Gandiva

Gandiva is the celestial bow wielded by the Pandava prince Arjuna in the Indian epic Mahabharata. In many traditions, the bow is a divine weapon granted to Arjuna by the gods, commonly attributed to the fire god Agni with assistance from the divine architect Vishvakarma. The bow is described as radiant and exceptionally durable, capable of drawing with great force. It is reputed to shoot a rapid and seemingly inexhaustible stream of arrows, enabling Arjuna to strike multiple targets and adapt to changing battlefield conditions.

In the Mahabharata, Gandiva is one of Arjuna's principal weapons during the Kurukshetra War, used to overcome formidable foes and support the Pandava cause. The weapon is often presented as a symbol of divine assistance in righteous combat and of Arjuna's prowess as an archer.

Beyond the epic, Gandiva appears in later retellings, art, and popular culture as an emblem of archery mastery and heroic virtue. References to Gandiva underscore themes of skill enhanced by celestial aid, a common motif in Hindu mythological literature. Different sources offer variations on its origin and attributes, but the Gandiva remains widely recognized as Arjuna's iconic divine bow.