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

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ANCIENT WARFARE

Part IX: War in Ancient India

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

301 posted on 09/07/2004 7:57:24 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

To: laurenmarlowe

OK, that is the picture of the day! Look at the resourcefulness for drying all those letters!! I like it.

302 posted on 09/07/2004 7:58:48 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)

Now I'm on my way home.

303 posted on 09/07/2004 7:59:49 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)

To: Kathy in Alaska

304 posted on 09/07/2004 8:00:44 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

They have willfully ignored the truth for so long that now they can no longer see it. That's my interpretation anyway...

305 posted on 09/07/2004 8:02:42 PM PDT by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

To: Diva Betsy Ross

I am 31 weeks and 3 days....Or 7 months and 1 day - same thing! So a month and a half - two months, something like that left! I have been feeling generally pretty good, just tired! And I am headed for bed SOON!!

306 posted on 09/07/2004 8:04:29 PM PDT by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

To: Radix; Kathy in Alaska; Diva Betsy Ross; MS.BEHAVIN; Spotsy; tomkow6; All

Like, now, I think! Gonna go hit the sack! See ya'll tomorrow!! HUGS all around!

307 posted on 09/07/2004 8:06:05 PM PDT by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

308 posted on 09/07/2004 8:09:18 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("If I had a hammer, I'd use it on Peter, Paul and Mary." - Howard Rosenberg)

Nuts! Just missed you. Good night and I hope you had a great day!

309 posted on 09/07/2004 8:10:32 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("If I had a hammer, I'd use it on Peter, Paul and Mary." - Howard Rosenberg)

To: Colonel_Flagg

ROTFLOL!!!!!

BOO!!!!!

310 posted on 09/07/2004 8:11:40 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

To: Spotsy; MS.BEHAVIN; Kathy in Alaska; bentfeather; Old Sarge; All

Good evening to the Canteen! How's everyone doing tonight?

311 posted on 09/07/2004 8:11:56 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("If I had a hammer, I'd use it on Peter, Paul and Mary." - Howard Rosenberg)

To: Colonel_Flagg

Great and yourself??

312 posted on 09/07/2004 8:13:12 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

Hugs to you, too Poetess!

Please forgive the delayed response

I had to reboot me computer!

313 posted on 09/07/2004 8:18:20 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

Just fine. And I slightly altered your tagline. :)

314 posted on 09/07/2004 8:18:57 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Poetry is my fort.)

To: Colonel_Flagg

Good evening, Sir!!
Are you feeling better?
Ms.B

315 posted on 09/07/2004 8:20:03 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

To: Diva Betsy Ross

Hello, Diva :) .. how are you tonight?

316 posted on 09/07/2004 8:20:43 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Poetry is my fort.)

Ms. B! I'm doing splendiferously wonderfully, thanks for asking. And even had a glass of wine this evening. Can you tell? :)

317 posted on 09/07/2004 8:21:20 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Poetry is my fort.)

To: Colonel_Flagg

LOL,so I see. Yes, I guess it's mine, too.

318 posted on 09/07/2004 8:21:52 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

Good night little Diva/Momma!
Sleep tight and God Bless!!
Ms.B

319 posted on 09/07/2004 8:21:58 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

To: Kathy in Alaska; Radix; All

Yes, I thought the picture was pretty interesting, but between you and Radix, the picture(s) of the day is sewed up EVERY day, and I am very grateful to see them. I especially enjoy seeing the pictures of our Troops!

320 posted on 09/07/2004 8:22:41 PM PDT by laurenmarlowe

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