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

Oh beautiful MS.B.!!!

321 posted on 09/07/2004 8:23:23 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

To: Colonel_Flagg

Well, only a little!
;0)
Relax and enjoy it!!
Ms.B

322 posted on 09/07/2004 8:23:53 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

Without a doubt, dear lady. :)

323 posted on 09/07/2004 8:25:51 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)

She's pretty, huh?
Maybe I'll look like that in me next life!
;o)
Ms.B

324 posted on 09/07/2004 8:26:27 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

To: Colonel_Flagg

Hello Colonel!!
Would you care to dance?

325 posted on 09/07/2004 8:27:06 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)

Ooo! Ooo! Pick me :) How are you?

326 posted on 09/07/2004 8:27:53 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)

What was the 1st Commandment given unto man?

Genesis 1:22
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
(Whole Chapter: Genesis 1 In context: Genesis 1:21-23)

I was just curious!

327 posted on 09/07/2004 8:29:19 PM PDT by Radix (Not all Muslims are terrorists, but so far all of the terrorists have been Muslims.)

Good night, sleep well.

I am off now to my other obligations.

328 posted on 09/07/2004 8:31:03 PM PDT by Radix (Not all Muslims are terrorists, but so far all of the terrorists have been Muslims.)

This one looks soooo much like my Grammie when she was young..

I will Freepmail you this addy, it says you can download them and use them at will...

329 posted on 09/07/2004 8:31:41 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

To: Colonel_Flagg

Are you ready? I am really in a dancing mood tonight!!

330 posted on 09/07/2004 8:32:09 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)

I sure am! Did you get good news today, perchance?

331 posted on 09/07/2004 8:32:46 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)

332 posted on 09/07/2004 8:33:12 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

Love your tagline...
heh heh heh...
I know ALL ABOUT misbehavin!!!
Ms.B

333 posted on 09/07/2004 8:33:53 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

To: Colonel_Flagg

Only that I have an interview with another company on Thursday.

I got called by my son's daycare and had to leave work early to pick him up...he's sick...and they wont let him back until he has been out for 48 hours. So I have to take a few days off work! :(

Dancing will take my mind off my worries!!

334 posted on 09/07/2004 8:35:22 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)

I can tell by your name!! You surely are in the history books...right?

335 posted on 09/07/2004 8:37:09 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)

Freepmail, Poetess....
Ms.B

336 posted on 09/07/2004 8:37:19 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)

Then please let me help, my friend. :)

337 posted on 09/07/2004 8:40:31 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)

To: Colonel_Flagg; trussell; bentfeather; Old Sarge; All

338 posted on 09/07/2004 8:41:08 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

Got it!!! FReepmail back to you.

339 posted on 09/07/2004 8:42:50 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

Bentfeather, the title is Don't Hold Back Your Love

Sheeeesh

340 posted on 09/07/2004 8:43:55 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)

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