Aviation Science And Aircraft As Reflected In Vedic And Ancient Texts

Abstract

In our ancient Indian literature we find descriptions of the vimanas or aerial chariots which are described as being used by our ancient scholars thousands of years ago. Our great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Vedas, Srimadbhaagavatam, ancient historical texts like Samarangana Sutradhaaraand#8223; of Bhoja Deva and many other ancient literary works describe aerial chariots. These aerial chariots are further described as being used by the Kings, Rishi munis to travel from one place to another, one country to another and one planet to another. We can find carvings of the same in our ancient heritage places like Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Ellora and many other places across the world. This brings in a set of curious questions in our minds.Are these descriptions of aerial chariots real or imaginary? Did our ancient scholars really use such aerial chariots? newlineWhat is the technology behind such vimanas? Did aviation science exist thousands of years ago? The important objective of this research is to conceptually connect the aviation science of the past with our current Aircraft Technology. This can be achieved by the study and understanding of Aviation Science of vedic and ancient era; comparative study of vimanas described in Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Srimadbhaagavatam with modern aircraft; study of the vimanas described in Samarangana Sutradhara of Bhoja Deva which uses the power source Mercury Ion engine in comparison with Mercury Vortex Engine designed by NASA; comparison between the concept of design, construction, components, materials used in the construction of aircraft described in Maharshi Bharadwajaand#8223;s Vymanika Shastra with modern aircraft. The final goal is to conceptually compare the features of aerial chariots described in ancient texts with those of modern aircraft, study the descriptions of technology of ancient aircraft in comparison with the technology used in modern aircraft and document the findings.This research mainly focuses on the study of Aviation Science and vimanas described in the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Ramayana, Srimadbhaagavatam, Mahabharata, Samarangana Sutradhaara, Vymanika Shastra and articles written by various scholars on ancient vimanas and analyze the same in comparison with similar features of modern aircraft. This research also focuses on a few of the ancient flying machines, aircraft, spacecraft and rockets described in ancient Chinese and Greek texts; study of carvings of vimanas, aerial chariots and rockets in ancient heritage sites in India such as Ellora, Mahabalipuram and Hampi; Seti I temple in Egypt; gold model of Aircraft at Bogotá Gold Museum, Columbia; other rocket like carvings of Mayan civilization; wooden bird like artifact in Saqqara Egyptian tomb and other ancient paintings and carvings of rockets and spacecraft. newlineThere are a few theoretical concepts which we commonly find in many of the ancient Indian texts. They are Thought powered Aircraft , Aircraft with weapon holding abilities , Weapons and Aircraft which can be used for mass destruction , Mercury Vortex Engines and Multi storied aircraft . We currently do not have the authentic proof to decide whether these descriptions are mere imaginations or aircraft with these features existed during ancient era. newline