Indian
Vajra
Vajra (वज्र)
Unbreakable as diamond and striking like lightning. It slew Vritra, the serpent of drought.
WeaponFirst recorded c. 1200 BCE
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Photograph: A page from the Razmnama, the Persian translation of the Mahabharata, painted in Mughal India about 1616–17, Arjuna Battles Raja Tamradhvaja. Warriors on chariots, horses and elephants fight between blocks of text.
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1,852 × 3,000 PX1852×3000
ArchiveIndian · Weapon
Gandiva
Gandiva (गाण्डीव)
Paired with a quiver that never empties, its bowstring sounds like thunder.
- Owner
- The hero Arjuna
- Maker
- The creator god Brahma
- First record
- Mahabharatac. 300 BCE
- Gallery
- Indian
Notes on the photograph 3
Story
The fire god Agni wished to restore his strength by burning the Khandava forest, but Indra, its protector, kept sending rain to stop him. Agni asked Krishna and Arjuna for help and, in return, obtained from the water god Varuna the bow Gandiva and two inexhaustible quivers, which he gave to Arjuna.
Gandiva was made by Brahma and reached Arjuna through the hands of many gods and heroes. When Arjuna drew its string it sounded like thunder.
At the great war of Kurukshetra Arjuna felled countless enemies with Gandiva. When the time came for him to end his life, he cast the bow into the sea and returned it to Varuna.
The object in the photo
The photograph shows "Arjuna Battles Raja Tamradhvaja", Folio from a Razmnama(India, ca. 1616–17), a real museum object that evokes the legendary artifact.
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Its three prongs govern creation, preservation and destruction, or past, present and future.
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