AERONAUTICS IN ANCIENT INDIA- We did it first !

[vsdprasad]

Hai, I came across this one, thought of sharing:

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India is not only a homeland for culture and tradition but also for science and technology. Many great sages authored vast literature of which the sage Bharadwaja’s <u>Vaimaanika Shaastra </u>(Ancient Indian Aeronautics) is one of the most renowned and relevant even for the current days. There is mention of the usage of aircraft in the Epics-Ramayana and Mahabharata. According to Ramayana, Ravana used pushpakavimaana, which was captured from Kubera. However, Rama took charge of this aircraft, after killing Ravana and used it to reach Ayodhya along with Lakshmana, Seeta and his others. Gayopakhyaana, in Mahabharata, also talks of using aircraft.

 

Western science estimates the life of this aeronautical science to be of about 5000 years. The Indian scientists and critics have a different opinion about adjudging the number of years. They say that the aircraft was used extensively during Ramayana and Mahabharata time indicating that the aeronautics was a much developed branch by that time. This clearly indicates that the aircraft was developed much before.

 

Aeronautics or Vaimaanikashastra is a part of Yantra Sarvasva of Bharadwaja. This is also known as Brihadvimaana Shastra.

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Vaimaanikashastra deals about aeronautics, including the design of aircraft, the way they can be used for transportation and other applications, in detail. The knowledge of aeronautics is described in sanskrit in 100 sections, eight chapters, 500 principles and 3000 slokas. Great sage Bharadwaja explained the construction of aircraft and way to fly it in air, on land, on water and use the same aircraft like a sub-marine. He also described the construction of war planes and fighter aircraft.

 

Vaimaanikashastra explains the metals and alloys and other required material, which can be make an aircraft imperishable in any condition.

 

Bharadwaja, in Brihadvimaana Shastra, mentions Narayanamuni, the author of Vimanachandrika, Shaunaka, the author of Vyomayana Tantra, Garga, the author of Yantra Kalpa, Vachaspati, the author of Yana Vindu, Chaakraayani, the author of Kheta Yaana Pradeepika, Dundi Natha, the author of Vyomayaanarka Prakasha and Lalla, the author of Yantra Kalpataru as the aeronautical scientists of ancient India.

 

The first principle of Vaimaanikashastra defines an aircraft.

 

Vegasaamyaat Vimaano Andajaanaam,which means Vimaana is the one which can fly in air like a bird. Subsequent principles explain the requirements for being a Vimaanaadhikari or pilot.

 

According to Bharadwaja, there are 32 secret techniques to fly an aircraft. They are Maantrika, Taantrika, Kritaka, Antaraala, Gooda, Drishya, Adrishya, Paroksha, Aparoksha, Sankocha, Vistrita, Viroopakarana, Roopantara, Suroopa, Jyotirbhava, Tamomaya, Pralaya, Vimukha, Taara, Mahashabda vimochana, Langhana, Saarpagamana, Chaapala, Sarvatomukha, Parashabda graahaka, Roopaakarshana, Kriyaa rahasya grahana, Dikpradarshana, Aakaashaakara rachana, Jaladaruja, Stabdaka and Karshana.

 

In jatyadhikarana, which classified aircraft says, Jaatitrividyam Yugabhedath Vimaanaanaam

 

The aircraft is classified in to three types- Mantrika, Tantrika and Kritaka, to suit different yugas or eras.

 

In kritayuga, it is said, Dharma was well established. The people of that time had the devinity to reach any place using their Ashtasiddhis.

 

The aircraft used in Tretayuga are called Mantrikavimana, flown by the power of Hymns(mantras). Twenty-five varieties of aircraft including Pushpakavimana belong to this era.

 

The aircraft used in Dwaparayuga were called Tantrikavimana, flown by the power of tantras. Fiftysix varieties of aircraft including Bhairava and Nandaka belong to this era.

 

The aircraft used in Kaliyuga, the on-going yuga, are called Kritakavimana, flown by the power of engines. Twenty-five varieties of aircraft including Shakuna, Sundara and Rukmavimana belong to this era.

 

According to Bharadwaja, Angaanyekaatrimshat, which means there were thirty one instruments to fly an aircraft, including Vishwakriyaadarpana, to see the surroundings from the aircraft and Shaktyaa karshanadarpana , to absorb Solar energy. Manufacture of different types of instruments and putting them together to form an aircraft are also described.

 

In Vastraadhikarana, the chapter describing the dress and other wear required while flying, talks in detail about the wear for both the pilot and the passenger separately.

 

Ahaaraadhikarana is yet another section exclusively dealing with the food habits of a pilot. This has a variety of guidelines for pilots to keep their health through strict diet.

 

According to the available historical evidences, Shivashankara Bapuji Tatpade designed the first aircraft. He designed an aircraft called Marutsaki in 1895, completely following the Vedic concept and flown it at Chaupati Maidan in Mumbai. Evan Koshtka, a historian, described Tatpade as the first creator of an aircraft in Times Weekly. The chronology clearly says <u>Tatpade developed the aircraft much before Wright brothers could do it</u>.

 

However, Bharadwaja’s Vaimanikashaastra is not as popular as Vaastu or Ayurveda due to various reasons. Vaimaanikashastra was never considered to be of much use in day to day life during ancient days and experimenting with the concepts was difficult due to the technicality and scientific nature. It was also considered that the Vaimaanikashastra would be misused if it was put to common man’s knowledge. Historians also quote yet another interesting reason of theft of the shaastra during invasions.

 

Today it is difficult to lay hands on the complete text of Bharadwaja’s work. However, this author (Sri Indaram Srinivas Rao ) could procure a part of the shastra in the form of a book, from which the above material has been summarised.

 

G R Josyar, director of the International Academy of Sanskrit Research, Mysore brought a part of the Shastra in the form of book. Subbaraya Shastri helped him in propounding the available Shastra to make it more understandable. <u>Every Indian and believer of ancient literature should be thankful to both of them</u>.

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And Iam thankful to all of them !

Source: www.acharyaonline.com

 

-Prasad.

 

 

[gHari]

Fascinating, Jim.

[PN Prasad]

The UFOs and Vimanas in Vedic Culture by Stephen Knapp can be found at:

 

http://www.stephen-knapp.com/ufos_and_vimanas.htm

 

A very good article and it really provides food for thought.

 

[PN Prasad]

[ Note from JNDAS: I accidentally deleted a link provided by Prasad. I think it was http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Vimanas.htm ]

 

 

[This message has been edited by jndas (edited 05-25-2002).]

[Krsnacandra dasa]

Interesting post!

 

This reminds me of a short mention of a story of an airship in Mahabharata. Apparently, Lord Shiva gave an airship to this ksatriya after he performed some austerities, and he used it for bad purposes, then Dwarkadish Krishna came and destroyed the airship and dealt justice to the ksatriya who was reponsible. Anyone have more information on this pastime? It's mentioned all too briefly.

[Gauracandra]

I once saw what was purported to be a sanskrit translation of a scripture detailing how these Vimanas flew, their fuel source etc... The book itself wasn't so large, and now I wish I had asked to photocopy it. I don't recall its name, or many of the details. Anyone know of such a publication?

[vsdprasad]

And I think the previous vimanas of yore were not as susceptible as today's aeroplanes to terrorist attacks !.

I forgot to post the exact page where I got the article (@ the start of this page). Here it is : http://www.acharyaonline.com/aeronautics.htm

 

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

I once saw what was purported to be a sanskrit translation of a scripture detailing how these Vimanas flew, their fuel source etc... The book itself wasn't so large, and now I wish I had asked to photocopy it. I don't recall its name, or many of the details. Anyone know of such a publication?

You might contact the author of that article (Sri Indaram Srinivas Rao). I studied my +2 in a junior college and he was a sanskrit lecturer there.

 

-Prasad.

 

[This message has been edited by vsdprasad (edited 05-30-2002).]

[Krsnacandra dasa]

I found this article to be quite interesting concerning Aeronautics:

 

http://www.light1998.com/Vimanas/Vimanas.htm

[Caitanyachandra]

THE VEDIC ION ENGINE

By Bhalchandra Patwardhan

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration was planning a rendezvous with Haley’s comet in the 1980s. They planned to use a space probe powered by an Ion Engine. This Engine used a stream of high-velocity electrified particles instead of a blast of hot gases. The theory of the Ion Engine has been credited to Robert Goddard, long recognized as the father of Liquid-fuel Rocketry. It is claimed that in 1906, long before Goddard launched his first modern rocket, his imagination had conceived the idea of an Ion rocket; however, in light of new evidence, the story could be entirely different.

 

In 1895 on a beach in the city of Mumbai (Bombay, Maharashtra, India), Shivkar Bapuji Talpade, a Sanskrit scholar, proved that heavier-than-air flight was indeed possible. This demonstration was attended by eminent citizens including, among others, His Highness Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwand of Baroda and Mr. Justice Ranade, and was reported in “The Kesari” a leading Marathi daily newspaper. Readers might note that this occurred a full eight years before the Wright Brothers’ “First” flight at Kitty hawk, North Carolina, USA. An even more astonishing feature of Talpade’s craft was the power source he used- An Ion Engine.”

 

Certain verses in the 10th chapter of the Rig-Veda make reference to the Art of Flight. The great Rishi Bharadvaja has written a commentary on this in his book “Yantra Vidya” (Science of Machines). Bharadvaja elucidates the mechanism that provides the impulse needed for propulsion. It involves the combination of eight sub-assemblies and uses the interaction of principally Solar energy and Mercury. Talpade put his knowledge of Sanskrit at the disposal of his creative intellect and CONSTRUCTED AN AIRCRAFT ACCORDING TO THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN IN THE RIG-VEDA. IT IS REPORTED THAT THIS FLYING MACHINE GAINED AN ALTITUDE OF 1500 FT. MOST APTLY, HE CALLED HIS AIRCRAFT THE “MARUTSAKHA”- FRIEND OF THE WIND.

 

The engine now being developed for future use by NASA, by some strange coincidence, also uses Mercury bombardment units powered by Solar cells. Interestingly, the impulse is generated in seven stages. The Mercury propellant is first vaporized, fed into the thruster discharge chamber, ionized, converted into plasma by a combination with electrons, broken down electrically, and then accelerated through small openings in a screen to pass out of the engine at velocities between 20,000 and 50,000 meters per second.

 

Although minute details of the Vedic engine would be available only after great research, the resemblance of the “modern” engine to it is totally indisputable. The Ion Engine developed by NASA is capable of producing, at best, about one pound of thrust- a thrust which is virtually useless for lifting an object of any practical mass off the earth. Talpade’s engine, on the other hand, was entirely capable of lifting his aircraft 1500 feet into the air, over 100 years ago.

 

Several important considerations emerge from the foregoing discussion. First, Wilbur and Orville Wright were not the pioneers of modern flight. Secondly, not only had the idea of an Ion Engine been conceived long before Dr Goddard, but it had also been materialized in the form of Talpade’s Marutsakha Aircraft. I do not wish to denigrate those inventors, whose contributions are invaluable, but I think it is now time to review the history of science and recognize the achievements of the previous civilizations. The question of the exaltation or diminution of any country or civilization’s contribution does not arise. My only contention is that if scientific thought began in Vedic civilization earlier than in the West, we should not ignore that fact in our narration of the history of science.

 

(Reproduced from ANCIENT SKIES, BI-monthly published by the ANCIENT ASTRONAUT SOCIETY, 192 St. Johns Ave. Highland Park, Illinois 60035 USA. From a compilation by Mr. Oak.)

 

http://www.vedicempire.net/html/vedicion.htm

[vsdprasad]

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov02/ibomb.asp

 

A glass-like material based on technology found in an ancient Sanskrit text that could ultimately be used in a stealth bomber (the material cannot be detected by radar) has been developed by a research scholar of Benaras Hindu University.

 

Prof M A Lakshmithathachar, Director of the Academy of Sanskrit Research in Melkote, near Mandya, told Deccan Herald that tests conducted with the material showed radars could not detect it. “The unique material cannot be traced by radar and so a plane coated with it cannot be detected using radar,” he said.

 

The academy had been commissioned by the Aeronautical Research Development Board, New Delhi, to take up a one-year study, ‘Non-conventional approach to Aeronautics,’ on the basis of an old text, Vaimanika Shastra, authored by Bharadwaj.

 

Though the period to which Bharadwaj belonged to is not very clear, Prof Lakshmithathachar noted, the manuscripts might be more 1,000 years old.

The project aims at deciphering the Bharadwaj’s concepts in aviation.

However, Prof Lakshmithathachar was quick to add that a collaborative effort from scholars of Sanskrit, physics, mathematics and aeronautics is needed to understand Bharadwaj’s shastra.

 

The country’s interest in aviation can be traced back over 2,000 years to the mythological era and the epic Ramayana tells of a supersonic-type plane, the Pushpak Vimana, which could fly at the speed of thought.

 

“The shastra has interesting information on vimanas (airplanes), different types of metals and alloys, a spectrometer and even flying gear,” the professor said. The shastra also outlines the metallurgical method to prepare an alloy very light and strong which could withstand high pressure.

 

He said Prof Dongre of BHU had brought out a research paper Amshubondhini after studying Vaimanika Shastra and developed the material. “There have been sporadic efforts to develop aeronautics in the country’s history. There has never been a holistic approach to it. Vaimanika Shastra throws up many interesting details that can benefit Indian aviation programme,” the director added.

 

Prof Lakshmithathachar rubbished the tendency among certain scholars to discount such ancient Sanskrit texts and said, “Why would our scholars want to cheat future generations? Unless it was important, nothing was written in the old days. The fact that there exists manuscripts indicates the significance.”

 

The academy has also embarked on other projects including ‘Indian concept of Cosmology’ with Indian Space Research Organisation, ‘Iron & Steel in Ancient India — A Historical Perspective’ with the Steel Authority of India Limited, and ‘Tools & Technology of Ancient India.’

[vsdprasad]

Its better for NASA to consult Vaimaanika Shastra and research its contents for spacecraft design that will be less susceptible to accidents and hence avert tragedies such as Columbia/Challenger etc.

May be India shud apply for a patent before others know the details.

 

-Prasad.

[Guest guest]

Yes indeed!

It is really necessary that the world really know India

and respect India for her past achievements.

 

But the Indians should not just sit and brag about the past.

They need to work and solve India's current problems, and then bring the world to peaceful state.

[Guest guest]

 

 

 

Isn't the space program considered to be a defiance of the order of the Lord?

[Guest guest]

yes it is... Swami Prabhupada whole-heartedly called Nasa officials scoundrels in fact! because space is in the spiritual realm and beyond our reach.

[theist]

Where did Srila prabhupada say this? I'm not saying he didn't. And what was the context? This is not a challenge. But it is important to see the full picture surrounding a statement.

 

I know he criticized material scientists about their false assumption that life comes from chemicals. And about their misusing resources. But did he criticize the desire for space travel and the like in general? It is a waste of time and effort to drag a physical body around the universe with us. Building so many contraptions to facilitate that mode of travel.

 

Easy Journey to Other Planets maybe? Haven't read that in years.

[Guest guest]

Srila Prabhupada on too many occasions to recall blasted the NASA program. Easy Journey was written years before NASA, but he had similar sentiments regarding the material scientists and so-called space travel. It is worth a re-read.

[Guest guest]

NASA is a scientific organisation dealing in fact and provable results. You are using an ancient text with zero proof, questionable ideas - which could very well simply be an ancient version of science fiction! I am sorry if this is part of your religion, which I respect to be your belief. However, to suggest that NASA needs to "take advice from unprovable, unsubstantiated documents that are untestable because of the way they are explained is ludicrous. Just because you have no respect for the scientific discoveries of other nations and a deep desire to prop yourself up based upon ancient texts which are YES, in a faith system - to suggest that scientists today would benefit and they wouldn't "make so many mistakes" is a reprehensible insult to the great minds, hard workers and many people who have died to advance the lives of everyone on Earth. Be proud of the Indian advances of today, respect the beliefs and understandings of the past, but put things in their proper place. Remember, Alexander the Great spoke of a "great silver shield" in the skies above a city he was about to attack. It fired a beam of light which collapsed the walls of the city, inexplicably. While this may or may not be true - there is nothing in this text that teaches of the "art" of making siege. It's apples and oranges.

[Guest guest]

NASA should take the scriptures into consideration since they do talk about flight, and methods of flight.

 

Maybe they'll get some ideas from there, maybe not, but at least they should look into it and not dismiss it so readily.

 

 

 

 

[Kulapavana]

even if you think that Vedic texts related to space travel are science fiction you should be very, very astonished at the sages "imagination". Remember Jules Verne idea of space travel? a hole in the ground filled with gunpowder and people inside bullet like craft? and that was extremely revolutionary in 1865 when his book was published!!! just think about that....

 

anybody who dismisses Vedic knowledge about space travel as "ancient science fiction" is a complete idiot...

[theist]

I just find it interesting that the ancient texts discussing craft that could suddenly appear and then disappear at will. In fact they are saying the same things that people are now saying about UFO's.

 

The thing is about the space program is that it is a coloosal waste of time and resources. It is far less than intelligent to try to drag an earth born body with you as you travel through space even if one does becomes attached to such an idea.

 

A simple cost benefit analysis reveals that subtle body travel is infinitely better and more realistic for touring and developing the proper level of consciousness is the proper way to become a resident of some higher globe. Although that is also just a form of touring.

 

I imagine that propeling one's sensory unit(Spock would say it like that I think)into space by sitting on gigantic bombs and lighting the fuse would be laughable to anyone whose planet is worth visiting anyway.

[Guest guest]

"I just find it interesting that the ancient texts discussing craft that could suddenly appear and then disappear at will. In fact they are saying the same things that people are now saying about UFO's.

 

The thing is about the space program is that it is a coloosal waste of time and resources. It is far less than intelligent to try to drag an earth born body with you as you travel through space even if one does becomes attached to such an idea."

 

Why would it be such a waste of time now? If we're to believe the texts, interstellar travel was possible a long time ago, it shouldn't be a waste of time and resources to do this again.

 

 

[Kulapavana]

trick is: the "space" is not quite what it seems. according to Vedas, space is neither linear (in terms of distance between planets) nor just three dimensional (several planes of existence, worlds or "dimensions" are given). I was reading Markandeya Purana recently and one phrase struck me in relation to the description of the Bhu-mandala and the Universe: mutually inaccessible planes of existence.

 

this is great stuff to talk about after a heavy and delicious feast of Krishna-prasadam... /images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

as to wasting time on space program: I'm not sure. Vedas say that in some previous Kali-yugas the asuras carried out conquest of other planets. so from their perspective it may not be a waste of energy, but from ours it certainly is /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[theist]

 

Why would it be such a waste of time now? If we're to believe the texts, interstellar travel was possible a long time ago, it shouldn't be a waste of time and resources to do this again.

 

 

Well just like we sometimes think that if only I could live in some other country or section of town etc. then I would be happy. Then we direct our valuable time to that goal alone and even if we do succeed happiness is never realized. Our material situation may be temporarily improved in some way but death and rebirth will still find us.

 

As far as NASA goes they spend huge amount of money that could be better spent on Earth. And for what? Moon rocks and mars dust. They are looking for life but they have no idea what life really is. Waste of valuable human form and time.

 

[theist]

Kulapavana, I have no idea about time and space other dimensions etc. other than I accept they exist.

 

At least I can eat Krsna prasadam though. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Guest guest]

Are you telling me that ancient India had devices that can fly swim and travel on land? Did these machines actually work? It would be amazing if they did. REply Soon!