CHAPTER – 5
DEFINITION OF VIMANA
The word “Vimana” originates from the Sanskrit words Vi-Mana, ‘Vi’
meaning ‘Bird’ and ‘Mana’ meaning ‘like’. The interpretation will be
‘like bird’. Owing to similarity with birds, it is named ‘vimana’.
The word ‘andaja’ as related to birds means ‘egg-born’. The word
vimana, though of purely ancient Indian origin, is widely adapted
and used by not only writers on this science in India, but also
extensively quoted as such by the researchers the world over. Basis
of arriving at this definition is not strange. Researchers on flying
machines from other parts of the world have also looked at flying
birds as their origin of inspiration and conceptualization. Ancient
Indian scientists were no different in their approach.
The interesting feature of Maharshi Bharadwaja’s soothras or rules
is that he recalls various definitions of other Acharyas or
preceptors. The table given below elucidates this.
Maharshi Bharadwaja refers to seven acharyas connected with works on
aviation science.
Acharyas
name
|
Reference to
work |
Definition |
Narayana |
Vimana
chandrika |
That
which can speed on earth, on water and through air, by its own power, like
a bird |
Shownaka |
Vyomaayaana
Tantra |
As
per experts in aeronautical science, that which can fly in air from one
place to another. |
Vishwambhara |
|
As
per experts one which flies from one country to another, one island to
another and one world to another |
Garga
|
Yantra
kalpa |
|
Vachaspathy |
Yaana
bindu |
|
Chakrayani
|
Kheta-yaana
Prdeepika |
|
Dhundinatha |
Vyomoyana-arka
Prakarana |
|
Notable observations:
-
Besides Maharshi Bhradwaja, several other preceptors were also
associated in the field of Aviation studies and researches. Several
works quoted herein deal with this discipline as well. This
observation holds good for all the succeeding topics of the work
where several preceptors and their quotations from related works
feature.
-
Definition of ‘vimana’ has been wide and comprehensive ranging from
simple flying machines to spacecraft.
-
Knowledge of this science was not confined to few individuals.
Ancient scientists believed interaction and communication with
others in the field and their works
-
Their keenness to go with open mind and highlight views of other
preceptors in the field is self-evident.
-
Works of the preceptors brought out, evidently at different periods,
were available for reference of other contemporary or succeeding
scholars.
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