story of gandiva bowImage Credit source: PTI
Mahabharata said: Whenever Arjuna’s bravery is discussed in the Mahabharata, the name of his divine bow Gandiva is always taken. Because it was not just an ordinary bow, but a divine weapon created by the gods, about whose power we find in the Puranas and the Mahabharata. It is believed that in the presence of Gandiva, it was almost impossible to defeat Arjuna on the battlefield. But do you know that Arjun did not have this bow from the beginning? There is a very interesting and mysterious story behind it.
Brahma had created Gandiva
According to mythological beliefs, Gandiva bow was created by the creator Brahma. It was so powerful that it was not considered easy for ordinary humans, let alone gods, to wear it. It is said that just by stringing this bow, there was fear in the minds of the enemies. Gandiva was created with divine powers and it remained with all the gods for a long time. That is why it is counted among the most divine and wonderful bows in the universe.
This divine weapon kept roaming among the gods
According to mythology, Gandiva was first possessed by Brahma. Later he handed it over to Prajapati. From Prajapati this bow reached Indra and then went to Chandradev. After this it came to Varun Dev. This bow remained safe with the gods for thousands of years. Considering its power and importance, it was not given to any common warrior. Only that person could wear it who had extraordinary bravery, penance and followed religion.
How did Gandiva reach Arjun?
According to the story of Mahabharata, once upon a time, Agnidev wanted to incinerate the Khandava forest, but Indra foiled his plan by raining repeatedly. Then Agnidev sought help from Lord Krishna and Arjun. Agnidev knew that it would not be easy to compete with Indra. Therefore he requested Varun Dev to give the divine weapon to Arjun. After which Varun Dev gave Gandiva bow, two Akshaya quiver and a divine chariot to Arjun. Then Arjun along with Lord Krishna helped Agnidev and the burning of Khandava forest was completed. From here Gandiva became Arjun’s permanent weapon.
What was the specialty of Gandiva?
The biggest feature of Gandiva was its divine power. Along with this, Arjun also got two inexhaustible quivers, in which the arrows never ran out. The number of arrows fired during the war was replenished. It is said that the arrow shot from Gandiva was extremely fast and destructive. This was the reason why Arjun was victorious in the Mahabharata war after facing many great warriors.
Role of Gandiva in Mahabharata war
Gandiva became the biggest power of Arjun in the war of Kurukshetra. Arjun used this bow against Bhishma Pitamah, Karna, Jayadratha and many mighty warriors. When Gandiva’s voice was heard on the battlefield, an atmosphere of fear was created in the opposing army. Therefore, the combination of Arjun’s martial arts and the power of Gandiva made him the most unique warrior in the Mahabharata.
What happened to Gandiva after the war?
After the end of the Mahabharata war, it is said that at the behest of Agnidev, Arjun surrendered Gandiva and Akshaya quiver back into the water. With this this divine bow again returned to the world of the gods.
Also read: Ramayana katha: Krishna was Arjun’s charioteer, so who took command of Ram’s chariot during the war with Ravana?
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and information from the Mahabharata story. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.
