FReeper Canteen ~ Part IX of War in Ancient India ~ September 7, 2004

A Tribute to Hinduism ^ | September 7, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

ANCIENT WARFARE





Part IX: War in Ancient India

Aerial Warfare

No question can be more interesting in the present circumstances of the world than India’s contribution to the science of aeronautics. There are numerous illustration in our vast Puranic and epic literature to show how well and wonderfully the ancient Indians conquered the air. To glibly characterize everything found in this literature as imaginary and summarily dismiss it as unreal has been the practice of both Western and Eastern scholars until very recently. The very idea indeed was ridiculed and people went so far to assert that it was physically impossible for man to use flying machines. But today what with balloons, airplanes…..” 

Turning to Vedic literature, in one of the Brahmanas occurs the concept of a ship that sails heavenwards. The ship is the Agnihotra of which the Ahavaniya and Garhapatya fires represent the two sides bound heavenward, and the steersman is the Agnihotrin who offers milk to the three Agnis. Again in the still earlier Rg Veda Samhita we read that the Asvins conveyed the rescued Bhujya safely by means of winged ships. The latter may refer to the aerial navigation in the earliest times.  

In the recently published Samarangana Sutradhara of Bhoja, a whole chapter of about 230 stanzas is devoted to the principles of construction underlying the various flying machines and other engines used for military and other purposes. 

The various advantages of using machines, especially flying ones, are given elaborately. Special mention is made of their use at one’s will and pleasure, of their uninterrupted movements, of their strength and durability, in short of their capability to do in the air all that is done on earth. Three movements are usually ascribed to these machines, - ascending, cruising thousands of miles in different directions in the atmosphere and lastly descending. It is said that in an aerial car one can mount up to Suryamandala, ‘solar region’ and the Naksatra mandala (stellar region) and also travel throughout the regions of air above the sea and the earth. These cars are said to move so fast as to make a noise that could be heard faintly from the ground. The evidence in its favor is overwhelming. 

An aerial car is made of light, wood looking like a great bird with a durable and well-formed body having mercury inside and fire at the bottom. It had two resplendent wings, and is propelled by air. It flies in the atmospheric regions for a great distance and carries several persons along with it. The inside construction resembles heaven created by Brahma himself. Iron, copper, lead and other metals are also used for these machines. All these show how far art and science was developed in ancient India in this direction. Such elaborate description ought to meet the criticism that the vimanas and similar aerial vehicles mentioned in ancient Indian literature should be relegated to the region of myth. 

The ancient writers could certainly make a distinction between the mythical which they designated as daiva and the actual aerial wars designated as manusa. 

After the great victory of Rama over Lanka, Vibhisana presented him with the Puspaka vimana which was furnished with windows, apartments, and excellent seats. It was capable of accommodating all the vanaras besides Rama, Sita and Lakshman. Again in the Vikramaurvaisya, we are told that king Puraravas rode in an aerial car to rescue Urvasi in pursuit of the Danava who was carrying her away. Similarly in the Uttararamacarita in the flight between Lava and Candraketu (Act VI) a number of aerial cars are mentioned as bearing celestial spectators. There is a statement in the Harsacarita of Yavanas being acquainted with aerial machines. The Tamil work Jivakacintamani refers to Jivaka flying through the air.   

Kathasaritsagara refers to highly talented woodworkers called Rajyadhara and Pranadhara. The former was so skilled in mechanical contrivances that he could make ocean crossing chariots. And the latter manufactured a flying chariot to carry a thousand passengers in the air. These chariots were stated to be as fast as thought itself. 

(source: India Through The Ages: History, Art Culture and Religion - By G. Kuppuram p. 532-533).

(for more information on vimanas please refer to chapter on Vimanas

Next Tuesday, Part X of War in Ancient India

[StarCMC]

quite riled at the the snide comments of that foreigner, who shows absolutely no respect for our military volunteers.

And the fact that OUR VOLUNTEERS keep him safe while he derides them makes it even worse...

[Soaring Feather]

Any one for dancing?
If you wish click!
I Am Alive~ Celine~ WOO HOO!

[StarCMC]

I am so glad you're back -- and posting! :o)

[StarCMC]

Not me!! I just got here and I haven't even opened up my Fotki file! :o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Some of Fokti in my favorites work. Images5 doesn't at all. I'm on my way home. Back later.

Look who I found.

tom....behave yourself or it's off to the corner!

[laurenmarlowe]

Have a safe trip home!

[tomkow6]

Ma, Feather started it!

[tomkow6]

 

 

GOODNIGHT TROOPS AND CANTEEN

 

 

 

My fat cat is telling me it's time for bed; soooooooo:

Good Night, All!

May God bless all who come to the Canteen.
May God bless & keep safe all our troops & their families!

________________________________

Dear Lord,
There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.

We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

God, Bless America!

 

 

 

[laurenmarlowe]

Photographer: Jodi Cobb "Not snow, nor heat, nor gloom of night but a rain-induced sewer backup stayed delivery of some 30,000 pieces of Des Moines mail. 'I think we bought every clothespin in town,' says postal worker Lora Yahnke, who helped sort and dry the wet mail in a garage. Such jury-rigging kept most city services afloat."

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep well, Sarge.
God bless you good for your service to our country.
Thanks for helping keep Kentucky and the rest of the USA safe.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

g'night Tom.

[Radix]

Why can't they see and recognize what is so plain?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks Ma... I think I need some reeducation!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night, tom. Thanks for your support of our military and their families. And thank you for your service to America.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks Star! So how are you? How much longer?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Good evening Canteeners!
Good evening Troops!
Diva Betsy Ross!!
Hugs!!!
How wonderful to see you!!
Hope everyone is well tonight!
Mr.B and I are getting a new refridgerator this week!
Hugs all around....
Ms.B

[Soaring Feather]

*HUGS* MS.B.!!!!

How are you this evening???

[Soaring Feather]

Nite, Tomkow, see you in the morning.

[Soaring Feather]

mine

[Soaring Feather]

mine