gandiva

According to the Mahabharata, the legendary Gandiva bow was fashioned by Brahma, the creator of the universe, for the noble purpose of safeguarding Dharma. This sacred weapon was then passed on to Lord Shiva, who held it for a millennium before it was entrusted to Brahma for a period of 503 years. Subsequently, Indra wielded the bow for 580 years, followed by Chandra Deva for 500 years. Finally, Varuna held the bow for a 100 years before bestowing it upon Arjuna, the valiant warrior of the Pandavas.{{cite web | url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04043.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 4: Virata Parva: Go-harana Parva: Section XLIII }}

Agni, the god of fire, wanted to devour the forest of Khandavaprastha, to regain his power and splendor. He had enlisted the help of the two heroes, Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna was one of the best warriors and the greatest archer of the world at that time. He demanded from Agni a bow that would suit his strength, skill, and the power of celestial weapons.

Agni then requested Varuna to bless him with the desired weapon. Varuna gave the Gandiva bow to Arjuna, as well as two quivers which would provide an inexhaustible number of arrows.{{cite web |title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa: Adi parva. Khandava-daha Parva |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01229.htm}}{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa: Adi parva. Sabha parva |date=1883 |publisher=Bharata Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/mahabharataofkri07royp/page/623 623] |url=https://archive.org/details/mahabharataofkri07royp |quote=Gandiva. |language=en}}{{cite book |title=Vyasa's Mahabharatam |date=2008 |publisher=Academic Publishers |isbn=9788189781682 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkUQYvw2HGkC&q=Gandiva |language=en}} The bow was dreaded by many during the Kurukshetra war, having defeated and killed many great warriors and the gods themselves.

The Gandiva gives a wielder self confidence, self belief.{{cite book |last1=Srivastava |first1=Diwaker Ikshit |title=Decoding the Metaphor Mahabharata |date=2017 |publisher=Leadstart Publishing PvtLtd |isbn=9789352010004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmxCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT165 |language=en}} It is believed to have the strength of one hundred thousand bows and the bow consisted of 108 celestial string. Gandiva was indestructible and was worshiped by the celestials and the Gandharvas.{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa: Adi parva. Sabha parva |date=1883 |publisher=Bharata Press |page=624 |url=https://archive.org/details/mahabharataofkri05royp |quote=Gandiva. |language=en}}

At the end of the Dvapara Yuga, Krishna departed the Earth and left for Vaikuntha. When Krishna was departing, he told Arjuna to rescue the people of Dwaraka because he was submerging Dwaraka under ocean. Arjuna temporarily could not string the bow, or remember the spells necessary in order to summon his celestial weapons when Dwaraka was drowning. Arjuna knew that his time on earth was up as well, Vyasa had told him this event will happen and when it happens, Arjuna's work on earth is over. Later, the Pandavas retired and journeyed to the Himalayas. On their route, Agni came and asked Arjuna to return the Gandiva to Varuna, for it belonged to the gods. Arjuna obliged and dropped them in the waters of the sea. Thus the celestial bow was returned to the gods.{{cite book |title=Vyasa's Mahabharatam |date=2008 |publisher=Academic Publishers |isbn=9788189781682 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkUQYvw2HGkC&q=Gandiva |language=en}}

• Gandiveshwar Sthan
• Vijaya
• Sharanga
• Pinaka

{{reflist}}Metaphysically, Gandiva is the “bow of self-control.” With it Arjuna was equipped for victory over “the sense soldiers of the blind king Mind.” “Charioteered by God, he must rally the army of emperor Discrimination with its forces of virtue and its allies of spiritual perception.” (Paramahansa Yogananda-ji’s commentary on XVIII:78)

• http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01228.htm
• http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04043.htm

{{Wikisource|The Mahabharata}}

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Category:Mahabharata

Category:Weapons in Hindu mythology

Category:Bows (archery)