - The sacred and royal "nine gems".
  • Nidhi (also called Nidhana, Nikhara, and Sevadhi) - In Hindu mythology, Nidhi, that is, a treasure, constitutes of nine treasures (nawanidhi) belonging to Kubera, god of wealth.
  • Ratnas - The 14 gems/treasures produced during the Samudra manthan.

    • Weapons

  • Ankusha (also Elephant Goad) - An elephant goad is one of the eight auspicious objects known as Astamangala. Ankusha is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha.
  • Aruval - Tamils revere the weapon, a type of billhook, as a symbol of Karupannar. (Tamil mythology)
  • Ayudhapurusha - The anthropomorphic depiction of a divine weapon in Hindu art. Ayudhapurushas are sometimes considered as partial incarnates of their divine owners.
  • Chentu - A horse whip which looks like a crooked stick, and is a typical attribute of Aiyanar, Krishna in his aspect as Rajagopala, and Shiva with Nandi.
  • Indra's dart (also Vasavi Shakti) - Vasavi Shakti was used by Karna against Ghatotkacha in the Mahabharata war.
  • Indra's net - The net was one of the weapons of the sky-god Indra, used to snare and entangle enemies. The net also signifies magic or illusion.
  • Samvartak - The Halayudha, (also called Balachita), is a plough used as a weapon by Balaram, brother of Krishna.
  • Shiva Kaakam - An unconquerable weapon of Lord Shiva.

    • Astra

  • Agneyastra - The weapon discharged would emit flames inextinguishable through normal means.
  • Astra (Sanskrit: अस्त्र) is a supernatural weapon, presided over by a specific deity. Later it 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}). The bearer of the weapon is called Astradhari (Sanskrit: अस्त्रधारी).
  • Brahmanda Astra - It is said in the epic Mahabharata that the weapn manifests with the all five heads of Lord Brahma as its tip. Brahma earlier lost his fifth head when he fought with Lord Shiva. This weapon is said to possess the power to destroy entire solar system or Brahmand, the 14 realms according to Hindu cosmology.
  • Brahmashirsha Astra - It is thought that the Brahmashirsha Astra is the evolution of the Brahmastra, and 4 times stronger than Brahmastra. The weapon manifests with the four heads of Lord Brahma as its tip. When it strikes an area it will cause complete destruction and nothing will grow, not even a blade of grass, for the next 12 years. It will not rain for 12 years in that area, and everything including metal and earth become poisoned.
  • Brahmastra - Described in a number of the Puranas, it was considered the deadliest weapon. It was said that when the Brahmastra was discharged, there was neither a counterattack nor a defense that could stop it.
  • Indraastra - Would bring about a rain of arrows from the sky.
  • Narayanastra - The personal missile of Vishnu in his Narayana or Naraina form.
  • Pashupatastra - An irresistible and most destructive personal weapon of Shiva and Kali, discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow.
  • Vaishnavastra - In the Mahabharatha, on the 12th day of the war, Bhagadatta fired an irresistible weapon called Vaishnavastra on Arjuna, but Arjuna was saved from death by Krishna.
  • Varunastra - A water weapon (a storm) according to the Indian scriptures, incepted by Varuna. In stories it is said to assume any weapon's shape, just like water. This weapon is commonly mentioned as being used to counter the Agneyastra.

    • Chakram

  • Maheshwara Chakra - The Chakra of Lord Shiva.
  • Sudarshana Chakra - The legendary discus of Vishnu, which cannot be stopped by anyone, except by Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. It has tremendous occult and spiritual powers, by which it is able to destroy anything.

    • Danda

  • Brahmadanda - The rod of Brahma (also known as Meru-danda). The Brahmadanda is capable of nullifying the effects of any divine weapon, no matter how destructive. If hurled, the impact of this weapon is excruciatingly lethal to even the celestials.
  • Kaladanda - the staff of Death is a special and lethal club used by the God Yama or God of Naraka or Hell in Hindu mythology. It was the ultimate weapon; once fired it would kill anybody before it no matter wha boons he had to protect himself.
  • Khaṭvāṅga - In Hinduism, the god Shiva - Rudra carried the khatvāṅga as a staff weapon and are thus referred to as khatvāṅgīs.

    • Dhanush & Shara

  • Arrow of Brahma - The arrow given by the sage Agastya to Rama (seventh avatar of Vishnu) and was used to kill Ravana.
  • Arrow of Shiva - It can destroy creation. Returns to the quiver after being used.
  • Bow of Kama - The bow of Kama, god of love, made of sugarcane with a string of honeybees and with arrows decorated with five kinds of fragrant flowers.
  • Gandiva - created by Brahma and given by Varuna to Arjuna on Agni's request and used by Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War
  • Govardhana - A powerful bow of Vishnu. During the Mahabharata, Vishnu gave Vidura this bow.
  • Indra's bow (also Vijaya Dhanush) - Parasurama gave Vijaya to his student Karna, one of the greatest hero of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
  • Kaundinya's bow - A magic bow wielded by the Brahman Kaundinya I, who used it to make the Nāga princess Soma fall in love with him. (Funan)
  • Kodandam - Rama's bow.
  • Pinaka (Shiva's bow) - The great bow of Shiva, arrows fired from the bow could not be intercepted. The bow given by Shiva to Janaka and broken by Rama during Sita's swayamvara.
  • Sharanga - the bow of the Hindu God Vishnu
  • Sharkha - The bow of Krishna, 8th avatar of Vishnu.
  • Teen Baan - Shiva gave Barbarika three infallible arrows (Teen Baan). A single arrow was enough to destroy all opponents in any war, and it would then return to Barbarika's quiver.

    • Gada

  • Ekasha Gada - The mace of Lord Shiva. A blow from the weapon is the equivalent of being hit by a million elephants.
  • Gada - the main weapon of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, son of Añjanā.
  • Kaumodaki - Kaumodaki is the Gada (mace) of the Hindu god Vishnu
  • Mace of Bhima - It was presented by Mayasura. It was used by Danavas King Vrishaparva.
  • Saunanda - The mushala, a cylidrical rod (weapon) of Balaram.
  • Shibika (a club) - The weapon of Kubera, god of wealth.

    • Khanda

  • Asi (also Sword of Drona) - a legendary sword in Hinduism.
  • Chandrahas - Sword of Ravana granted by Maha Shiva as a boon.
  • Girish - A special sword of Shiva with unique characteristics.
  • Khanda - The khanda is a symbol of Shiva. Khanda often appears in Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh scriptures and art.
  • Nandaka - Is the sword of the Hindu god, Vishnu.
  • Nistrimsha - The sword of Pradyumna, son of Krishna.
  • Pattayudha - The divine sword of Lord Virabhadra, commander of Lord Shiva's Armies.

    • Parashu

  • Parashu - The parashu is an Indian battle-axe. It is generally wielded with two hands but could also be used with only one. It is depicted as the primary weapon of Parashurama (the 6th Avatar of Lord Vishnu).
  • Tanka - The axe of Indra, God of thunder.

    • Pasha

  • Dharma Paasha - The pasha of Lord Dharma.
  • Ganesha Paasha - The pasha of Ganesha.
  • Kaala Paasha - The pasha of Time.
  • Naga Pasha - Pasha of The Nagas. Upon impact, this weapon would bind the target in the coils of living venomous snakes.
  • Shiva Parham - A long noose (of Shiva) from which even the Gods can't escape from.
  • Varuna paasha - Pasha of Varuna, god of water. Can hook any beings be they Deva, Asura or human. Impossible to escape from the hook of this weapon.
  • Yama Paasha - Pasha of Yama, god of death. It arrests and plucks out the life force of any living being. Except for the Trimurti's, no being can escape from this weapon.

    • Shula

  • Jayantha Vel - A spear which contains the power of the third eye of Lord Shiva.
  • Trident of Madhu - It was given as a boon by Shiva to Madhu, a Rakshasa. Then he gave it to his son Lavanasura. It was a very powerful weapon. It destroys anyone who directly fights with its master.
  • Trishula - The trident of Shiva, stylized by some as used as a missile weapon and often included a crossed stabilizer to facilitate flight when thrown. Considered to be the most powerful weapon.
  • Vel - Vel is a divine javelin (spear) associated with the Hindu war god Karthikeya.

    • Vajra

  • Shiva Vajra - A Vajra 100 times more powerful than Indra's Vajra
  • Indra's Thunderbolt - A lightning thunderbolt wielded by Indra, called vajra.

    • Miscellaneous

  • Ashtamangala - The Aṣṭamaṅgala are a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Symbols.
  • Chhatra - An umbrella, according to Hindu mythology, is the emblem of Varuna. A number of deities are depicted with chatra, and they include Revanta, Surya, and Vamana (the 5th avatar of Vishnu).
  • The Dharmachakra (IAST: dharmacakra; Pali dhammacakka; "Wheel of the Dharma"), is one of the Ashtamangala.
  • Hiranyagarbha (World egg) - The source of the creation of the universe or the manifested.
  • Prana - All the cosmic energy, permeating the Universe on all levels. Prana is often referred to as the "life force" or "life energy". It also includes energies present in inanimate objects.
  • Rama Setu In the Ramayana, the vanaras named Nala and Nila construct a floating bridge(known as Rama Setu) across the sea, using stones that floated on water because they had Rama's name written on them.
  • Rudraksha, also rudraksh, ("Rudra's/Shiva's Teardrops"), is a seed traditionally used for prayer beads in Hinduism.
  • Stambha (also spelled as Skambha) - In the context of Hindu mythology, is believed to be a cosmic column. It is believed that the stambha functions as a bond, which joins the heaven (Svarga) and the earth (prithvi).
  • Vedic amulet - In Vedic literature, fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara fig tree having been deemed the "lord of amulets".
  • Wheel of time or wheel of history (also known as Kalachakra) is a concept found in several religious traditions and philosophies, notably religions of Indian origin such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, which regard time as cyclical and consisting of repeating ages.

    • References

    List of mythological objects (Hindu mythology) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA