War in Ancient India c6.s3.16

c6.s3.16

The Astra⁷³ is associated with the boomerang, and has a long head at the top and a knot at the foot, with the middle bent. Whirling, drawing, and rending are its three movements. In the Madras Museum three boomerangs—two of ivory and one of wood—are exhibited. Dr. Oppert had drawn attention to these, and said that they were not of Australian origin but native to the soil and especially to South India, where the boomerang is known as vaḷaitaḍi or bent stick.