Talk:Gada

gadā (‘mace or club’) The gadā or the mace is one of the ancient weapons used in direct fighting. It is frequently mentioned in the two epics and the purāṇas. Fighting with the gadā (gadā-yuddha) had been developed into a well-developed art. Hanumān, Balarāma, Bhīma and Duryodhana were experts in the wielding of this weapon.

The gadās of famous warriors had their own special names. Viṣṇu’s mace was called ‘Kaumodakī’, It had been prepared by Viśvakarma, the celestial artisan, from the bones of an exceedingly strong demon Gadāsura. Sometimes Kaumodaki is pictured as a goddess standing on the right side of Viṣṇu. The gadās are of various sizes and shapes, and are made out of hard wood or iron. Gadādhara is one of the names of Viṣṇu since he holds the gadā, Kaumodaki by name. He used it to kill the demon A40 Heti. The particular form of Viṣṇu presid¬ing over the pilgrim centre of Gayā is also ‘Gadādhara’ or ‘Ādi-gadādhara’.