Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ Part IX of War in Ancient India ~ September 7, 2004
A Tribute to Hinduism ^ | September 7, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

Posted on 09/06/2004 8:00:06 PM PDT by 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





TOPICS: Free Republic; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: aerialwarfare; ancientindia; ashoka; canteen; freepercanteen; hindi; hindu; hinduism; india; prozacchewables; tao; taoism; taoist; tinfoilhat; war
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 341-360361-380381-400 ... 421-437 next last
To: tomkow6

How about a nice hot bath before bed?
HMMMMMM????
Ms.B


361 posted on 09/07/2004 9:01:33 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 356 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN; Colonel_Flagg; Old Sarge; trussell; Kathy in Alaska; All

~Big Mama Thornton~
~You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog~

362 posted on 09/07/2004 9:05:21 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 357 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg

Sounds good! That's a good song!


363 posted on 09/07/2004 9:06:41 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 360 | View Replies]

To: trussell

I wish I had webspace to post it ;)


364 posted on 09/07/2004 9:10:34 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 363 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg; bentfeather
If you have any room left on your dance card...

How about "I Only Have Eyes For You" by Art Garfunkel?

Ms.feather, do you have that song?


365 posted on 09/07/2004 9:11:37 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 360 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg; bentfeather

I think it is feather who has this one! Let's ask her...

Hey feather...Colonel would like to hear Lady in Red, do you have that one?


366 posted on 09/07/2004 9:11:58 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 364 | View Replies]

To: LaDivaLoca

Kerry Assails Deficit as Bush's Fault
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1209726/posts?page=19

367 posted on 09/07/2004 9:12:52 PM PDT by shield (The Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God!!!! by Dr. H. Ross, Astrophysicist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

Ma??!!!
You home safe and sound?
I'm starting to worry here....
Hugs...
Ms.B


368 posted on 09/07/2004 9:14:42 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 304 | View Replies]

To: shield

AIIIYEEEEE!!!!!!
You coulda warned me!!
LOL
How are you tonight?
Ms.B


369 posted on 09/07/2004 9:18:07 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 367 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN

I do .. trussell and I are waiting for a song but I seem to have plenty of space on my card! :) And Art Garfunkel sounds great!


370 posted on 09/07/2004 9:18:07 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 365 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg; bentfeather

Wonderful!!
We are keeping Ms.feather busy tonight, I fear!
Ms.B


371 posted on 09/07/2004 9:20:25 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Re-elect G.W.Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 370 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN; trussell; Colonel_Flagg; All

I have some good news and some bad news.
Colonel and trussell here ya go, enjoy!
Dear MSB, sorry, I don't have that version, maybe Ma has it.
Okay let's hit the floor.

372 posted on 09/07/2004 9:24:42 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 365 | View Replies]

To: bentfeather

Thank you, dear lady :) You're so kind to find the music!


373 posted on 09/07/2004 9:25:48 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 372 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN; Colonel_Flagg; trussell

Hey, Crew, no problem!! If I wanna dance with the Colonel, I just grab him!!!! LOL


374 posted on 09/07/2004 9:27:46 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 371 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN
I'm home safe and sound.
I stopped for food and got something decadent.

I couldn't eat and type too. Skicky keys. LOL!


375 posted on 09/07/2004 9:28:03 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 368 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN
You like that, huh. Notice the Freepers name that made that pic up; his name is LiberalBassTurds ~ BassTurds stands for bast*ards....clever or what!!!

I'm doing fine tonight...and how are you doing MS. BEHAVIN....miss behavin' another CLEVER screen name. That's what's so great about Freepers they're so smart, clever, funny...God, I Love FR!!! ;o)

376 posted on 09/07/2004 9:29:33 PM PDT by shield (The Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God!!!! by Dr. H. Ross, Astrophysicist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 369 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg; MS.BEHAVIN

What song am I looking for. I'm still licking my fingers.


377 posted on 09/07/2004 9:29:36 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 370 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN; Colonel_Flagg; bentfeather; trussell; All

~Cher~Believe~

378 posted on 09/07/2004 9:31:47 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 374 | View Replies]

To: bentfeather; MS.BEHAVIN; trussell

And I go along for the ride! LOL


379 posted on 09/07/2004 9:33:58 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. - Sir Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 374 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN; All

~I Only Have Eyes for You~

380 posted on 09/07/2004 9:35:12 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Poetry is my forte.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 378 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 341-360361-380381-400 ... 421-437 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson