Table of Contents
Introduction
Weapons in Sanskrit are called astra, explained using the root as, meaning to throw, making it something that can be released or thrown. These weapons hold far more significance beyond just their physical forms. They act as extensions of divine energy (shakti). They are symbols of cosmic functions of the deities, embodiments of knowledge, time, ego-destruction, protection and dharma. In Indian art and iconographic traditions, these are identifiers of deities. Be it in temple sculptures, miniature paintings, wood inlay, metal icons or folk art, the weapon is often the key to recognizing the deity. In Indian iconography, the weapon is a language. This blog seeks to explore what the weapons of some deities represent, forming a tangible representation of their duties, powers and personality in Indian art.
Ganesha
Starting with Ganesha, the elephant headed god, the remover of obstacles and god of auspicious new beginnings.
pāśāṅkuśa-paraśuṁ ca varadaṁ modakaṁ tathā |
ekadantaṁ mahākāyaṁ lambodaraṁ gajānanaṁ ||
“I meditate upon the elephant-faced Lord, large-bodied and single-tusked,
who holds the noose (pāśa), goad (aṅkuśa), axe (paraśu), and a modaka,
and whose hand grants boon”
As mentioned in the above verse and seen in the paintings below, Ganesha, in his four arms, holds an axe, goad and noose, along with a bowl of sweets. The pasa or noose symbolises binding and control over worldly attachments, while the ankusha or goad symbolises guidance and control of the mind and the parashu or axe is a representation of cutting obstacles and ego. He also holds his broken tusk in one hand, which symbolises sacrifice and knowledge.
Ganesha’s weapons are psychological and spiritual, not martial.
Lord Ganesha in Kerala Mural by Jijulal
The Remover of Obstacles: Lord Ganesha in Kalamkari by Siva Reddy
Lord Ganesha: the Elephant-Head Deity in Wood Carving by Shrinivasan
Check out our entire collection of Ganesha artworks here
To read more about Ganesha and his iconography, give our other blogs a read -
Vishnu
Vishnu, the preserver of the trimurti, has a very distinct iconography too, with his weapons as the discus or chakra and the mace or gada.
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma-dharaṁ pītāmbaraṁ harim |
sarasīruha-netraṁ ca dhyāyed viṣṇuṁ catur-bhujam ||
“One should meditate upon four-armed Viṣṇu, lotus-eyed, clad in yellow garments,
who bears the conch (śaṅkha), discus (cakra), mace (gadā), and lotus (padma).”
The Sudarshan chakra is a symbol of the cyclical nature of time and of the cosmic mind, a representation of dharma. The Kaumodaki gada represents the strength of knowledge.
Sheshashayi Vishnu in Oleograph by R.G. Chonker
In the Dashavatara of Vishnu, each incarnation has their own weapons.
While Matsya and Kurma do not use specific weapons, Varaha uses its tusks to lift the earth out of the cosmic waters.
Varaha Avatar saving the Earth in Kalamkari by Kanukurthi Guna Sekhar Sai
The Narasimha avatar is that of a half-man and half-lion, using his claws to tear open the demon Hiranyakashayapa, exhibiting raw divine justice beyond weapons.
Roaring Divinity: Kalighat Patua Painting Unleashes Narsimha's Power by Hasir Chitrakar
The Vamana avatara holds the staff and umbrella, symbolizing spiritual authority. Parashurama, as his name suggests, carries a Parashu or axe, which symbolizes destruction of ego and corruption.
Lord Vishnu and the Dashavatars in Cheriyal art by D. Vinay Kumar
Rama carries a bow, named Kodanda, which is a symbol of dharma, focus and righteousness, reinforcing his role as maryada Purushottam, the ideal man and king.
Lord Rama in Kadam Wood carving by Om Prakash
Balarama holds a plough or hala, symbolising the importance of agriculture, and the use of tools and implements not just for war but for agriculture and sustenance. Krishna uses the same chakra of Vishnu, while Kalki is depicted with a sword, representing the destruction of adharma.
Dashavatara: The Ten Avataras of Lord Vishnu in Manuscript Painting by Sujit Das
Check out our other blogs to know more about the stories and iconography of Dashavataara
Shiva
Shiva, the destroyer of the universe, holds the trishula or trident, pinaka or bow, parashu or axe, damaru, etc.
triśūla-ḍamaru-hastaṁ ca varadābhaya-hastakam |
jaṭā-mukuṭa-dhāriṇaṁ dhyāyed devaṁ maheśvaram ||
“One should meditate upon the great Lord Maheśvara,
who holds the trident (triśūla) and the ḍamaru,
whose other hands grant boons and protection,
and who wears matted locks as a crown.”
The Trishula represents the three gunas - sattva, rajas and tamas, along with time and ego-destruction, while the bow shows both destructive and protective power. In art, Shiva’s weapons show cosmic balance, not war.
Shiva with Parvati and Ganesh, Oleograph by Raja Ravi Varma
In his form as Nataraja, the fire (agni) in Shiva’s upper hand symbolizes samhara, the cosmic dissolution that makes renewal possible. It is not destructive in anger but transformative in purpose, reducing all forms back to their essence. As the other hand beats the damaru of creation, the fire represents the inevitable end of forms, showing that creation and dissolution occur together in the divine dance. Held calmly in his palm, the fire signifies that even destruction is under cosmic control, serving as a metaphor for the burning away of ignorance and ego.
Tandava Shiva In Mysore by Raghavendra B B
Check out more artworks depicting Shiva here
To know more about the iconography of Shiva, give our other blogs a read
Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda)
śakti-hastaṁ kumāraṁ ca mayūrāsana-saṁsthitam |
śakti-dharaṁ mahā-vīryaṁ dhyāyet skandaṁ ṣaḍ-ānanam ||
“One should meditate upon Skanda, the six-faced youth seated upon a peacock,
who holds the śakti (spear/vel) in his hand and is endowed with great valor.”
His primary weapon is a Vel or spear, also called Shakti, given to him by Parvati. It is a symbol of piercing ignorance and creating a way for knowledge. In South Indian art, the Vel is often more important than the figure itself. In his form as Shanmukha, the six faced Skanda, he also holds other divine weapons like sword and trisula. Though Kartikeya is the god of war, his spear is not a weapon of war, but a symbol of sharp, penetrating wisdom that removes inner darkness.
Shanmukha Subramanyam (Kartikeya) Oleograph by Raja Ravi Varma (Embellished)
To know more about the iconography of Kartikeya, read our other blog here -
Hanuman
Hanuman, the monkey god, who is a devotee of Lord Rama, holds his gada or mace.
gadā-hastaṁ mahā-vīryaṁ parvataṁ ca dhāriṇam |
rāma-dūtaṁ mahā-bāhuṁ dhyāyet vāyu-sutaṁ harim ||
“One should meditate upon Hanumān, the mighty-armed son of Vāyu,
who holds the mace (gadā) in his hand and bears the mountain,
the heroic messenger of Rāma.”
The gada or mace signifies strength, steadfast devotion and moral power.
Lord Hanuman: The Wise Monkey God , Antique Tanjore
Durga
In the story of Mahishasura mardini, when the goddess sets forth to go to war with the buffalo king Mahishasura, each god gives her a weapon. Vishnu gives her his chakra, symbolizing time and order; Shiva gives her his Trishula, giving her power over creation and destruction; Indra gives his vajra, symbolizing firmness; Vayu and Surya give her a bow and arrows, symbolising direction and energy; Kala gives her a sword, representing wisdom and Agni gives her a spear, a symbol of its purifying force. In art, Durga is the embodiment of all divine powers (shakti) combined.
śūlaṁ cakraṁ gadāṁ śaktiṁ khaḍgaṁ ca dhanur-bāṇakam |
pāśāṅkuśa-dharāṁ devīṁ mahiṣāsura-mardinīm ||
One should meditate upon the Goddess Mahīṣāsuramardinī,
who bears the trident, discus, mace, spear, sword, bow and arrows, noose and goad,
the slayer of the buffalo demon.”
Valorant Mahishasuramardini In Mysore by Hemalatha B
In her form as Kali, she holds a sword and a severed head.
khaḍgaṁ chinna-śiraḥ haste varadābhaya-dāyinīm |
muṇḍa-mālā-dharāṁ devīṁ dhyāyet kālikāṁ parām ||
“One should meditate upon the supreme Goddess Kālī,
who holds the sword and a severed head in her hands,
who grants boons and fearlessness, and who wears a garland of skulls.”
Maa Kali in Bengal Pattachitra by Laila Chitrakar
Check out our entire collection of Durga paintings here
Read this blog to know more about the various depictions of Durga and her forms in Indian art -
Markandeya and Lord Shiva In Kalighat by Manoranjan Chitrakar
Exposition of Dharamraj in Terracotta by Dinesh Molela
Saraswati
Saraswati does not carry a weapon in its traditional sense, but she carries a Veena, Vedas and akshamala, symbolizing knowledge of music, the scriptures and spirituality, establishing that knowledge is the ultimate weapon.
yā kundendu-tuṣāra-hāra-dhavalā yā śubhra-vastrāvṛtā |
yā vīṇā-vara-daṇḍa-maṇḍita-karā yā śveta-padmāsanā ||
yā brahmācyuta-śaṅkara-prabhṛtibhir devaiḥ sadā vanditā |
sā māṁ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī niḥśeṣa-jāḍyāpahā ||
“May Goddess Sarasvatī protect me. She who is radiant like jasmine, the moon and snow,
clad in pure white garments,
whose hands are adorned with the vina,
who is seated on a white lotus,
and who is ever worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
she who removes all dullness and ignorance.”
Goddess Saraswati In white saree in Mysore by Raghavendra B B
Check out our entire collection of Saraswati paintings here
To know more about Goddess Saraswati, read our other blogs
Manjushri, God of Wisdom: Thangka Painting by Krishna Tashi Palmo
Vajrapani, like the name suggests, holds a Vajra or thunderbolt, a symbol of indestructible spiritual power and enlightenment.
Vajrapani: Thangka Painting by Krishna Tashi Palmo
