Essay name: Archaeology and the Mahabharata (Study)
Author:
Gouri Lad
Affiliation: Deccan College Post Graduate And Research Institute / Department of AIHC and Archaeology
This study examines the Mahabharata from an archaeological perspective. The Maha-Bbharata is an ancient Indian epic written in Sanskrit鈥攊t represents a vast literary work with immense cultural and historical significance. This essay aims to use archaeology to verify and contextualize the Mahabharata's material aspects.
Chapter 14 - Weapons
74 (of 123)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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531 16
.
Bhaumastra: was used to go underground
by splitting open the earth with arrows (1.125.20).
17. Parvatam astram : also known as Sailastra
was used to create monutains, probably huge stone boulders
from nowhere (1.125.20).
V
To this category belong 2-3 astras which seem to
involve some use of magic and hypnotism. They are certainly
fictions, a product of the poet's imagination and it is
very unlikely that any of the Epic heroes were trained in
magic or hypnotism.
18.
Kauberastra: helped a person to dissapear
from the scene of action, whenever he so desired. Hence it
is also called 'antardhanam
astram'
The astra also had power to cause a kind of
stupor in the opponent, as if he had gone to sleep, (I.125.
20%; III.42.33).
19.
Samohanastra: too performed the same task.
How exactly the Kaurava army was lulled to sleep by Arjuna
is explained in the Virataparva. While shooting a
continuous stream of arrows Arjuna deliberately kept on
twanging his bow-string and blowing his conch. The vibrat-
ing notes of the string coupled with deep resounding cry of
the conch created a peculiar hypnotic effect on the minds
of the Kauravas, causing them to keep down their weapons
