A controversial paper presented at the prestigious science conference, the 102nd Indian Science Congress in Mumbai, claims human aviation and advanced space flight was achieved and mastered by the ancient Indians, thousands of years before the Wright brothers in 1903.
The paper, presented by Captain Anand Bodas and Ameya Jadhav within a session titled Ancient Sciences through Sanskrit, details that in Vedic texts from 7,000 years ago, airplanes are described as being able to fly backwards and side-to-side. They could also shuttle between countries, continents and even planets.
Captain Anand J Bodas draws upon the ancient Vedas for evidence of aviation technology
“There is official history and unofficial history,” said Captain Bodas, according to TheNational. “Official history only noted that the Wright Brothers flew the first plane in 1903,” but the inventor of the airplane was really a sage named Bharadwaja, who lived around 7,000 years ago. “The ancient planes had 40 small engines.”
Painting of Bharadwaja, said to be one of the greatest Hindu sages. Public Domain
The Vedas are a large collection of Sanskrit texts originating in ancient India and constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Some of the collection, such as the Samhitas, are known to date back to at least 1,700 B.C., although it is believed that many go back much further.
An illustration of the Shakuna Vimana that is supposed to fly like a bird with hinged wings and tail. Public Domain
The subject of ‘flying machines’ has been a popular subject among ancient astronaut theorists, who argue that some extracts are evidence of extra-terrestrial visitations:
“The Pushpaka (flowery vimana) chariot that resembles the Sun and belongs to my brother was brought by the powerful Ravana; that aerial and excellent chariot going everywhere at will… that chariot resembling a bright cloud in the sky... and the King (Rama) got in, and the excellent chariot at the command of the Raghira, rose up into the higher atmosphere.” (Ramayana)
However, Captain Bodas said that ancient Indians invented the technology and that it was later forgotten because of the passage of time, foreign rulers and things being stolen from the country.
The Times of India reports that the paper, presented at the conference which included six Nobel laureates and award winning academics and scientists in its roster, has been met with skepticism, claims of “pseudo-science,” and the argument that the theory undermines empirical evidence by citing ancient religious texts.
The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) is a premier scientific organization of India, with more than 30,000 scientist members. The ISCA’s mandate is to publish journals, hold conferences and advance and promote the cause of science.
Valedictory Session of the 100th Indian Science Congress in Kolkata (Wikimedia Commons)
NASA scientist Dr. Ram Prasad Gandhiraman started an online petition before the conference was held to oppose certain lectures which were thought to advance a mix of science, mythology and the politics of Hindu nationalists.
However others, such as an Indian scientist from the U.S. who attended the conference, seemed to find the examination of ancient testimony compelling, saying, “Knowledge always grows, its flow never stops. So if all this knowledge was available in the ancient days, I need to know where it stopped. Why did it fail to grow? Why was there no advancement? When did it stop? I am not aware of the chronology of events, but I am definitely willing to learn more and find out.”
Featured Image: A manuscript illustration of the Sky Battle of Kurukshetra, fought between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, recorded in the Mahabharata Epic (Wikimedia Commons)
By Liz Leafloor
Comments
First of all, there is
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In reply to The Point by Tsurugi
First of all, there is nothing belitteling about what I say. I point out unsolved puzzles that are claimed by some as truth.
Just like massive floating buildings, with 2 little wings that could fly front to back, left to right and to other countries and even planets. When one takes that and even presents it as proof, then who are you to judge me on saying that I cannot express my opinion on that there is 0% proof of this. Because really, there is no proof. And on top of that, these same people then saying how they invented everything, with again 0% facts to prove, is the only comical attraction here.
And about Dwarka. you know something that I don't know? well show me facts and information then. It's that simple. Same goes for Vimana's show me info then. So keep on dating by association and assumption, but the facts out there now, that are internationally accepted, say a whole different deal about many things. Show me 30.000 year of dwarka civilization, show me vimana proof. No? Then don't blame me by asking logical questions. "yeeaaah but but excuse this, and excuse that, and India has no archaeologists ".
Really, how do you know how much there still lies in wait in both regions. It is implying asif Greece (and Turkey for that matter) is nearing archaeological completion, while really there has never been found more ancient sites in both Greece, Turkey and India than ever before in the last 20 years. due to technologies that where not present before. Stop giving irrelevant excuses, in which you don't know what the truth is.
1).Just like the vimana's storytelling that are based on a 1930 Indian book written by a man thousands of years later, completely out of context and own interpretation. Above that it was never mentioned in the earliest religious texts and when it was mentioned in later religious texts, the vimana's where still a horse with a carriage on the ground.
That's is something completely different from these "fllying buildings that could travel to the stars". There is a strong difference between fiction and true evidence/what has been found to date.
http://ancientaliensdebunked.com/references-and-transcripts/vimanas/
For the Vimana's are completely torn out of context and in the earliest religous texts, they where never mentioned.
2).And an Indian NASA scientist even launched a petition where he states that the talk at the science congress is pseudo-science, which represents nothing but myths and lies, and demands that the talk is cancelled.
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Controversy
The 102nd Indian Science Congress to be held at the Mumbai University in January 2015 is scheduled to have a session on "ancient sciences through Sanskrit" in which a presentation on Vaimānika Śāstra is included. It is slated to be delivered by Captain Anand J. Bodas, a pilot, and Ameya Jadhav, who holds in a M.A. in Sanskrit as well as an M.Tech. degree. Captain Bodas, speaking to the news media, has said that the aeroplanes of Vedic times could fly not only from country to country, but also "from planet to planet." "In those days, aeroplanes were huge in size, and could move left, right, as well as backwards, unlike modern planes which only fly forward," he added. Ram Prasad Gandhiraman, a NASA scientist, has launched an on-line petition demanding that the talk be cancelled as it represents pseudo-science.[10][11]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaim%C4%81nika_Sh%C4%81stra
3). Really, if you could be the one that could provide me even 1% evidence of what some people are claiming, then I would be the last one to say "nonsense it's not true".
If not, then not only do I keep seeing this as false and nonsense, also is it even worse for some Indians, As Greece exerted an incredible influence on Central Asia and Indian subcontinent in many ways, of which I have already provided clear sources. Which range from Astronomy, Architecture, coinage, 1000 year long Greek Buddha, to Rock cutting temples/caves (including the likes of Ajanta), jewelry, theater, up to small things like the Sari, that apparently (based on Indian scholars) have influence from Greece and Phoenicia, among other influences. It's easy as that.
Meanwhile, you can label me with anything you want, I don't share any of it.
The Point
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In reply to Time will tell. by Ptolemy336VV
The point you are missing is the very fact that Greece has been under so much heavy scrutinty by archaeologists for so long, while India has not. India is also vast, and even so it is known to be covered in innumerable ruins and magnificent temples and edifices, some of which defy belief, like the rock-cut temples or the stepwells. Few of these have really been studied by archaeology, and much of it is dated by asssociation and assumption. And no one has much bothered to search for hidden sites, since there are so many in plain view.
As for Dwarka, I can only say, you have not done your research, sir. So you fall back on the concensus of mainstream archaeology, which is sort of amusing, all things considered.
I don't actually have any problem with you being proud of the Greecian past. It is something to be proud of, for sure. But it is possible to be proud of one's history without denigrating the history of others. The greatness of Greece's past does not need to step on that of India to stand tall, because it stands tall on its own. Your belittling comparisons do not make Grecian history loom larger, they only make you yourself appear smaller.
Time will tell.
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In reply to Not Exactly by Tsurugi
You are missing also the same point you where making. The period ancient Greece (800-200BC, has been the greatest focuspoint of archaeologists all across the world within Greece.
Only for the 20 years, did the focus shift to other much older era's where archaeologists have examples of incredibly old civilization, that we now are starting to talk for instance about an 8000 year old civilization in Central Greece that had remarkably advanced architecture for the time and multiple finds by now of writing dated to 8000,7300 and 7000 year ago, not to forget. With over a thousand archaeological sites dated to before 4000BC, of which most have been found in the last 10 years.
Even in the case of the 8000 year old civilization with where they found 60+ cities,villages,settlements over 24 have been found just in the last 2 years. What does this say? This says that in Greece, as well as Anatolia(presentday Turkey) there is a constant stream of incredible finds from all era's of human civilization from the dawn of human civilization 12.000 years ago till presentday.
And the same in the bronze age with the Minoan civilization(3650BC-1300BC) which had incredible art,palaces, cities with all of them multistorey houses each with flushtoilets, urban planning, sewerage systems, architecture that withstood earthquakes, roads, etc, is but an example of that is was one of the most advanced bronze age civilizations on the planet. These are but example of much older civilization in Greece.
You don't have to find me humble. Which is certainly not my intention with this post, It is to make aware.
I only write down what has been found, not like some exaggerating indian who claim that one of their gods are 160 million years old, and thus their civilization is 160 million years old, or that that the sunken city of Dwarka stories by some have been exaggerated to 7000, 8000 then 12000 and then 30.000 years old based on story telling, while in reality Dwaraka has been dated and internationally accepted to 1500BC. The oldest find they made was a tree branch that comes from the forest of the Arabian peninsula of 8500 years ago, into the strong currents of the Gulf of Ghambat.
Based on this branch, that most scientists believe floated to the strong currents of Ghambat bay, is apparently enough for some people to make incredible assumptions that the city is 8000, 12000 and then 30.000 years ago.
So it's fine you say you find my post not humble, I merely react on what you can call Bollywood storystelling, with immense exaggeration without facts to support, really.
I rather be someone who understands and works with proof, evidence, archaeological sites, linguistic evidence, than believing evergrowing stories, religious texts (in most cases well after AD), and images that are dated to much much much later that show flying horses,ponys and animals than the period they are actually fantazing about. I might as well start use the bible as proof!
Not Exactly
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In reply to And about influences. It's by Ptolemy336VV
You're missing the point. First of all, all that "oldest this" and "oldest that" you listed is actually "oldest known", which is vastly different. A lot of archaeology has been done in Greece. Very little has been done in India, which is also immense in size.
Greece certainly had an influence on India, but if there was an advanced civilization in India it would necessarily have been in deep antiquity, far before the classical Grecian culture emerged.
Also, don't forget that Greece was heavily influenced by the culture of Egypt, which vastly antedated that of Greece. This is attested to many times in the writings of Greek philosophers, who were far humbler men than yourself, it seems.
And about influences. It's
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In reply to Ancient Indian Science by Satish Chandra (not verified)
And about influences. It's exactly the opposite from what you claim without any facts.
While both in Ancient Greek and ancient Indian literature it shows that they where not well aware of eachother and not in contact with eachother in Ancient times due to the large achaemenid empire in between. Only after Alexander had the ancient world around its finger was there true contact when Greeks spread hellenization across the ancient world. Ancient Greece had immense inlfuence on civilization across the ancient world and had immense influences also in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent
1).INDIA'S BUDDHA FIRST MADE BY GREEKS
Not to forget that Ancient Greece, profoundly influenced central Asia and India, through Greco- Bactrian Kingdom that existed 400 years long. As Ancient Greece has Sculptures, architecture, Jewelry, Art, Theatre that was unrivaled to anywhere in the world, this resulted in the great transmission of Greek knowledge to Central Asia and India. Examples are:
The first buddha's made by Greeks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhist_art
FACT: Images, findings and datings show that first Indian buddha's where made in Greek Hellenic Style. For 1000 years the Buddha was made in Greek style, with Greek sculpting technology all across India.
2).GREEKS INVENTED AND BROUGHT THEATER TO CENTRAL ASIA AND INDIA.
Also. Have you ever wondered why India's theater started after Alexander the great entered India and who had a kingdom for 400 year in Bactria (afghanistan/pakistan).
Quote: "The earliest form of the theatre of India was the Sanskrit theatre.[1] It began after the development of Greek and Roman theatre and before the development of theatre in other parts of Asia."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_India
3). GREEK ARCHITECTURE, JEWELRY, SCULPTURES WE UNRIVALED IN ALL OF ANCIENT WORLD
And when you go to the exhibition of Alexander the Great, you notice that Greek architecture, jewelry, and sculpture was unrivaled to anywhere in the world. Also where ancient Greek jewelry was super refined, the Indian jewelry was thick, simplistic and unrefined.
http://c300221.r21.cf1.rackcdn.com/laocoon-and-his-sons-1348967845_org…
http://www.greek-thesaurus.gr/images/p7/hairnet.JPG
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/145593000427091453/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/515169644846354380/
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m82bvcxdIz1rufkgxo1_1280.jpg
Only after the influence of Ancient Greece, and it's Greco-Bactrian Kingdom for 400 years, the jewelry, sculpting and many other crafts, of which Greeks where masters at, where transmitted to the peoples of Central Asia and India. This is also easy to attest. Go look for Ancient sculptures, jewelry, Architecture, in the region before Ancient Greece Influenced the region, and then after the 400 year of Hellenization of the region.
4). UNPARALELLED GREEK ASTRONOMY THAT INFLUENCED THE ENTIRE WORLD,
The same applies to Indian Astronomy, that was influenced with the rise of the Greek culture in the east.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_astronomy
"For example, Hellenistic astronomy is known to have been practiced near India in the Greco-Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum from the 3rd century BCE. Various sun-dials, including an equatorial sundial adjusted to the latitude of Ujjain have been found in archaeological excavations there.Numerous interactions with the Mauryan Empire, and the later expansion of the Indo-Greeks into India suggest that transmission of Greek astronomical ideas to India occurred during this period"
4.1). FIRST COMPUTER IN THE WORLD: ANTIKYTHERA.
Greek mathematics was so advanced, that they build the first computer in the world to measure the distance and movements from the stars. The antikythera, is heralded as the world's most advanced ancient technology. Not to be seen anywhere else in the world until 1600 AD in Europe.
http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-technology/incredible-inner-work…
The first computer in the world and most complex piece of technical engineering, unheard of anywhere in the ancient world, to invention of musical notation, that we use today. Or to to first robotics, Pneumatism, to the invention of the steam engine, automatic doors, elevators, steam cannon, to hydraulics, Automata, Mechanica, Catoptrica, Stereometrica, (heron of Alexandria), the first cookbook, astrolabe. Or even vending machines and washstands, where people could throw a coin in so that people could wash their hands or get food from the machine. Things that are unheard of to anywhere in the world and only to be re-invented in 18-19th century. Or to clock towers, alarm clocks, showers, central heating, railways,levers, inextinguishable Greek fire, the coinage system, cartography, lighthouses, anthropology,humanism, oldest composed musical piece in the world (Seikilos Epitaph), and really I could go on and on and on.
5). CHINESE, CENTRAL ASIANS WHERE DEEPLY INSPIRED BY GREEK SCULPTURES
Not only that. Greece spread Hellenism into Central Asia including Indian subcontinent. And for 400 years Greece has influenced the entire region heavily. Even china's terracotta army was inspired by Greek statues, as they are unrivaled in the world. And india's art, theatre, democracy, architecture, jewelry, was completely influenced by Ancient Greece. Basically Ancient Greek Arts and sciences influenced the whole ancient world
http://www.livescience.com/41828-terracotta-warriors-inspired-by-greek-…
6). GREEK COINAGE INFLUENCED CENTRAL ASIA AND INDIA HEAVILY
The Indians learnt much from the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom in the field of numismatics.
The Bactrian coins improved the Indian coinage to a large extent. The punch marked crude coins of India were replaced by regular better shaped coins. The Greek word "drachma" was adopted by the Indians as Dramma.
Even Saka and Pahalava coins on silver and copper follow the reduced Greco-Bactrian standard.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_of_the_Indo-Greeks#Influence_of_Ind…
- http://books.google.nl/books?id=0UA4rkm9MgkC&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=Gree…
- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Apollodotosi.jpg
- http://www.iranicaonline.org/img/ot_grp10/khalchayan_fig_2.jpg
- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/EucratidesStat…
- http://education-portal.com/cimages/multimages/16/met_greek_hellenistic…
- http://www.ancientgoldcoins.com/images/Ptolemaic-Arsinoe-II.jpg
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/baktria/kings/demetrios/SNGANS_18…
6.1) Coinage system was invented by the Greek state Lydia and on the Greek island Aegina in 700 BC. Everywhere where Greek civilization went, the introduction of coinage followed. All over ancient Greece spanning from Sicily, Mediterranean to the black sea, and soon after introducted to Persia in 500 BC, and India 300-330 BC. China had a standardized coinage system in 200BC
- http://www.ancient.eu/coinage/
- https://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&…
- http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p72/wetew_photo/650bc.gif
7). Even today India is a democracy(Also Greek), and ironically the only language in the whole of India that connects all groups and peoples is the English language. Which has become the dominant language. Did you know that 60.000 English words are Greek of Origin?
Also did you know that India's economy is completely based on western system, that originates from Ancient Greece?
Not only that. If you say "Asia" it's a Greek word. If you say telephone, its Greek. even the name India is Greek:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_India
Greece's influence is the foundation of many things in the world for a reason. Your economy, laws, democracy, even your theater, art, etc originated from the influences of Greece. Even china's terracotta army, just like Indian sculptures,jewelry, architecture was influences because of Ancient Greece.
8). Greece had a immense influence on Indian Rock cutting techniques, for temples, rock cutting caves etc. And basically 99% of all temples in India comes way after the the time of ancient Greece. Most are dated after 10th century AD till 18th Century AD.
"
Buddhism gained prominence during the reign of the emperor Ashoka. It is primarily represented by three important building types- the Chaitya Hall (place of worship), the Vihara (monastery) and the Stupa (hemispherical mound for worship/ memory)- exemplified by the magnificent caves of Ajanta and Ellora and the monumental Sanchi Stupa. The Greek influence led the Indian architecture of the time, especially the rock-cut art, to fall under one of the two categories: the Mathura school of art which was strictly Indian in spirit and did not adopt from the Greek styles, and the Gandharva school of art which incorporated influences of the Greek art.
http://www.crystalinks.com/indiarchitecture.html
"
And then I haven't covered many topics up to the influence of Ancient Greece on the Sari of India.
These are but a few examples, that show that Greece the most advanced technological civilization, had 400 years of direct influence on India.If Greece didn't influence India, then India would not be the same today.