Operation Mahadev executed by Army’s Pashupatastra
By Colonel Awadhesh Kumar, Retd
Matters Military is a very tough nut not easily understood by most in the Indian Media. The other day a leading Indian daily had reported about Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw breathing his last In far off New Zealand.
The poor journalist and his equally ignorant Editor totally unaware about the life and probably of the deeds of the late Field Marshal, mistook The Wellington in Kunoor for the Wellington in New Zealand.
Naturally News 18 too has to be tolerated and forgiven for not knowing the history of the Indian airborne forces in general and the Parachute Regiment in particular. So no wonder as per News 18, now highly famous 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) was raised by the British Indian Army in 1941 itself. Thank god no one is reporting that India became independent in 1942 itself when Brits were asked to BHARAT CHHORO.
Indian Army already had 9 the NARAYANASTRA raised as Meghdoot Force in Sep 1965 and fully tested in 1971 Indo Pak War. Now we have 4 the PASHUPATASTRA which was fully tested in during the URI Surgical Strike in 2016.
The Pashupatastra is the divine weapon of Lord Shiva. It is an ultimate, weapon that can be invoked by even telepathy and is capable of causing immense destruction. The Pashupatastra is capable of annihilating entire armies, mountains, and even celestial beings. The Pashupatastra also symbolizes the power of divine intervention, the consequences of wielding such power, and the importance of ethical responsibility.
The 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment was raised just prior to the 1962 Indo China War. The Unit was raised in 1961 as the fourth standard parachute battalion as part of the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army Infantry Corps. Till now the Parachute Regiment had three battalions transferred from other Regiments ie 1 Para (Punjab ), 2 Para ( Maratha Li ) and 3 Para ( Kumaon ).
4 Para saw it’s first action in the Sand dunes of Runn of Kutch in early 1965 itself and thereafter actively participated in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. This Unit of one of the Indian Army’s most elite and battle-hardened Infantry Regiment- The Parachute Regiment renowned for their exceptional role right from Aug1947 — found itself deployed in VVT area of Jaffna Peninsula in 1987 as part of IPKF along with 5 Para. The the Parachute Special Forces battalions 1 Para SF, 9 Para SF and 10 Para SF were also there.
Thus five out of 9 units of the Parachute Regiment (Para SF), commonly referred to as the ‘Red Devils’ due to their signature maroon berets, internationally associated with airborne forces, was deployed as part of IPKF simultaneously. In 1988 even 6 Para and elements of 7 Para also got deployed in Maldives.
After raising of the HQ Special Forces in 1993 the Special Forces were augmented with a fourth battalion — 21 Para SF( converted from 21 Maratha Li ). There after there was a major doctrine shift where select airborne battalions—2 Para, 3 Para and 4 Para—converted from Infantry role to specialized unconventional warfare capabilities and were reorganized into Para SF. Thus by 2001 this unit 4 Para was converted into Para SF.
Then, they began their advanced training both insitu and at SF Training School and commenced sharpening their skills with foray into the Kashmir Valley. Co located with NARAYANASTRA the Unit slowly began taking on the mantle of PASHUPATASTRA, consolidating their environmental mastery and resilience.
Then in 2016 this mighty weapon was tested during the surgical strikes opposite Uri. 4 the Pashupatastra executed a deep planned cross-border operation to punish the terrorist who had carried out the Uri terror attack. Terrorist bases located in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir were totally neutralised with zero casualties on own side. Thus was born the Indian Army’s Pashupatastra to bolster the proactive terror neutralization doctrine pioneered by Narayanastra
In April 2020 Kupwara snow encounter showcased the adaptability of 4 in extreme conditions. A heliborne insertion into a dense snow-covered mountainous forest, saw 4 engaging heavily armed infiltrators in intense close-quarters combat and ultimately eliminating all terrorists involved.
Most recently, in July 2025, the Pashupatastra has been used in an operation aptly name Operation Mahadev. The operation was conducted in the dense forest inside the Dachigam National Park.
A few People sitting in the comforts of AC environment and with no knowledge of the harsh terrain of Kashmir were questioning as to why the terrorists responsible for Pahalgam massacre were still at large.
Then the Pashupatastra struck and it resulted in the elimination of three terrorists, including the mastermind behind that massacre.
Thus Narayanastra and Pashupatastra have become synonymous with swift, decisive, and deadly actions upholding a legacy of relentless commitment to national security. Only the most physically and mentally robust individuals become part of these elite outfits.
Their reputation as one of Worlds most lethal strike forces comes not only from their combat prowess but also from their willingness to go for high-risk, high-impact operations. Surgical accuracy and swift execution is the hallmark of their operational philosophy.
