The Brahmastra is a superweapon created by Brahma, part of the Hindu Trinity along with Vishnu

and Shiva. It was considered as the ultimate weapon that can destroy everything, and there was only
one defense against it, the Brahmadananda. Another weapon, known as the Brahmashira, was even
more powerful. The main adversaries in the Ramayana, Ram and Ravan are said to have each used a
Brahmashira in their epic battle, at a time many years earlier than the battle at Kurukshetra. Other
super-weapons are “Rama’s Arrow,” the “trishul,” and the “chakram,”—personal weapons of the
gods, but apparently also used by normal humans in many fights with each other.

As described in a number of the Puranas, brahmastra was considered the deadliest weapon. It was said
that when the Brahmastra was discharged, there was neither a counter attack nor a defense that could
stop it, except by Brahmadanda, a stick also created by Brahma. 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 on the Lord Brahma; it
could only be used once in a lifetime. The user would have to display immense amounts of mental
concentration. 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. Through this invocation the user
can call upon the weapon and use it via a medium against his adversary.

Since Brahma is considered as 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
creation. The target, when hit by Brahmastra, would be utterly destroyed. Brahma had created
a weapon even more powerful than the Brahmastra, called the Brahmashira. The Brahmashira
was never used in war, as it had four times more power than the Brahmastra, i.e. Fourth
power square, as the name suggests, since Brahma has Four Heads.

The weapon was also believed to cause severe environmental damage. The land where the
weapon was used became barren and all life in and around that area ceased to exist, as both
women and men became infertile. There was also a severe decrease in rainfall with the land
developing cracks, like in a drought. The Brahmastra, described as an “iron thunderbolt,” was
apparently a fairly well known weapon in the sense that scores of them were possibly made—
like nuclear warheads—and were in the possession of various armies and kingdoms which
occasionally desired to use them—though sometimes the gods stopped them from using these
awesome weapons against each other in what seems to us today as rather petty conflicts.

There are a number of instances in Sanskrit scriptures where the Brahmastra is used—or
threatened to be used. Vishvamitra used it against Vasishta, but the Brahmastra was
swallowed by Brahmadanda, Lord Brahma’s countermeasure against the Brahmastra. In the
Ramayana a Brahmastra is used by Shri Rama as the “final blow” against Rakshasa Ravan
during their battle in Lanka. Also, Indrajit used Brahmastra against Hanuman when he was
destroying the Ashok Vatika after meeting Sita. Lakshman also tried to use it with Indrajit in
the same battle, but Ram stopped him from using the weapon saying, “his use of the
Brahamastra was not justified, nor would it benefit mankind.” It is also mentioned in vedas
that Brahmastra was aimed by Shri Ram to make way out of sea so that the army of apes can
march towards Lanka, however at the very moment, Varuna appeared and told Lord Ram,
about the technical flaws of using the weapon and hence later was aimed towards Poorv
Disha—“East Direction” by Lord Rama. Also Indrajit aimed a Bhramastra at Lord
Lakshaman on the final battle between him and Lord Lakshman, however deadly weapon
returned unharmed.
Prior to the Epic war of the war of the Mahabharata, Karn was planning to use the
Brahmastra to fight Arjuna, but because of Parasurama's curse he was unable to do so. The
Brahmastra is also used in a confrontation of Arjuna and Ashwatthama in Mahabharata,
where Arjuna retracts his weapon, as ordered to do so, but Ashwatthama is unable to retract
his weapon and instead sends it to attack Arjuna’s unborn grandson, named Parikshit.This
confrontation is also said to have involved the Brahmashira, a four times more destructive
weapon. In one version, Ashwatthama did not have his bow and arrow near him when he was
confronted by Arjun, so he took a piece of straw and invoking the proper phrase, or activating
the weapon with a special code, he threw the straw at Arjuna, and it carried the power of the
Brahmashiras.

In response, Arjun also invoked the Brahmashira to counter Ashwatthama's—but the

collision of two Brahmashiras would have destroyed the universe ! Therefore, the Rishi Vyas
came bodily between the two Brahmashiras weapons, preventing them from colliding. Arjun
was able to call back his Brahmashira, but Aswathama did not know how to do this, so he
commanded his weapon to attack the unborn grandchild of Arjun, Parikshit, who is
subsequently saved by the god-like powers of Krishna.

The events of the Mahabharata and the Kurukshetra War evidently take place in northern
India and even Afghanistan. When the Indus Valley Civilization cities were finally excavated
in the 1930s, 40s and 50s it was found that they had been completely destroyed, with people
lying dead in the streets. Some sort of sudden doom had overtaken these cities, apparently
killing everyone, leaving no one behind to bury the dead. This seems just like the
Mahabharata’s description of the events in the Kurukshetra War.