Vimana

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This page deals with the flying chariots of Hindu mythology. For the pyramid-shaped roof-towers of south Indian temple architecture, see Vimanam

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A vimāna (Sanskrit: विमान) is a mythical flying machine, described in the ancient literature of India.

[edit] Description

References to flying machines are commonplace in ancient Indian texts, which even describe their use in warfare. Physical evidence of such craft has yet to be found, if indeed such evidence does exist. Apart from being able to fly within the Earth's atmosphere, vimānas were also said to be able to travel into space and travel submerged under water. Descriptions in the Vedas and later Indian literature detail vimānas of various shapes and sizes:

  • In the Vedas: the Sun and Indra and several other Vedic deities are transported by flying wheeled chariots pulled by animals, usually horses (but the Vedic god Pūsan's chariot is pulled by goats).

In later Indian literature:-

  • The "agnihotra-vimāna" with two engines. (Agni means "fire" in Sanskrit.)
  • The "gaja-vimāna" with more engines. (Gaja means "elephant" in Sanskrit.)
  • Other types named after the kingfisher, the ibis, and other animals.

[edit] In UFO lore

Some modern UFO enthusiasts have pointed to the Vimana as evidence for advanced technological civilizations in the distant past, or as support for the ancient astronaut theory. Others have linked the flying machines to the legend of the Nine Unknown Men.

Alexander the Great purportedly gave a description of "dozens of silver disk-like objects" entering and leaving the Jaxartes River in 337 BC. Alexander, so the story goes, then became obsessed with the craft and spent many hours in a primitive diving bell searching for them. (Source: History Channel "Unidentified Submarine Objects")

[edit] Etymology and usage

The word comes from Sanskrit and seems to be vi-māna = "apart — having been measured". The meaning of the word likely changed in this sequence:-

  • An area of land measured out and set apart to be used for sacred purposes.
  • Temple. ("Vimana" now means some parts of Hindu temples.)
  • A god's palace.
  • In the Rāmāyana: the demon-lord Rāvana's flying palace called Pushpaka.
  • In later Indian writings: other flying vehicles, and sometimes as a poetic word for ordinary ground vehicles.

[edit] Pushpaka Vimana

"Pushpaka" (Sanskrit for "flowery") is the name of the particular flying vimana that has a part in the Ramayana. It is the first flying vimana mentioned in Hindu mythology (as distinct from gods' flying horse-drawn chariots). It is also called Pushpaka Vimana.

The special characteristic of this vehicle is, "What ever may be the number of people sitting in it, always there will be one more seat vacant i.e., If N people sit, There will be (N+1) seats". It was basically a vehicle that could soar the skies for long distances. It shows that even in ancient times, people were curious about flight and might have tried to design flying vehicles.

Pushpaka was originally made by Kubera, the God of wealth, but was later stolen, along with Lanka, by his half-brother, the demon king Ravana.

[edit] Vimanas in popular culture

Vimanas have appeared in books, films, internet and games including:

[edit] Other meanings

  • In most modern Indian languages, the word vimāna or vimān means ordinary real aircraft. In Tamil it can mean an ordinary car.
  • The distinctive pyramidical roof-towers of south Indian temples are called "Vimanams"
  • The Buddhist book Vimānavatthu (Pali for "Vimāna Stories") uses the word "vimāna" to mean "a small piece of text used as the inspiration for a Buddhist sermon".
  • The same word, spelled Biman in the Bengali language, means airplane, and is the national airline of Bangladesh.
  • The adytum of a Rama Temple.

[edit] External links


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