Sunday, August 4, 2013

ವಿಮಾನ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ- Ancient Indian AERONAUTICS

VIMANA SHASTRA

ವಿಮಾನ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ

  Science of Ancient Indian-Aeronautics

ಫುಶಪಕ್ ವಿಮಾನ

Aircraft of Ancient India.

                 Throughout history there have been many common myths and legends of flying machines or devices- the familiar flying carpets of ancient Arabia (Yes of cousre; as you been through the Arabian Nights) Ezeki and Solomon flying from place to place by means of "Magical Chariots", Popularly known as Vimans, (ವಿಮಾನ ) of  Ancient India (Anciently called as Bharata-ಭಾರತ ).
               Its better to Start our discussion with the Ancient Texts to Understand the concept of Vimans . Among the more famous ancient texts that mention aerial cars (Vimans) are the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Followed by other lesser known texts including the Samarangana Sutradhara, the Yuktikalpataru of Bhoja Raja, from India, who lived in 12th century A.D. includes the technology involved in Ship-Building. The Mayamatam attributed to the architect called Maya, celebrated in the Mahabharata, the Rig Veda, the Yajurveda and the Atahavaveda.
ರಾಮಾಯಣ
               According to the Indian Historian Ramachandra, who wrote the still classic text on ancient Indian warfare, other texts which mention aerial vehicles and travels are Satapathya Brahmanas; the Rig veda Samhita; the Harivamsa; the Makandeya Purana; the Vishnu Purana; the Vikramaurvasiya; the Uttara-Ramacarita; the Harsacarita; the text from Tamil language Jivaka-Cintamani; and the discussion on aerial warfare and Vimanas, with some passages in Sanskrit can also be found from our (Indian) ancestors texts.
               In the Manusa, the most elaborated details for building aerial machines are set down. The Samarangana Sutradhara says that they were made of light material, with a strong, wll-shaped body. Iron, copper, mercury (used for gyroscopic purpose) and lead were used in their construction. They could fly to great distances and were propelled by air by motors.





     















         




             The Ramayana describes a vimana as a double-deck, circular (cylindrical) aircraft with portholes and a come. It flew with the "speed of wind" and gave forth a "melodious sound" (a humming noise?). The ancient Indians themselves wrote entire flight manuals on the control of various types of Vimanas, of which there were basically four: the Shakuna Vimana (ಶಕುನ ವಿಮಾನ), the Sundara Vimana (ಸುಂದರ ವಿಮಾನ), the Rukma Vimana (ರುಕ್ಮ ವಿಮಾನ) and the Tripura Vimana (ತ್ರಿಪುರ ವಿಮಾನ).
               At the world Space Conference on October 11,1988 in Banglore, India, as reported in the local newspaper called The Hindu, an Italian by the name of Dr. Roberto Pinotti addressed the delegates and spoke on ancient Indian Vimanas. After briefly telling them what Vimana was powered by motive power generated by solar rays and had an elongated form similar to a modern blimp.

               He went on to say that the "Ancient Aryans knew the use of the element 'fire' as could be seen from their 'Astra' weapons that included Soposamhara (ಸೋಪೋಸಂಹಾರ ), a flame belching missile, Prasvapna (ಪರಸ್ವಪ್ನ ), which caused sleep and four kinds of Agni Astras that traveled in sheets of flame and produced thunder."
               The Samara Sutradhara (ಸಮರ ಸೂತ್ರಧಾರ) is a scientific treaty dealing with every possible angle of air travel in a Vimana, dealing with construction, take-off, cruising for thousands of miles, normal and forced landings, and even possible collisions with birds.
               Says the Vaimanika Sastra about itself: "In this book are described in 8 pregnant and captivating chapters, the arts of manufacturing various types of Aeroplanes of smooth and comfortable travel in the sky, as a unifying force for trhe Universe, contributive to the well-Being of mankind. " That which can go by its own force, like a bird, on Earth, of Water, or in Air, is called 'Vimana'.
               That which can travel in the sky, from place to place, land to land, or globe to globe, is called 'Vimana' by scientists in Aeronautics.

                                                                                                                                    To be contineed...

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