in ancient indian mythology, the brahmastra (, iast: brahmāstra) and its variants, the brahmashirsha astra and the brahmanda astra were supernatural weapons used in the war of mahabharata and are collectively called brahma weapons. the brahmashirsha astra was a weapon that was said to be able to destroy the world. as per mythology, these weapons are all supposedly created by lord brahma, except for brahmanda-astra.