The Vimanika Shastra, Fourth Chapter

Technical drawings of ancient Vimanas

Possible technical details of ancient Vimanas based upon the descriptions in the text

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Fourth Chapter

p. 28

Shaktyadhikaranam: The Power.

Maharshi Bharadwaaja:

"Shaktayassapta" Sootra 1.

"The power sources are seven."

Bodhaananda Vritti:

In this chapter the motive power of the vimaana is explained. In the functioning of the vimaana, there are 7 distinct operating forces. They are named udgamaa, panjaraa, sooryashaktyapa-karshinee or that which extracts solar power, parashaktyaakarshinee or that which extracts opposite forces, a set of 12 shaktis or forces, kuntinee, and moolashakti or primary force. At set spots in the vimaana, the motors which produce these 7 powers should be installed, duly wired and equipped with springs and wheels, as prescribed.

It is said in "Yantra-sarvasva:"

"The seven kinds of powers which are required for the Vimaana are produced by 7 motors which are named tundila, panjara, amshupa, apakarshaka, saandhaanika, daarpanika, and shaktiprasavaka. Each of these produces its specific power. Thus tundilaa produces udgamaa shakti, panjaraa produces the panjaraa shakti, shaktipaa produces the power which sucks solar power, apakarshaka produces the power which plucks the power of alien planes, sandhaana yantra produces the group of 12 forces, daarpanikaa produces kuntinee shakti, and shakti-prasava yantra produces the main motive power.

Shownaka-sootra also says:

"There are seven sources of power of the vimaana: fire, earth, air, sun, moon, water and sky. The seven kinds of powers are named udgamaa, panjaraa, solar heat absorber, alien force absorber, solar electric dozen, kuntinee, and primary force."

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"Soudaaminee-kalaa" says:

Ma, la, ya, ra, sa, va, na constitute the seven vimanic forces. Ma is udgamaa, la is panjaraa, ya is solar heat absorber, ra is the solar dozen, sa is alien force absorber, va is kuntinee, and na is primary force.

Their actions are thus defined in "Kriyaa-saara":

"The ascent of the vimana is by udgamaa shakti. Its descent is by panjaraa-shakti. Solar heat absorbing is by shaktyapakarshinee. Alien force restraining is by parashakty snatcher. Spectacular motion of the vimaana is by the vidyud-dwaadashaka-shakti. All these various activities are by the prime force of the vimana."

Vidyuddwaadashaka is thus explained in "Soudaaminee-kalaa":

"The spectacular motions of the vimaana are of 12 kinds. Their motive forces are also 12. The motions and the forces are, proceeding, shuddering, mounting, descending, circling, speeding, circumambulating, side-wise motion, receding, anti-clockwise motion, remaining motionless, and performing miscellaneous motions."

Maharshi Bharadwaaja:

"Shaktayah-pancha -iti-Narayanaha." Sootra 2.

"Narayana holds that the forces are five only, and not twelve."

Bodhaananda Vritti:

Five forces are generated by the yantra or dynamo called Sadyojaata, and they produce all the spectacular motions of the vimana.

Says "Shakti sarvasva":

"The motions of a vimaana are five, Chaalana, Gaalana, Panjaraprerana, Vakraapasarpana, and Spectacular manoeuvring."

Maharshi Bharadwaaja:

"Chitrinyeveti sphotaayanah." Sootra 3.

Sphotaayana holds that chitrinee is the sole shakti.

Bodhaananda Vritti:

Sphotaayana declares that the force called chitrinee shakti is the one which enables the vimana to perform spectacular manoeuvres.

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[paragraph continues] "Shakti-sarvasva" says that both from experience and scientific knowledge Sphotaayana propounds the view that 32 various kinds of motions of the vimaana are solely by the power of Chitrinee-shakti.

"Kriyaa-saara " also states that Chitrinee force of the 17th quality is solely responsible for the 32 types of aeronautical motions.

Maharshi Bharadwaaja:

"Tadantarbhaaavaat Saptaiveti" Sootra 4.

"The shaktis are 7 only, and include all others"

Bodhaananda Vritti:

Out of the five forces produced by the sadyojaata mechanism, panjaraa shakti is the most important. The other shaktis are incidental to it, just as sparks are incidental to fire. Chaalana and other motions may therefore be said to result from panjaraa shakti.

Says "Shaktibeeja": "It is by the panjaraa shakti generated by sadyojaata yantra that the chalana and other shaktis branch out. "

"Shakti kousthubha" also says, "From the panjaraa shakti produced by sadyojaata, emanate the chaalama and other 4 shaktis."

Thus since the other shaktis branch out from panjaraa shakti, they may be said to be in essence identical with it. That panjaraa and chitrinee are included in the seven shaktis which have been enumerated by Maharshi Bharadwaaja. Hence there cannot be said to be any conflict of opinions. Some even hold the view that each one of the seven shaktis is capable of producing all the 32 motions of the vimaana. But since each of the several motions of the plane is definitely ascribed to a particular kind of force, it would be incorrect to hold that one force could be responsible for the whole gamut of motions. Any attempt to give practical effect to such a theory would prove disastrous. Therefore the right conclusion is that the seven forces are the true cause of the 32 kinds of aerial activities of the vimaana.

Vymaanika Shastra - Design element

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