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

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

[LaDivaLoca]

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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

[Radix]

While you are at it Dear MoJo, can I ask a favor?

I'll FReep mail you soon. Is that OK?

[Soaring Feather]

Prayers up!! Thanks LaDiva.

[MoJo2001]

Absolutely!
I'm here!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Oh wow BYKRBAYB.. fancy seeing you here! Welcome to the Canteen.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Can I help you post his photo- have you already been asked that? Prayers for you and your family cateizgr8.. many thanks to your husband.. Diva.. thanks for the ping!

[Radix]

 

Author Stephen King, left, shares the stage with Maine Gov. John Baldacci before the arrival of Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards at a campaign rally at the University of Maine, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, in Orono, Maine. King described the Bush administration as the 'most dangerous and unpleaseant bunch' to occupy the White House since the Nixon years.

Finally, a rational thinking person is speaking out concerning sanity in politics!

Hey Stephen King, relative or not, you have several screws loose and I do not have to write a word more than you in order to prove it.

Goof!

 

Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide (L) listens to US Congresswoman Maxine Waters (R), D-CA, question during a press conference at the presidential palace in Port-Au-Prince.

Maxine Waters, the voice of reason, but she does not wear an "R" after her name you AFR retard caption writer.

 

US Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, shown here in July 2004, called the assault weapons ban "one of the most important public safety measures this country has seen."

Meanwhile back on the campaign trail John Kerry is romping around shooting with rifles that would be banned under legislation which he voted for.

Voted for with a bullet.

 

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, waves after attending a front porch campaign stop in Rochester, Minn. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004.

Thats all Folks, now pull the shade on this Photo Op!

 

Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, right, addresses a town meeting in Clarksburg, W.Va., Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004. Edwards, a Southern senator with working-class roots, has been campaigning in states like West Virginia and focusing on middle-class values to help presidential contender John Kerry connect with rural and small-town voters.

English Translation:

 Ambulance chasing attorney who is largely responsible for increased National  Health Care costs has sucked that well dry and now pretends to want to wage legislative war against scum bag lawyers who would emulate his successes.

[BykrBayb]

Thanks Diva. I'm just a part-timer here. I can't keep up.

[MoJo2001]

Maxine Waters

There are so many things I'd love to say about her, but I will spare everyone the drama of hearing it.

Just think Ghetto and go from there. Sheesh!

[StarCMC]

Prayers for your hubby and for you as you do the heavy lifting at home!! *HUGS*

If you haven't gotten help posting the picture of him, send me a private message and I'd love to help!!

[trussell]

Prayer ping. See post 417.

Please post your replies to cateizgr8

cateizgr8, my prayers going up for your husband and his family.

Blessings,
trussell

If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

[Pegita]

Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks for cat's beloved husband who soon will be in Iraq. Reach into his heart, O God, with the knowledge that prayer is his portion and that our gratitude is his for his service to us, and to others. Thank You, Merciful Father, for every son and daughter who has stepped forward in the cause of liberty and freedom ... may there be a special blessing for each one, and for their families, for they have given, and continue to give, security and freedom to our beloved country, and to countries around the world. Watch over them, dear Lord, and keep them safe, in the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...

[radu]

I'll have your husband in my prayers for his safety while in Iraq, cateizgr8. You and your family will also be in my prayers.

Thanks for the ping, LaDiva!

[Sea2ShiningSea]

Prayers and thanks for your husbands service.

[NanaDory8]

Prayers for your husband and family with Thanks.

[cateizgr8]

Thank you for the offer. The picture was posted earlier in the thread...I can't find it now, though :(

[cateizgr8]

The picture of my husband is here:

436 posted on 09/09/2004 12:06:40 PM MDT

[austingirl]

Please thank him for his service and God bless you both.