Sambodhi 2014 Vol 37

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 74

66
Sunanda Y. Shastri
SAMBODHI
Maitrāyanīya Samhitā (I.13.20), Kathaka Samhitā (39.13) and the Taittirīya Brāhmana (1.5.1) mention all twenty seven Nakšatras. Aryabhatta surmised in 5th CAD that the Earth rotates around its axis. The stars are stationary, but they appear to move from east to west. There was a tradition of brilliant scholars like Varāhamihira, Aryabhatta, Bhāskarācārya and many others in the field of Astronomy and Mathematics before 10th to 15th CAD (Tradition of Science in Indian Culture, Jayant Naralikar, Indian Culture Science and Society, p.29). Dr. Naralikar says that, 'Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and so many principles used in Astronomy are seen in the books written by these scientists. On perusal of these books, it is also found that Sanskrit language was competent enough to give expression to theories of those scientists' (ibid-24)
There are number of references found in Rāmāyana and Purāna literature about the air craft (Rāmāyana). According to Rāmāyana and Dronaparva of Mahābhārata, the Vimāna - Air craft was shaped like a spear and borne along at a great speed on a mighty wind generated by mercury. It moved up, down, backwards and forwards as the pilot desired (Rāmāyana). The famous treatise - Samarānganasūtra has 230 verses describing the construction, take off, cruising for thousands of miles, normal and forced landings. There also is another famous treatise named 'Bhāradvāja Vimānaśāstra' which is the text of 4th CBC. It deals with operations of Vimānas, their steering, precautions for long flights, protection of the air ships from storms etc. This document has been translated in English and published by G.R.Josyer, Mysore, in 1979.
Samarānganasūtra describes Vimāna as : "body of Vimāna should be made long and durable like a great flying bird of light material. One must put mercury engine inside with its iron heating apparatus underneath. A man sitting inside may travel a great distance in the sky by means of power latent in the mercury which sets the driving whirlwind in motion. The movements of Vimana are such that it can vertically ascend and vertically descend, move slanting forwards and backwards'. It is obvious from this description that mercury was probably used as fuel in the air craft. (Source: Wikipedia, Ancient Indian Air Craft Technology, from the Anti-Gravity Handbook by D.Hatcher Childress). Hindi translation of Bhāradvāja Vimāna śāstra is called 'Brhad Vimānaśāstra was published by Dayananda Bhavan, Delhi, 1959.
Metallurgy is one of the important sciences developed in ancient India. Metal currency was minted in India before 5th CBC and coins were made of silver, copper bearing animal and plant symbol on them (Coin, Ency.Brittanica,