Flying machines are mentioned in more than 20 ancient Indian texts. The oldest of these texts are the Vedas, compiled, in the opinion of most Indologists, no later than 2500 BC. e. (The German orientalist G. G. Jacobi attributes them to 4500 BC, and the Indian researcher V. G. Tilak even to 6000 BC).
Aircraft are described in 150 verses of the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda. One of these "air chariots that flew without a horse" was built by the divine master Ribhu. "… The chariot moved faster than thought, like a bird in the sky, rising to the Sun and Moon and descending to the Earth with a loud roar …" The chariot was driven by three pilots; she was able to take on board 7-8 passengers, could land both on land and on water.
The ancient author also indicates the technical characteristics of the chariot: a three-storey, triangular-shaped apparatus with two wings and three wheels that retract during flight, was made of several types of metal and worked on liquids called madhu, rasa and anna. Analyzing this and other Sanskrit texts, Professor of Sanskrit D. K. Kanjilal, author of Vimanas of Ancient India (1985), concluded that rasa is mercury, madhu is alcohol made from honey or fruit juice, anna is alcohol from fermented rice or vegetable oil.
Vedic texts describe celestial chariots of different types and sizes: agnihotravimana with two engines, elephant-vimana with even more engines and others called kingfisher, ibis, and also after other animals. Examples of chariot flights are also given (gods and some mortals flew on them). For example, here is how the flight of a chariot belonging to the Maruts is described: "… Houses and trees trembled, and small plants were uprooted by a terrifying wind, caves in the mountains were filled with a roar, and the sky seemed to split into pieces or fall from the tremendous speed and the mighty roar of the air. crew … ".
Aircraft in the Mahabharata and Ramayana
Many mentions of air chariots (vimanas and agnihotras) are found in the great epic of the Indian people "Mahabharata" and "Ramayana". Both poems describe in detail the appearance and structure of aircraft: "iron machines, smooth and shiny, with roaring flames erupting from them"; "Double-decked round ships with holes and a dome"; "Two-story celestial chariots with many windows, sparkling with red flame", which "rose upward, to the place where both the Sun and the Stars are visible." It is also indicated here that the flight of the vehicles was accompanied by a melodic ringing or a loud sound; during the flight, fire was often seen. They could hover, hovering in the air, move up and down, back and forth, rush with the speed of the wind, or move over great distances "in the blink of an eye", "at the speed of thought."
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From the analysis of ancient texts, it can be concluded that vimanas are the fastest and least noisy aircraft; the flight of the agnihotra was accompanied by a roar, bursts of fire or bursts of flame (apparently, their name came from "agni" - fire).
Ancient Indian texts claim that there were flying machines for wandering within the "Surya mandala" and "Nakshatra mandala". "Surya" in Sanskrit and modern Hindi means the sun, "mandala" - a sphere, region, "nakshatra" - a star. Perhaps this is an indication of both flights within the solar system and beyond.
There were large aircraft that could carry troops and weapons, and smaller vimanas, including pleasure craft for one passenger; flights on air chariots were performed not only by the gods, but also by mortals - kings and heroes. Thus, according to the Mahabharata, the commander-in-chief Bali Maharaja, the son of the demon king Virochana, boarded the Vaihayasu ship. "… This wonderfully decorated ship was created by the demon Maya and is equipped with weapons of all kinds. It is impossible to comprehend and describe it. He was seen or not. Sitting in this ship under a wonderful protective umbrella … Maharaja Bali, surrounded by his generals and commanders, seemed illuminating all directions of the world by the Moon, rising in the evening … ".
Another hero of the Mahabharata, the son of Indra from the mortal woman Arjuna, received a magic vimana as a gift from his father, who also placed his charioteer Matali Gandharva at his disposal. "… The chariot was equipped with everything necessary. Neither gods nor demons could defeat it; it emitted light and trembled, making a rumbling sound. With its beauty, it captivated the minds of all who contemplated it. It was created by the power of his austerities Vishvakarma - the architect and designer of the gods. Its shape, like the shape of the Sun, could not be accurately seen … ". Arjuna flew not only in the atmosphere of the Earth, but also in Space, taking part in the war of gods against demons … "… And on this divine chariot, like the Sun, doing miracles, the wise descendant of Kuru flew up. Becoming invisible to mortals walking on earth, he saw thousands wonderful air chariots. There was no light of the sun, no moon, no fire, but they shone with their own light, acquired through their merits. Because of the distance, the light of the stars is seen as a tiny lamp flame, but in reality they are very large. The Pandava saw them bright and beautiful, shining with the light of their own fire … ".
Another hero of the Mahabharata, King Uparichara Vasu, also flew in Indra's vimana. From her, he could observe all events on Earth, the flights of the gods in the Universe, and also visit other worlds. The king was so carried away by his flying chariot that he abandoned all business and spent most of his time in the air with all his relatives.
In the Ramayana, one of the heroes, Hanuman, who flew to the palace of the demon Ravana in Lanka, was struck by his huge flying chariot, called Pushpaka (Puspaka). "… She shone like pearls and hovered over the high palace towers … Decorated with gold and adorned with incomparable works of art created by Vishvakarma himself, flying in the vastness of space, like a ray of the Sun, the Pushpak chariot sparkled dazzlingly. Every detail in it was made with the greatest skill, also as well as the ornament, laid out with the rarest precious stones … Irresistible and fast as the wind … rushing through the heavens, spacious, with numerous rooms, decorated with magnificent works of art, enchanting the heart, flawless like an autumn moon, it resembled a mountain with sparkling peaks … ".
And here is how this flying chariot is characterized in a verse excerpt from the Ramayana:
… At Pushpaki, the magic chariot, Spokes were poured with hot sparkle.
Magnificent palaces of the capital
Didn't get to her hub!
And the body was in knobby patterns -
Coral, emerald, feathered, Zealous horses, reared on their hind legs, And the colorful rings of intricate snakes …"
… Hanuman marveled at the flying chariot
And Vishvakarman to the divine right hand.
He made her flying smoothly
Decorated with pearls and said himself: "Nice!"
Evidence of his diligence and success
This milestone shone on the sunny path …"
Let us now give a description of the celestial chariot given to Rama by Indra: "… That celestial chariot was large and beautifully decorated, two-story with many rooms and windows. It made a melodic sound before soaring into the sky-high heights …"
And here is how Rama received this heavenly chariot and fought against Ravana (translated by V. Potapova):
… My Matali! - Indra then calls the driver, -
Take the chariot to Raghu for my descendant!"
And Matali brought out heavenly, with a wonderful body, He tied the emerald horses to the drawbars …
… Then the Thunderman's chariot from left to right
The brave man went around, as the worlds went around his glory.
Tsarevich and Matali, holding the reins tightly, Rushing in a chariot. Ravana rushed to them too, And the battle began to boil, lifting hairs on the skin …"
The Indian Emperor Ashoka (III century BC) organized the "Secret Society of Nine Unknowns", which included the best scientists in India. They studied ancient sources that contained information about aircraft. Ashoka kept the work of the scientists secret, as he did not want the information they received to be used for military purposes. The work of the society resulted in nine books, one of which was called "The Secrets of Gravity". This book, known to historians only by hearsay, dealt mainly with the control of gravity. Where the book is today is unknown, perhaps it is still kept in some library in India or Tibet.
Ashoka was also aware of the devastating wars with the use of aircraft and other superweapons that destroyed the ancient Indian "Ram Raj" (the kingdom of Rama) several thousand years before him.
The kingdom of Rama on the territory of North India and Pakistan, according to some sources, was created 15 thousand years ago, according to others, it arose in the VI millennium BC. e. and existed until the III millennium BC. e. The kingdom of Rama had large and luxurious cities, the ruins of which can still be found in the deserts of Pakistan, North and West India.
It is believed that the kingdom of Rama existed in parallel with the Atlantic (kingdom of the "Asvin") and Hyperborean (kingdom of the "Aryans") civilizations and was ruled by "enlightened priests-kings" who stood at the head of the cities.
The seven greatest capital cities of Rama are known as the "seven cities of the rishis." According to ancient Indian texts, the inhabitants of these cities had flying machines - vimanas.
About aircraft - in other texts
The Bhagavata Purana provides information about the air attack of the combat aircraft ("iron flying city") Saubha, built by Maya Danava and under the command of the demon Salva, on the residence of the god Krishna - the ancient city of Dvaraku, which, according to L. Gentes, was once located on the Kathyavar Peninsula. This is how this event is described in the book by L. Gentes "The Reality of the Gods: Space Flights in Ancient India" (1996), translated by an unknown author, close to the Sanskrit original:
… Shalva laid siege to the city with his mighty army
O illustrious Bharata. Dvaraka gardens and parks
He brutally destroyed, burned and razed to the ground.
He set up his headquarters over the city, soaring in the air.
He destroyed the glorious city: its gates and towers, And palaces, and galleries, and terraces, and platforms.
And the weapons of destruction poured down upon the city
From his terrible, formidable celestial chariot …"
(About the same information about the air attack on the city of Dvaraka is given in the "Mahabharata")
Saubha was such an extraordinary ship that sometimes it seemed that there were many ships in the sky, and sometimes not a single one could be seen. He was visible and at the same time invisible, and the warriors of the Yadu dynasty were at a loss, not knowing where this strange ship was. He was seen now on Earth, now in the sky, then landing on the top of a mountain, then floating on water. This amazing ship flew across the sky like a fiery whirlwind, not for a moment remaining motionless.
And here is another episode from the Bhagavata Purana. Having married the daughter of King Svayambhuva Manu, Devahuti, the sage Kardama Muni decided one day to take her on a journey across the universe. To do this, he built a luxurious "air palace" (vimana), which could fly, obedient to his will. Having received this “wonderful flying palace”, he and his wife set off on a journey through various planetary systems: “… So he traveled from one planet to another, like the wind that blows everywhere, without encountering obstacles. Moving through the air in its magnificent, radiating radiance in an air castle that flew, obedient to his will, he surpassed even the demigods … ".
Interesting descriptions of the three "flying cities" created by the engineering genius Maya Danava are given in the Shiva Purana: "… Air chariots, shining like a sun disk, studded with precious stones, moving in all directions and like moons, illuminated the city …".
In the well-known Sanskrit source "Samarangana Sutradhara" vimanas are assigned as many as 230 stanzas! Moreover, the design and principle of action of vimanas, as well as various ways of taking off and landing, and even the possibility of colliding with birds are described. Vimanas of various types are mentioned, for example, a light vimana that resembled a large bird ("laghu-dara") and was "a large bird-like apparatus made of light wood, the parts of which were firmly connected." “The car was moving with the help of the air flow produced by flapping the wings up and down. They were powered by the pilot thanks to the power obtained by heating the mercury. " It was thanks to mercury that the machine acquired the "power of thunder" and turned "into a pearl in the sky." The text lists the 25 constituent parts of the vimaana and discusses the basic principles of making them. “The body of the vimaana should be made strong and durable,like a huge bird made of lightweight material. Inside it is necessary to place a mercury engine [high temperature chamber with mercury] with its iron heater [with fire] under it. With the help of the power hidden in the mercury, which sets the driving tornado in motion, the person sitting inside can travel long distances across the sky. The vimaana's movements are such that it can rise vertically, descend vertically, and move obliquely back and forth. With the help of these machines, human beings can rise into the air and celestial entities can descend to earth. "seated inside can travel long distances across the sky. The vimaana's movements are such that it can rise vertically, descend vertically, and move obliquely back and forth. With the help of these machines, human beings can rise into the air and celestial entities can descend to earth. "seated inside can travel long distances across the sky. The vimaana's movements are such that it can rise vertically, descend vertically, and move obliquely back and forth. With the help of these machines, human beings can rise into the air and celestial entities can descend to earth."
The Samarangana Sutradhara also describes heavier vimanas - alaghu, daru-vimanas, containing four layers of mercury over an iron furnace. “Furnaces filled with boiling mercury make a terrible noise, which is used during battle to scare away elephants. With the help of the mercury chambers, the roar can be amplified so much that the elephants become completely uncontrollable …"
In Mahavir Bhavabhuti, an 8th century Jain text based on ancient texts and traditions, you can read: “The air chariot, Pushpaka, brings many people to the capital of Ayodhya. The sky is full of huge flying machines, black as night, but strewn with yellowish lights …”.
The Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana narrate about the same congestion of vimanas in a scene in which the wife of the god Shiva, Sati, seeing relatives flying in vimanas to the sacrifice ceremony (arranged by her father Daksha), asks her husband to let her go there: "… Oh unborn, oh blue-necked, not only my relatives, but also other women, dressed in beautiful clothes and adorned with jewelry, are heading there with their husbands and friends. Look at the sky, which has become so beautiful, because the rows are floating on it. white, like swans, air ships … ".
"Vimanika Shastra" - an ancient Indian treatise on flying
Detailed information about the vimanas is contained in the book "Vimanika Shastra", or "Vimanik prakaranam" (translated from Sanskrit - "Science of the Vimanas" or "Treatise on flying").
According to some sources, "Vimanika Shastra" was discovered in 1875 in one of the temples in India. It was compiled in the 4th century BC. the sage Maharsha Bharadwaja, who used even more ancient texts as sources. According to other sources, its text was recorded in 1918-1923. Venkatacaka Sharma in the retelling of the sage-medium, pandit Subbraya Shastri, who dictated 23 books of Vimaniki Shastra in a state of hypnotic trance. Subbraya Shastri himself claimed that the text of the book was written on palm leaves for several millennia and was passed orally from generation to generation. According to his testimony, "Vimanika Shastra" is part of an extensive treatise by the sage Bharadwaja, entitled "Yantra-sarvasva" (translated from Sanskrit "Encyclopedia of Mechanisms" or "All About Machines"). According to other experts,it is about 1/40 part of the work "Vimana Vidyana" ("Science of Aeronautics").
The Vimanika Shastra was first published in Sanskrit in 1943. Three decades later, it was translated into English by the director of the International Academy for Sanskrit Studies in Mysore, India, J. R. Josier, and was published in 1979 in India.
The Vimanika Shastra contains numerous references to the works of 97 ancient scientists and experts on the construction and operation of aircraft, materials science, meteorology.
The book describes four types of aircraft (including those that could not catch fire or crash) - Rukma Vimana, Sundara Vimana, Tripura Vimana and Shakuna Vimana. The first of them had a conical shape, the configuration of the second was rocket-like: "Tripura Vimana" was three-tiered (three-story), and on its second floor there were cabins for passengers, this multi-purpose vehicle could be used for both air and underwater travel; "Shakuna Vimana" looked like a big bird.
All aircraft were made of metals. Three types of them are mentioned in the text: “somaka”, “soundalika”, “maurthvika”, as well as alloys that can withstand very high temperatures. In addition, the Vimanika Shastra provides information on 32 main parts of aircraft and 16 materials used in their manufacture that absorb light and heat. The various devices and mechanisms on board the vimaana are most often called yantra (machine) or darpana (mirror). Some of them resemble modern television screens, others are radars, and still others are cameras; Apparatus such as electric current generators, solar energy absorbers, etc. are also mentioned.
An entire chapter of the Vimanika Shastra is devoted to the description of the Guhagarbhadarsh Yantra device. With its help, from a flying vimaana, it was possible to determine the location of objects hidden under the ground!
The book also talks in detail about the seven mirrors and lenses that were installed on board the vimaanas for visual observations. So, one of them, called the "Pinjula's mirror", was intended to protect the pilots' eyes from the blinding "devil's rays" of the enemy.
Vimanika Shastra names seven sources of energy that set aircraft in motion: fire, earth, air, the energy of the sun, moon, water and space. Using them, the vimanas acquired abilities that are currently inaccessible to earthlings. Thus, the power of "guda" allowed the vimanas to be invisible to the enemy, the power of "paroksha" could disable other aircraft, and the power of "pralaya" emitted electrical charges and destroyed obstacles. Using the energy of space, the vimaanas could bend it and create visual or real effects: starry sky, clouds, etc.
The book also talks about the rules for controlling aircraft and their maintenance, describes methods of training pilots, diet, methods of making special protective clothing for them. It also contains information on protecting aircraft from hurricanes and lightning, and guidance on switching the engine to "solar power" from a free energy source called "antigravity."
The Vimanika Shastra reveals 32 secrets that an aeronaut should learn from competent teachers. Among them there are quite clear requirements and flight rules, for example, accounting for meteorological conditions. However, most of the secrets concerned knowledge that is inaccessible to us today, for example, the ability to make the vimana invisible to opponents in battle, increase or decrease its size, etc. Here are some of them:
"… by bringing together the energies of yasa, viyasa, prayasa in the eighth layer of the atmosphere covering the Earth, attract the dark component of the sunbeam and use it to hide the vimana from the enemy …"
"… by means of vyanarathya vikarana and other energies in the heart center of the solar mass, attract the energy of the etheric stream in the sky, and mix it with balaha vikarana shakti into a balloon, thereby forming a white shell that will make the vimana invisible …";
"… if you enter the second layer of summer clouds, collect the energy of shaktyakarshana with darpana, and apply it to parivesa (" halo-vimana "), you can generate a paralyzing force, and the enemy's vimaana will be paralyzed and incapacitated …";
"… by projection of a ray of Rohini's light one can make objects in front of the vimaana visible …";
"… the vimaana will move in a zigzag manner like a snake, if you collect the dandavaktra and seven other energies of the air, connect with the sun's rays, pass through the winding center of the vimaana and turn the switch …";
"… by means of the photographic yantra in the vimana to receive a television image of objects inside the enemy's ship …"
"… if you electrify three types of acid in the northeastern part of the vimaana, expose them to 7 kinds of sunlight and send the resulting force into the tube of the trishirsh mirror, everything that happens on Earth will be projected onto the screen …"
According to Dr. R. L. Thompson from the Bhaktivedanta Institute in Florida, USA, the author of the books "Aliens: A View from the Depths of Ages", "The Unknown History of Mankind", these instructions have many parallels with eyewitness accounts of UFO behavior.
According to various scholars of Sanskrit texts (D. K. Kandjilal, K. Nathan, D. Childress, R. L. Thompson, etc.), despite the fact that the illustrations of "Vimanika Shastra" are "polluted" in the XX century, it contains Vedic terms and ideas that may be genuine. And the authenticity of the Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and other ancient Sanskrit texts, which describe flying vehicles, is beyond doubt.
Continuation: "Attack of the Gods. Aircraft and Nuclear Weapons in Ancient India"
Author: A. V. Koltypin