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[[File:Sculpture of Vishnu at Rani ki Vav Gujrat DSCN4834 11.tif|thumb|307x307px|Rama as the four-armed Vishnu wielding the bow Sharanga, Gujarat]]
{{Short description|Celestial bow of the Hindu god Vishnu}}
{{About||the district in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia|Sharanga (urban-type settlement)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=December 2016}}

'''Sharnga''' ({{Langx|sa|शार्ङ्ग|translit=Śārṅga}}) also spelled as '''Saranga''' or '''Sharanga''', is the celestial bow of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god [[Vishnu]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=http://archive.org/details/vishnuintroducti0000patt |title=Vishnu : an introduction |date=1999 |publisher=Mumbai : Vakils, Feffer and Simons |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-81-87111-12-2 |pages=95}}</ref> primarily associated with his avatar of [[Rama]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfV5DwAAQBAJ&dq=sharanga+Vishnu&pg=PT57 |title=The Book of Avatars and Divinities |date=2018-11-21 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-362-8 |pages=57 |language=en}}</ref> In [[South India]], the Sharanga is also simply known as the '''Kodanda''', literally meaning bow.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2014-08-03 |title=Kodanda, Kodaṇḍa, Kodamda: 17 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kodanda |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Rama is often praised as ''Kodandapani'', the holder of the Kodanda. The attribute of the bow is also mentioned in the [[Vishnu Sahasranama]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-10-30 |title=Viṣṇu's One Thousand Names (Viṣṇusahasranāma) [Chapter 71] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365648.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Legends ==
The Sharanga is notable for its employment by a number of the [[Dashavatara]], the avatars of Vishnu: Parashurama, Rama, and [[Krishna]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parimala Publications |first=Delhi |url=http://archive.org/details/XcCb_mahabharata-vol-7-shanti-parva-translation-by-m-n-dutt-parimala-publications-delhi |title=Mahabharata Vol 7 Shanti Parva Translation By M N Dutt Parimala Publications, Delhi |pages=119}}</ref> [[Rama]] carries the bow in his epic and is also mentioned to bear it in the [[Padma Purana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-10-31 |title=Rāma Goes to Heaven [Chapter 244] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365828.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> The bow is offered to him by [[Parashurama]], the previous incarnation of Vishnu. In the [[Ramayana]], Parashurama, the [[Brahmin]] warrior who is famously massacred [[Kshatriya]]s, regales the tale of the bow. [[Vishvakarma]] creates the bows of [[Pinaka (Hinduism)|Pinaka]] and Sharanga to settle the question of the superiority of the deities Vishnu and [[Shiva]]. Vishnu is victorious, and Shiva presents his bow to the king of Mithila. Vishnu's bow is passed down to Richika, who presented it to [[Jamadagni]], Parashurama's father, the latter claiming it after his father's assassination. Parashurama challenges Rama to fight him if the latter is able to string the bow. When the prince achieves this, the warrior admits defeat and retires to his abode.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-21 |title=Parasurama challenges Rama to combat [Chapter 75] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc423944.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

In a legend also featured in the Padma Purana, a number of great sages debate regarding the deity most worthy of their obeisance. They dispatch [[Bhrigu]] to the abodes of first [[Shiva]], then [[Brahma]], and finally [[Vishnu]]. Bhrigu finds that Shiva is Spending time with [[Parvati]], Brahma is busy with the aspects of [[rajas]], and Vishnu sleeping on [[Shesha]], [[Lakshmi]] his consort rubbed his feet. When a furious Bhrigu kicks Vishnu on his chest, the latter greets the sage with warmth and considers himself to be blessed by the touch of his feet. Bhrigu hails Vishnu as the holder of the Sharanga as he sings his praises.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-10-31 |title=The Three Gods Subjected to Test by Bhṛgu [Chapter 255] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365840.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

In some versions of [[Krishna]]'s battle with [[Narakasura]], his second queen consort, [[Satyabhama]], takes his bow to slay the asura.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chattopadhyaya |first=Kamaladevi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UtICtluNvU0C&dq=satyabhama+bow&pg=PA15 |title=Indian Women's Battle for Freedom |date=1982 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-162-1 |pages=15 |language=en}}</ref>

== In Literature ==
[[File:Rama with Kodhanda.jpg|thumb|Statue of Rama holding the Sharanga (Kodhanda) bow at the [[Sri Balaji Temple, T. Nagar|TTD Temple]] in [[Chennai]] ]]
In the [[Mahabharata]], [[Yudhishthira]] praises [[Krishna]] as the wielder of the bow Sharanga.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-12-12 |title=Section LXXXIII [Mahabharata, English] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-mohan/d/doc493069.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> In the [[Vishnu Purana]], Krishna employs the bow to defeat [[Jarasandha]]. Sharanga, the mace [[Kaumodaki]] and two quivers with infinite arrows appear from the heavens to aid Krishna; similarly the plough and the club Sounanda appear for Krishna's brother [[Balarama]]. Together, the brothers defeat Jarasandha.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2013-05-25 |title=Jarasandha |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-vishnu-purana/d/doc57633.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> In the [[Padma Purana]], Vishnu uses the bow to combat Jalandhara.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-09-26 |title=War Between Gods and Demons [Chapter 5] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365436.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> In the same scripture, Krishna is said to shoot from the Sharanga during his elopement with his chief consort, [[Rukmini]]; He defeats Rukmini's brother [[Rukmi]], shattering his foe's chariot and banner with arrows. Later, Krishna also destroyed Rukmi's sword with arrows. Krishna humiliates Rukmi by binding him and shaving his head.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-10-31 |title=Rukmiṇī's Abduction [Chapter 247] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365832.html |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
* The [[Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam|Sarangapani temple]] at [[Kumbakonam]] takes its name partly from the bow.
* A ''[[kaiju]]'' in ''[[Godzilla: Singular Point]]'' is named Sharanga (サルンガ or Salunga) due to its emergence in India and the bow-like shape on its head.
* The sharanga is an available weapon in the video games ''[[Raji: An Ancient Epic]]'', where it is depicted as a [[compound bow]], and in ''[[Hades (video game)|Hades]]'' where it is available as a variant of Zagreus' bow.
* [[Mirai (2025 film)]], the main plot focuses on a superweapon called Mirai which is revealed as kodanda of [[Lord Rama]].

== See also ==

* [[Pinaka (Hinduism)|Pinaka]]
* [[Gandiva]]
* [[Vijaya (bow)|Vijaya]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Chaitanya sampradaya}}

[[Category:Weapons of Vishnu]]
[[Category:Bows (archery)]]

Sharnga - Revision history

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