Whilst an astra is the general term used to denote a supernatural weapon in Hindu mythology, these weapons have certain features that allow them to be distinguished from those found in the mythology of other world cultures. For a start, each astra was presided over by a certain deity. In order for an astra to be used, the deity has to be invoked, who would then bestow supernatural powers onto the weapon wielded by the hero. As a supernatural weapon, an astra could not be countered by regular weapons, though it may be repulsed by another astra.