THE VAIMANIKA SHASHTRA

The Vaimanika Shashtra is a Sanskrit text on aerospace technology. It makes the claim that the 'vimanas', meaning aircrafts, mentioned in ancient Sanskrit epics were advanced aerodynamic flying vehicles. 

Flights made by vehicles heavier than air are mentioned in Indian epics, the most famous being Ravana's aerial Pushpaka vimana. But these were in the realm of mythology. Not even archaeological excavations have dug up evidence that ancient Indians were into experiments on flight.

The Vaimanika Shashtra appeared in the early 20th century in Madras. It was written by a Sanskrit scholar and contained illustrations on different types of aircraft. The scholar, Pandit Subbaraya Shashtry, had received this knowledge from mental channeling (apparently), a process that supposedly helps one receive some wisdom through telepathy and occult methods (as if an ancient knowledge on aerospace technology was not enough!!).

The book is an interesting read. But 'incredible' is the word we need to say. Aeronautics experts have dismissed the book and its content as too fantastic to be true. Only one aircraft, the rukma vimana, is said to be realistic, working on some kind of jet intake and exhaust mechanism.

Other designs have aircraft with wings that are hinged, with a tail, flying like birds. Some aircraft are meant for war and are heavily armed (but the weapons are beyond recognition).

The Vaimanika Shashtra is not history, nor is it any science (that we know of). Instead, it is a book that asks more questions than it answers. It makes us wonder whether the ancient civilisations of the world ever experimented with devices beyond the capabilities of the science they knew. For instance, rockets have existed for a long time, and the Antikythera was more complex than any device made by man till just a few hundred years ago. So, did ancient civilisations ever experiment with any kind of flight? Perhaps the answers lie somewhere underneath ruins, but meanwhile, the Vaimanika Shashtra is an interesting book to read by itself.

People had been trying to fly for a long time, although you need to draw a line between heavier-than-air vehicles and the lighter ones, like balloons. The Vaimanika Shashtra, if proved accurate, could turn some things about history of aviation on its head.