Vajrastra, Vajrāstra, Vajra-astra: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Vajrastra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramVajrāstra (वज्रास्त्र) or simply Vajra refers to the “thunderbolt” and as one of the weapons (attributes) of Goddess Kubjikā symbolizes “the acquisition of control of others”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismVajrāstra (वज्रास्त्र) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Vajrāstra).
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryvajrāstra (वज्रास्त्र).—n S The thunderbolt as the weapon of Indra.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Vajra, Astra.
Full-text: Astra.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Vajrastra, Vajrāstra, Vajra-astra; (plurals include: Vajrastras, Vajrāstras, astras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 171 - Battle between Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 19 - The Battle between Viṣṇu and Kālanemi < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study) (by Debabrata Barai)
Part 20 - Study Conducted on Rājaśekhara’s Kāvyamīmāṃsā < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 45 - Śrī Rāma Appears on the Battlefield < [Section 5 - Pātāla-Khaṇḍa (Section on the Nether World)]