Who is the most powerful negative character in Hindu mythology?

 Most here are saying Ravana because they are either not aware of other Asuras or simply because Ravana is the most infamous cause of the popularity of Ramayana.......

I would say Hiranyaksha was the most powerful Asura in Hindu mythology cause of following reasons
1. He took the earth or (embodiment of earth) and hid her at the bottom of the 'Cosmic Ocean' or Primordial Ocean, this Primordial Ocean is what existed before creation of the Universe. Most other Asuras or Rakshasas were at best able to rule the earth and some defeated devas, but none is ever known to have taken earth to the bottom of Cosmic Ocean or Patala.
2. Lord Vishnu had to take birth as a Gigantic Varaha in order to Lift earth out and kill Hiranyaksha, this is the first time Lord Vishnu had to incarnate to kill a demon
3. The Varaha avtara and Hiranyaksha fought for over a 1000 years before Hiranyaksha was finally defeated. No other demon thereafter was able to fight either Vishnu or Shiva for so long.
4.If we were to take a closer look at Hindu scriptures all races become weaker with time or as time passes from Satya Yuga to Kaliyuga. Hiranyaksha was an Asura of Satya Yuga. Ravana was a very powerful Asura of Treta Yuga. Lord Rama had to fight and kill him as a human by means that were possible for humans to achieve without using his divine powers.
Other powerful Asuras were Andhakasura (son of Hiranyaksha), Hiranyakashipu( brother of Hiranyaksha), Mahishasura and Raktabeeja

How powerful of a god was Hanuman?

Lord Hanuman , the epitome of power, purity and piety, is a living deity.

Kheda Hanuman : This is an ancient Hanuman shrine is situated in Ujjain.

This small shrine known for its miraculous powers is located next to a road.

It is visited by many devotees throughout the year.

Miracle : Well, local municipal authorities wanted to remove this shrine for a road.

Thus, government engineers and workers tried hard to remove the main idol.

Even JCB , multiple cranes could not move idol even a fraction of an inch.

Despite their best efforts , the main idol remained immovable.

Monkeys : Strangely, more than fifty monkeys (including Langurs) arrived out of no where.

They suddenly occupied the temple roof.

They stayed there until the JCB , cranes and municipal authorities finally left the shrine.

Later on , municipal authorities and devotees covered the Hanuman idol with a tent.

Fact : Lord Hanuman ji is widely known as the epitome of pure Bhakti and immense Shakti.

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev

Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai Kripa Karo Gurudev Ki Nai

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

Who is regarded as the most powerful God in Hindu mythology?

 The one who is worshiped by every god, demon, human, pisach, and every form of life.

The one who rejects all materialism and have disengaged himself from all worldly affairs and Maya.

The one who Drank Halahal to protect the entire Universe.

The one who gifted Vishnu, the legendary Sudarshna Chakra after thousand years of penance.

The one who considers all his Devotees equal and grants him every thing they ask for.

The one who created himself (Swaymbhu) and have no end or beginning.

The one who destroyed Tripurasura with his mere smile and without before using any weapon.

The one who have destroyed his own ego and so of his devotees, and have given the boon to Vishnu to win over him in battlefield for his devotion on him.

The one who destroyed Yama and Kama.

The one who can do the Ultimate dance of destruction.

The one who is a part of Shakti and have Shakti as part of him.

The Bearer of the Trident, the God of Gods, the Destroyer

The Lord of the Universe

It is Indeed SHIVA

PS- Purans and Upnishads have different and clashing views on respective Gods but they are Subordinate. Vedas which are primary considers Rudra to be supreme.

How powerful is Lord Narasimha?

 Narasimha prototype comes from Rigveda . Vishnu is referred to as wild beast universe striding god

• प्र तद्विष्णुः स्तवते वीर्येण
• मृगो न भीमः कुचरो गिरिष्ठाः ।
• यस्योरुषु त्रिषु विक्रमणेष्वधिक्षियन्ति
• भुवनानि विश्वा ॥
• “Viṣṇu is praised for his heroic power, like a fearsome beast, roaming upon the mountains; in whose three expansive strides all the worlds dwell.”

Narasimha is referred to as world striding god who alone is capable of supporting the earth and the entire universe

• यस्य त्री पूर्णा मधुना पदान्यक्षीयमाणा स्वधया मदन्ति ।
• य उ त्रिधातु पृथिवीमुत द्यामेको दाधार भुवनानि विश्वा ॥
• English:
• “His three steps, filled with sweetness, never diminishing, rejoice according to their own power; he alone supports the threefold earth and heaven, indeed all the worlds.

As referenced in rigveda, the universe all the worlds dwells inside the three strides of Vishnu. You can later see the universal form of Narasimha in ithihasas like Mahabharata and some older Puranas like Vishnu Purana.

सर्वं त्रिभुवनं राजन् लोकधर्मस्य शाश्वतः ।

दृश्यते नारसिंहेऽस्मिन् यथेन्दौ विमले जगत् ॥

“All the three worlds, O king, [the eternal foundation/order] of the worlds, is seen in this Narasiṃha, just as the universe is seen in the stainless moon.”

Rigveda description of him is way more badass. The entire universe all the higher worlds dwells under the footsteps of his foot. It's akin to Nirvana buddha . Director of Mahavatar Narasimha told us that he was highly inspired by Rigvedic description and Harivamsa Parva of Mahabharata

As movie depicted , hiranyakashipu became the universe as per brahmas boon.

भवेयमहमेवार्कः सोमो वायुर् हुताशनः ।

सलिलं चान्तरिक्षं च नक्षत्राणि दिशो दश ॥ १.४१.५३ ॥

अहं क्रोधश्च कामश्च वरुणो वासवो यमः ।

धनदश्च धनाध्यक्षो यक्षः किम्पुरुषाधिपः ॥ १.४१.५४ ॥

No matter how great Hiranyakashipu became he is still an ant to Narasimha

Is the goddess Lakshmi powerful? Why are there so many stories that belittle her?

 Disclaimer: This answer is from a Vaishnava perspective and is not intended to diminish or invalidate other traditions or viewpoints.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!

Is the goddess Lakshmi powerful?

She is ParaBrahman and Bhagavati Herself, so I’ll let the scriptures describe Her glory:

The Lakshmi Tantra states:

mahālakṣmīḥ samākhyātā sāhaṃ sarvāṅgasundarī mahāśrīḥ sā mahālakṣmīścaṇḍā caṇḍī ca caṇḍikā bhadrakālī tathā bhadrā kālī durgā maheśvarī triguṇā bhagavatpatnī tathā bhagavatī parā

Translation:

“She is called Mahālakṣmī, the all-beautiful one with every limb perfectly formed. She is Mahāśrī, Mahālakṣmī, and also Caṇḍā, Caṇḍī, and Caṇḍikā. She is Bhadrakālī, Bhadrā, Kālī, Durgā, and Maheśvarī. She is the three guṇas themselves, the consort of Bhagavān, and the supreme Bhagavatī.” - Lakshmi Tantra 4.39-40

The Sri Suktam states:

dhanam agnir dhanaṃ vāyur dhanaṃ sūryo dhanaṃ vasuḥ dhanam indro bṛhaspatir varuṇaṃ dhanam aśnute

Translation:

“O Mother, You are the Power behind Agni; You are the Power behind Vāyu; You are the Power behind Sūrya; and You are the Power behind the Vasus. You are the Power behind Indra, Bṛhaspati, and Varuṇa; You are the All-Pervading Essence underlying everything.” - Sri Suktam 20.1-2

The Devi Suktam states:

a̱hame̱va vāta̎iva̱ pravā̎myā̱rabha̍māṇā̱ bhuva̍nāni̱ viśvā̎
pa̱ro di̱vā pa̱rae̱nā pṛ̍thi̱vyai tāva̍tī mahi̱nā samba̍bhūva

Translation:

“I only breathe forth, like the wind, while holding together all living creatures. I am so vast in greatness, that I am beyond heaven and this earth.” - Rig Veda 10.125.8

The Srimad Bhagavatam says:

yuvāṁ tu viśvasya vibhū jagataḥ kāraṇaṁ param iyaṁ hi prakṛtiḥ sūkṣmā māyā-śaktir duratyayā

Translation:

“My Lord Viṣṇu and mother Lakṣmī, goddess of fortune, you are the proprietors of the entire creation. Indeed, you are the cause of the creation. Mother Lakṣmī is extremely difficult to understand because she is so powerful that the jurisdiction of her power is difficult to overcome. Mother Lakṣmī is represented in the material world as the external energy, but actually she is always the internal energy of the Lord.” - Srimad Bhagavatam 6.19.11

The Vishnu Purana states:

nityaiva sā jagan-mātā viṣṇoḥ śrīr anapāyinī yathā sarva-gato viṣṇus tathaiveyaṁ dvijottamāḥ

Translation:

“She is the eternal mother of the universe, the goddess of fortune of Lord Viṣṇu, and she is never separated from Him. In the same way that Lord Viṣṇu is present everywhere, so is she, O best of brāhmaṇas.” - Vishnu Purana 1.8.15

The Devi Bhagavatam states:

“She (i.e., Lakshmi) is of the nature of Śuddha Sattva (Higher than Sattva Guṇa) and is Kṛṣṇa’s Presiding Deity of all wealth and prosperity. This very beautiful Lakṣmi Devī is the complete master of the senses; She is of a very peaceful temper, of good mood and all-auspicious. She is free from greed, delusion, lust, anger, vanity and egoism. She is devoted to Her husband and to Her Bhaktas; Her words are very sweet and She is very dear to Her husband, indeed, the Life and Soul of Him. This Devī is residing in all the grains and vegetables and so She is the Source of Life of all the beings. She is residing in Vaikunṭha as Mahā Laksmī, chaste and always in the service of Her husband. She is the Heavenly Lakṣmī, residing in the Heavens and the royal Lakṣmī in palaces and the Griha Lakṣmī in the several families of several householders. O Nārada! All the lovely beauty that you see in all the living beings and all the things, it is She; She is the glory and fame of those that have done good and pious works and it is She that is the prowess of the powerful kings. She is the trade of merchants, the mercy of the saints, engaged in doing good to others and the seed of dissensions in those sinful and vicious persons as approved of in the Vedas. She is worshipped by all, reverenced by all.” - Devi Bhagavatam 9.1

Why are there so many stories that belittle her?

This is Her leela (i.e., divine play).

These stories may sometimes apparently belittle Her to us, but there is a deeper reasoning.

Hare Krishna

How powerful is Lord Vishnu?

 Is that even a question? Power itself is subordinate to the Supreme Lord Hari!

The Supreme Lord Narayan is always being massaged at His lotus feet by the Supreme Goddess Lakshmi(who is also present in His heart), who is the representation of ALL of Reality itself, meaning, He is literally massaged by REALITY! Thus, Reality is subordinate to Him:

The Supreme Lord Vasudev sleeps on Adi Shesha, the primordial serpent that represents infinity, meaning He literally sleeps on INFINITY! Thus infinity is subordinate to Him:

The Supreme Lord Achyuta’s weapon is Sudarshan Chakra that represents Time, meaning He has literally made TIME itself His weapon! Thus time is subordinate to Him:

The Supreme Lord Govinda’s another weapon is Kaumodaki Gada which represents Power, so, He literally has POWER also as His weapon! Thus power is subordinate to Him.(No question of HOW powerful He is when Power itself is His weapon!):

HE TRANSCENDS SPACE, TIME, INFINITY AND EVEN REALITY!! Hence He is known as Sarvottam (The one ‘better than’ or ‘transcending’ anything and everything) and since He rules over ALL, He is known as Sarveshwar!

HE CREATES, PRESERVES AND DESTROYS INFINITE UNIVERSES WITH A MERE THOUGHT! HE IS ALSO THE ONE WHO RESIDES IN EVERY ATOM OF HIS CREATIONS AND DOES EVERYTHING!!

His power is not something that can described in words, not in pictures, not even in THOUGHTS!!

JAI SAKALESHWAR SACHCHIDANAND PARA BRAHMA PARAMATMA PARAMESHWAR PARAM PURUSH SRI HARI!!!!!

Who is more powerful, Lord Indra or Lord Kartikeya?

 Both the great Devraj Indra and Kartikeya ji are very powerful warriors. But Kartikeya ji is more powerful than the great Devraj Indra.

Kartikeya ji is the son of Mahadeva and Mata Parvati and is the commander-in-chief of Gods.

In Mahabharata , there is a mention of battle between the great Devraj Indra and Kartikeya ji, which was easily won by Kartikeya ji.

When he was thus forsaken by the gods, Sakra hurled his thunder-bolt at Skanda. It pierced him on the right side; and, O great king, it passed through the body of that high-souled being. And from being struck with the thunder-bolt, there arose from Skanda's body another being--a youth with a club in hand, and adorned with a celestial amulet. And because he was born on account of the piercing of the thunder-bolt, he was named Visakha. And Indra, when he beheld that another person looking like the fierce destroying Fire-god had come into being was frightened out of his wits and besought the protection of Skanda, with the palms of his hands joined together (as a mark of respect). And that excellent being Skanda, bade him renounce all fear, with his arm. The gods were then transported with joy, and their hands too struck up.”

Source : KMG Mahabharata Vana Parva Markandeya Samasya Parva Section CCXXVI

Even the great Devraj Indra accepted his defeat and asked Kartikeya ji to become the new Indra.

Sakra replied, 'Thy prowess is unrivalled, O hero, do thou therefore vanquish the enemies of the gods. People have been struck with wonder at thy prowess. More specially as I have been bereft of my prowess, and defeated by thee, now if I were to act as Indra, I should not command the respect of all creatures, and they would be busy in bringing about dissensions between us; and then, my lord, they would become the partisans of one or other of us. And when they formed themselves into two distinct factions, war as before would be the result of that defection. And in that war, thou wouldst undoubtedly defeat me without difficulty and thyself become the lord of all worlds.'

Source : KMG Mahabharata Vana Parva Markandeya Samasya Parva Section CCXXVIII.

Kartikeya ji refused the offer out of his respect to the great Devraj Indra, the king of Gods.

Sakra said, 'O mighty being, do thou make us happy, by becoming our lord. Excellent being, thou art worthy of the honour; therefore shall we anoint thee this very day.'

Skanda replied, 'Do thou continue to rule the three worlds with self-possession, and with thy heart bent on conquest. I shall remain thy humble servant. I covet not thy sovereignty.'

Source : KMG Mahabharata Vana Parva Markandeya Samasya Parva Section CCXXVIII.

The great Devraj Indra is a very powerful warrior but Kartikeya ji, the son of Mahadeva and Mata Parvati is easily more powerful than him.

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Anusure Mallikarjun

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What were the five most powerful weapons of Shri Krishna?

 Sudharsan Chakra

It was the Primary Weapon of Lord Krishna and he used it many times against powerful foes. One of the notable feats with this weapon is when he used it to cut off the thousands hands of Banasura:

With great force Gadadhara, worked up with ire, took up that wonderful discus, effulgent like the sun, at the discharge of which, all the worlds, mobile and immobile, become unconscious and flesh-eating creatures find great pleasure, discharged it and cut off Vana’s arms. When discharged by Shridhara, parmeating the universe, that firmament-like discus so moved about in the battle-field that no body could see its true form. Gradually cutting off Vana’s thousand arms and making him the owner of only two the Sudarshana discus returned into Krishna’s hands.

Narayanastra

He used this weapon to counter the Pashupatastra of Lord Shiva in Banasura Battle:

Lord Kṛṣṇa counteracted a brahmāstra with another brahmāstra, a wind weapon with a mountain weapon, a fire weapon with a rain weapon, and Lord Śiva’s personal pāśupatāstra weapon with His own personal weapon, the nārāyaṇāstra.

Vaishnavastra

In Shoniputra battle, He terrified and defeated Bhutas, Yakshas and Asuras using this weapon:

Having thus counteracted those four weapons with his four arrows Madhava discharged his Vaishnava weapon like unto Antaka (the destroyer) with his mouth wide open. When the Vaishnava weapon was discharged all the Bhutas, Yakshas and Asuras of Vana’s host, unconscious and stricken with fear, fled on all sides. Then beholding his army abounding in Pramathas thus routed the great Asura Vana speedily ran towards the battle-field.

Saranga Bow

One of the 3 great bows mentioned in Mahabharat previously owned by Vishnu himself:

There were three celestial bows owned by the denizens of heaven, viz., Gandiva owned by Varuna, the bow called Vijaya owned by Indra, and that other celestial bow of great energy said to have been owned by Vishnu. This last (Sarnga), capable of striking fear into the hearts of hostile warriors, was held by Krishna.

Kaumodaki Mace

He used this mace to kill Dantavakra:

Although hit by Dantavakra’s club, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the deliverer of the Yadus, did not budge from His place on the battlefield. Rather, with His massive Kaumodakī club the Lord struck Dantavakra in the middle of his chest. His heart shattered by the club’s blow, Dantavakra vomited blood and fell lifeless to the ground, his hair disheveled and his arms and legs sprawling

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