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

[Fawnn]

Kathy in Alaska!!! #250!!!
Welcome to the Canteen, WashStateGirl!!!
bentfeather!!! #300!!!
tomkow6!!! #350!!!
Kathy in Alaska!!! #400!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/early morn....how you feeling this day? How's the word count?

[Fawnn]

Feeling mixed today. I was able to sleep lying down for the first time in over a week!!! But, I had a tooth fall apart. (Thank goodness it's not hurting! Entire back side of it fell apart, so I'm not sure if the dentist'll be able to save the tooth. Upper left tooth clear to the back, so it's not like it was a front tooth or anything. But, regardless: I've now got to go to the dentist. Yuck!)

Other than a gazillion words-worth of e-mails that went back and forth between some editors and me, the word count hasn't really started yet.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my, I went through virtually the same tooth drama less than a month ago. Mine was saved. Mostly silver, very little tooth. Maybe more sleep is in order before you tackle the words. My mandate is to be OFF the computer by midnight.

[Fawnn]

Editor wants at least a proposed table of contents for the new book for tomorrow. (I'd rather be sleeping ... at this moment. Don't get me wrong. I'm so glad for the work! But it's frustrating being this tired.) ;)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hmmmmm....sounding daunting for us non writers. Good luck.

Circumstances being what they are........

[Fawnn]

Thanks! I hope it kicks in soon. ;)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope you got all your jets ready for morning. I'm off to bed and leave you a song.

Skeeter Davis ~ He Called Me Baby

[StarCMC]

Sorry I missed you last night COlonel! I could hardly hold my eyes open and hubby needed to use the computer, so I just went and crashed! :o)

[StarCMC]

WOW Ms.B!! What a gorgeous poem!! You've been holding out on us!!!

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks!

[trussell]

We're doing good ma...Cody is a little under the weather...so I get a mini vacation that I couldn't afford!

I have a job interview tomorrow (Thursday). I hope I can find someone who will watch Cody so I can go to it!! LOL

Thank you for the hugs!! They are most appreciated!! :)

Hugs
T

[BykrBayb]

It's Kitty Kimono!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I hope Billy remembers. LOL!! Here's a pretty one.

[BykrBayb]

That one would be pretty, even in a burlap sack. The beautiful kimono is so much more fitting though. :)

[cateizgr8]

I would like to post a picture of my husband in uniform. He left for California last month for training to go to Iraq. He leaves in a couple of weeks. Anyway....how can I post his picture?

[LaDivaLoca]

I don't see why not. We will include him in our prayers as well. Pls. let him know that he has our support and heartfelt gratitude. God bless you both and your family.

Prayer ping everyone!

[Radix]

Images must be hosted on a site and then linked in order to be viewed on FR.com.

There are a number of us who would gladly host an image for you. MoJo, Star, Tonkin, and many others would do that for you, myself included.

You simply have to forward the image to one of them (us) via E-mail, or other medium.

[MoJo2001]

Absolutely!

If you'd like, you can send me his photo via email. I'll send you a FReepmail in a second with my email address.

Thank you to your family for their sacrifice on behalf of America. Prayers for all of you. We're here if you ever need us.