A kind of divine weapon used in warfare in ancient times. After the completion of the Pāṇdava (Pandava) and Kaurava princes, Droṇācarya (Dronacharya) made arrangements for an exhibition of their military skills. In that arena, Arjuna displayed his skill as an archer, by using āgneya astra (agneya astra; firey weapon) to create fire.

Sri Kṛṣna helped the god of Agni in the burning of the Khāṇdava (Khandava) forest, and Agnideva, being pleased, presented him with a cakra (wheel-like weapon) called Sudārśana (Sudarsana). This Sudarśana cakra is described as an āgneya (agneya; fiery) weapon in the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). The middle part of this weapon was thunder-like.

In the war at Kurukśetra (Kurukshetra), hearing the news of the death of Dronācarya, Aśvatthāmā in his fury hurled the āgneya weapon called ‘Nārayaṇa'(Narayana), at the Pāṇdava (Pandava)army. His weapon destroyed one akṣauhiṇī (akshauhini; a measuring unit of the army, see akṣauhiṇī) of the Pāṇdava soldiers.

In Karṇaparva (Karnaparva), when there had been a battle between Karṇa (Karna) and Arjuna, the latter hurled an āgneya weapon against Karṇa.

In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) and Viṣnupurāṇa (Visnupurana) it is said that King Sagara received  āgneya astra from Aurva, son of Bhṛgu (Bhrigu).