वैमानिक शास्त्र (Vimaan Shastra-Ancient Indian Aeroplane Technology Chapter-1)
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FIRST CHAPTER
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
I make obeisance to the
Divine Being, who is visible on the crest of the Vedas, who is the fountain of
eternal bliss, and whose abode is reached by Vimaanas or Aeroplanes. Having
studied the Shaastraas or sciences propounded by previous men of science to the
best of my ability, for the benefit of mankind, I shall deal with the science
of Aeronautics, which is the essence of the Vedas, which will be a source of
joy and benefit to humanity, which will facilitate comfortable travel in the
sky from world to world, in eight chapters, consisting of 100 topics, in 500
sutras or cryptic pronouncements.
Commentary by Bodhaananda:
I bow to God Mahadeva and
His Consort, to Saraswathi Goddess of learning, to Ganapathy guardian of
benevolent efforts, and to my venerable preceptor, and I bow to Maharshi
Bharadwaaja. In Addition to my own knowledge of Logic, I have five times turned
over Vaalmeeki's Mathematics, 'Paribhaashaa Chandrikaa,' and
'Naamaarthhakalpaka,' and aided by their authority, I, Swaamy Bodhaananda, for
the easy understanding of the young, have written this 'Bodhananda Vritti,' to
elucidate Maharshi Bharadwaaja's concisely worded text on Aeronautics.
At the outset Maharshi
Bharadwaaja invokes God in the traditional manner for the successful
commencement, progress, and completion of his great literary work. Attaining
mastery over the Vedas by Divine Grace, and studying the works of earlier
Aachaaryaas or preceptors, he has churned the Vedic lore, and extracting the,
cream, presented it to mankind for reaping untold benefits, in the work named
'Yantrasarvasva.' In the fortieth chapter therein he deals with the science of
Aeronautics, explaining the construction and use of many kinds of aeroplanes,
in 8 chapters, containing 100 subject heads, comprising 500 sutras or oracular
pronouncements.
In the first stanza the
reference is to the teaching of the sacred works, "Uttara-taapaneeya,"
'Shaibya-prasna,' 'Kaataka,' and 'Maandookya,' that the symbolic letter, 'Om,'
leads to the knowledge of God and Salvation. Bharadwaaja implies that the
Vimaana or aeroplane
Constructed according to
Vymaanika Shaastra, may enable men to reach God, and enjoy the benefits of His
Divine abode.
The previous Aachaaryaas
Bharadwaaja refers to are named by Vishwanaatha as,--Naaraayana, Shownaka,
Garga, Vaachaspathi, Chaakraayani and Dhundinaatha, venerable authors of
"Vimaana-Chandrikaa", "Vyomayaana-Tantra,"
"Yantra-Kalpa", "Yaana-Bindu," "Kheta-yaana
Pradeepikaa," and "Vyomayaana-Arkaprakaasha," respectively.
Bharadwaaja thus defines
the word Vimaana:
Vega-Saamyaat Vimaano Andajaanaam. Sootra 1.
"Owing to
similarity of speed with birds, it is named Vimaana." Bodhaananda
Vritti:
The word
"andaja" means "egg-born", and includes eagles and other
birds which fly by their own volition. The Vimaana is a vehicle which flies in
the sky with speed comparable with birds.
Lallachaarya says: "That
which can fly in the sky with speed equal to that of birds, is called Vimaana."
Aachaarya Naaraayana says: "That which can speed on earth, on water, through air, by its
own power, like a bird, is a "Vimaana."
Shankha says: "Experts
in the science of aeronautics say, That which can fly through air from one
place to another is a Vimaana"
And Vishwambhara says: "Experts
say that that which can fly through air from one country to another country,
from one island to another island, and from one world to another world, is a
"Vimaana"."
Having thus defined the
name of the Vimaana, the sage proceeds to describe its details.
Rahasyagnyodhikaaree. Sootra 2.
"The pilot is one who
knows the secrets."
Bodhaananda: Scientists
say that there are 32 secrets of the working of the Vimaana. A pilot should
acquaint himself thoroughly with them before
he can be deemed competent
to handle the aeroplane. He must know the structure of the aeroplane, know the
means of its take off and ascent to the sky, know how to drive it and how to
halt it when necessary, how to manoeuvre it and make it perform spectacular
feats in the sky without crashing. Those secrets are given in "Rahasya-Lahari"
and other works, by Lalla and other masters, and are described thus:
"The pilot should
have had training in maantrica and taantrica, kritaka and antaraalaka, goodha
or hidden, drishya and adrishya or seen and unseen, paroksha and aparoksha,
contraction and expansion, changing shape, look frightening, look pleasing,
become luminous or enveloped in darkness, deluge or pralaya, vimukha, taara,
stun by thunderous din, jump, move zig-zag like serpent, chaapala, face all
sides, hear distant sounds, take pictures, know enemy manoeuvres, know
direction of enemy approach, stabdhaka or paralyse, and karshana or exercise
magnetic pull.”
These 32 secrets the pilot
should learn from competent preceptors, and only such a person is fit to be
entrusted with an aeroplane, and not others.
They are explained thus by
Siddhanaatha:
1. Maantrika: As prescribed in
"Mantraadhikaara," by invoking the mantras of Chhinnamasta,
Bhairavee, Veginee, Siddhaamba, acquire the powers of ghutikaa, paadukaa,
visible and invisible and other mantraas with potent herbs and efficacious
oils, and Bhuvaneswaree Mantra which confers spiritual and mesmeric powers, to
construct aeroplanes, which don't break cannot be cut, cannot be burnt, and
cannot be destroyed.
2. Taantrika: By
acquiring Mahaamaaya, Shambara, and other taantric powers, to endow the plane
with those powers.
3. Kritaka: By study of architects like
Vishwakarma, Chhaayaaparusha, Mann, Maya and others, to construct aeroplanes of
various patterns.
4. Antaraala: In the wind-swept
atmospheric region of the sky, in the clash at the borders of mighty currents,
an inadvertent plane is likely to be smashed to pieces. But by getting warned
of the approach of such danger spots, the plane could be halted and steered
with care.
5. Goodha: As explained in
'Vaayutatva-Prakarana', by harnessing the powers, Yaasaa, Viyaasaa, Prayaasaa
in the 8th atmospheric layer covering the earth, to attract the dark content of
the solar ray, and use it to hide the Vimaana from the enemy.
6. Drishya: By collision of the electric
power and wind power in the atmosphere, a glow is created, whose reflection is
to be caught in the Vishwa-Kriyaa-darapana or mirror at the front of the
Vimana, and by its manipulation produce a Maaya-Vimaana or camouflaged Vimana.
7. Adrishya: According to "Shaktitantra", by
means of the Vynarathya Vikarana and other powers in the heart centre of the
solar mass, attract the force of the ethereal flow in the sky, and mingle it
with the balaahaavikarana shakti in the aerial globe, producing thereby a white
cover, which will make the Vimana invisible.
8. Paroksha: According to
"Meghotpatthi-prakarana," or the science of the birth of clouds, by
entering the second of the summer cloud layers, and attracting the power
therein with the shaktyaakarshana darpana or force-attraction mirror in the
Vimana, and applying it to the parivesha or halo of the Vimaana, a paralysing
force is generated, and opposing Vimaanas are paralysed and put out of action.
9. Aparoksha: According to 'Shakti-tantra,' by projection of
the Rohinee beam of light, things in front of the Vimaana are made visible.
10. Sankocha, or Contraction: As
prescribed in the Yantraangopasamhaara section, when the Vimaana is flying at
speed with fully extended wings, and there is danger ahead, turning the 7th
switch in the Vimana, its parts can be made to contract.
11. Vistrita: According to
'Akaashatantra', when the Vimana is in the central air flood in the third and
first regions of the sky, by turning the switch in the 11th section of plane,
it becomes expanded suitably according to "Vaalmeeki Ganita."
12. Viroopa Karana: As stated in
"Dhooma Prakarana", by producing the 32nd kind of smoke through the
mechanism, and charging it with the light of the heat waves in the sky, and
projecting it through the padmaka chakra tube to the bhyravee oil-smeared
Vyroopya-darpana at the top of the Vimaana, and whirling with 132nd type of
speed, a very fierce and terrifying shape of the Vimana will emerge, causing
utter fright to onlookers.
13. Roopaantara: As stated in
"Tylaprakarana," by preparing griddhrajihwaa, kumbhinee, and
kaakajangha oils and anointing the distorting mirror in the Vimaana with them,
applying to it the 19th kind of smoker and charging with the kuntinee shakti in
the Vimana, shapes like lion, tiger, rhinoceros, serpent, mountain, river will
appear and amaze observers and confuse them.
14. Suroopa: By attracting the 13 kinds of
Karaka force mentioned in "Karaka prakarana" applying snow-surcharged
air and projecting it through the air conveying tube to the pushpinee- pinjula
mirrors in the front right side of the Vimana, and focusing on it the suragha
beam, a heavenly damsel bedecked with flowers and jewels will appear to
onlookers of the Vimana.
15. Jyotirbhaava: As stated in
"Amshubodhinee," out of Samgnaana and other 16 digits of the solar
glow, by attracting the 12th to the 16th digits and focusing them on the air
force in the Mayookha section in the fourth pathway in the sky, and similarly
by attracting the force of the etherial glow and mingling it with the glow in
the 7th layer of air mass, and then by projecting both these forces through the
5 tubes in the Vimana on to the section of the guhaa-garbha mirror, a rich glow
like the morning glow of the sun will be produced.
16. Tamomaya: As described in
"Darpana Prakarana," by means of the dark force mirror, capture the
force of darkness, pass it through the Thamo-Yantra in the north-west side of
the Vimana, and by turning a switch produce at noon-day the utter darkness of
the night of the new-moon.
17. Pralaya: As described in the magic
book of destruction, attract the 5 kinds of smoke through the tube of the
contracting machine in the front part of the Vimana, and merge it in the cloud-
smoke mentioned in "Shadgarbha Viveka", and pushing it by electric
force through the five-limbed aerial tube, destroy everything as in a
cataclysm.
18. Vimukha: As mentioned in
"Rig-hridaya", by projecting the force of Kubera, Vimukha and
Vyshawaanara poison powder through the third tube of the roudree mirror and
turning the switch of the air mechanism, produce wholesale insensibility and
coma.
19. Taara: By mixing with etherial force
10 parts of air forte, 7 parts of water force, and 16 parts of solar glow, and
projecting it by means of the star-faced mirror through the frontal tube of the
Vimana; the appearance of a star-spangled sky is created.
20. Mahaashabda Vimohana: By concentrating
the air force in the seven tubes of the Vimana, and turning the switch,
produce, as stated in "Shabda prakaashikaa" a crescendo of thunderous
din, which stuns people, and makes them quake with fear and become insensible.
21. Langhana: As stated in "Vaayu
tattva prakarana" When crossing from one air stream into another, the
Vimana faces the baadaba glow of the sun and catches fire. In order to prevent
that, the electric force and air force in the Vimana should be conjoined and
centred in the life-centre of the Vimana, and by turning the switch, the Vimana
will leap into safety.
22. Saarpa-Gamana: By attracting the
dandavaktra and other seven forces of air, and joining with solar rays, passing
it through the zig-zagging centre of the Vimana, and turning the switch, the
Vimana will have a zig-zagging motion like a serpent.
23. Chaapala: On sighting an enemy plane,
by turning the switch in the force centre in the middle section of the Vimana,
a 4087 revolutions an hour atmospheric wave speed will be generated, and shake
up the enemy plane.
24. Sarvatomukha: When a formation of
enemy planes comes to attack one's Vimana, by turning the switch at the crown
of the Vimana, make it revolve with agility and face all sides.
25. Parashabda Graahaka: As explained in
"Sowdaaminee kalaa" or science of electronics, by means of the sound
capturing yantra in the Vimana, to hear the talks and sounds in enemy planes
flying in the sky.
26. Roopaakarshana: By means of the
photographic yantra in the Vimana to obtain a television view of things inside
an enemy plane.
27. Kriyaagrahana: By turning the key at
the bottom of the Vimana, a white cloth is made to appear. By electrifying the
three acids in the north-east part of the Vimana, and subjecting them to the 7
kinds of solar rays, and passing the resultant force into the tube of the
Thrisheersha mirror and making the cloth screen face the mirror, and switching
on the upper key, all the activities going on down below on the ground, will be
projected on the screen.
28. Dikpradarshana: Turning the key at the
front of the Vimana the dishaampati yantra will show the direction from which
the enemy plane is approaching.
29. Aakaashaakaara: According to
"Aakaasha-tantra", by mixing black mica solution with neem and
bhoonaaga decoctions and smearing the solution on the outer body of the Vimana
made of mica plates, and exposing to solar rays, the plane will look like the
sky and become indistinguishable.
30. Jalada roopa: Mixing pomegranate
juice, bilva or bael oil, copper-salt, kitchen smoke, granthika or gugul
liquid, mustard powder, and fish scale decoctions, and adding sea-shell and
rock-salt powder, and collecting smoke of the same solution and spreading it
with solar heat enveloping the cover, the Vimana will have the appearance of a
cloud.
31. Stabdhaka: By projecting apasmaara
poison-fume smoke through the tube on the north side on the Vimana, and
discharging it with stambhana-yantra, people in enemy planes will be made
unconscious.
32. Karshana: When enemy planes come in
strength to destroy one's Vimana, by setting aflame the Jwaalinee shakit in the
Vyshwaanara-naala or pipe located at the navel of the plane, and switching the
keys of the two wheels to 87 degrees of heat, the burning shakti will envelope
the enemy plane and destroy it.
These are the 32 rahasyaas
or secrets which should be known by pilots according to Siddhanaatha.
"Maargaadhikaranam " Aerial Routes:
Panchagnyascha. Sootra 3.
"The pilot should know five things."
Bodhaananda Vritti:
As the secrets of
aeronautics are indicated in the second sutra, the five atmospheric regions are
referred to in the third sutra. According to Shownaka, the regions of the sky
are five, named, Rekhaapathha, Mandala, Kakshya, Shakti, and Kendra.
In these 5 atmospheric
regions, there are 5,19,800 air ways traversed by Vimanas of the Seven Lokas or
worlds, known as Bhooloka, Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka, Maholoka, Janoloka, Tapoloka
and Satyaloka.
Dhundinaatha and
"Vaalmeeki Ganita" state that Rekha has 7,03,00,800 air routes,
Mandala has 20,08,00200 air routes, Kakshya has 2,09,00,300 air routes, Shakti
has 10,01,300 air routes, and Kendra has 30,08,200 air routes.
According to
"Vaalmeeki Ganita" in the Rekhaapathha region, sections 1 to 4 are
suitable for the passage of the Vimanas of this Bhooloka. In the Mandala region
sections 3 to 5 are suitable for Vimanas of Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka, and Maholoka
dwellers. For the Janoloka Vimanas sections 2 to 5 in the Kakshya region are
suitable. Section 1 to 6 in the Shakti region are suitable for the Vimanas of
Tapoloka. For the dwellers of Bramhaloka sections 3 to 11 in the Kendra region
are suitable, according to shaastras like "Vaalmeeki Ganita" and
others.
Maharashi Bharadwaaja:
“Aavartaascha” Sootra 4
"Whirl-Pools"
Aavartaas or aerial
whirlpools are innumerable in the above regions. Of them the whirlpools in the
routes of Vimanas are five. In the Rekhapathha there occurs "Shaktyaavarta"
or whirlpool of energy. In Mandala-pathha there occurs the whirlpool of winds.
In Kakshyaa-pathha there occurs Kiranaavarta or whirlpool from solar rays. In
Shakti-pathha there occurs shytyaavarta or whirlpool of cold-currents. And in
Kendra-pathha there occurs gharshanaavartha or whirl-pool by collision. Such
whirlpools are destructive of Vimanas, and have to be guarded against.
The pilot should know
these five sources of danger, and learn to steer clear of them to safety.
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
Angaanyekatrimsat. Sootra 5.
"The parts are thirty one"
Bodhaananda Vritti:
Just as the human body, if
it is complete in all its limbs, is best able to accomplish things, the Vimana,
if it is complete in all its parts, will be capable of functioning efficiently.
From the location of the Vishwakriyaadarpana 31 locations of Vimana components
are mentioned. According to "Chaayaapurusha Shaastra" they are:
1. Vishwakriyaadarpana or mirror of outside views.
2. Shaktyaakarshana or energy attracting mirror.
3. Parivesha mechanism above the hood of the Vimana.
4. Angopasamhaara yantra or folding up yantra at the 7th
bindukeelaka.
5. Vistritakriyaa or opening out yantra location in the middle
of the 11th section.
6. Vyroopya darpana and
7. Padmachakramukha at the shirobhaaga or crest of the Vimana.
8. The Kuntinee-shakti mechanism is to be in the neck of the
Vimana.
9. Pushpinee and Pinjulaa Mirrors are to be in the right side
of the centre.
10. At the front of the left side are to be located the
Naalapanchaka or 5 pipes.
11. Guhaagarbha mirror yantra is to be in the front part of the
stomach of the plane.
12. Thamoyantra at the north western side.
13. Pancha-vaataskandha-naala on the western centre.
14. Rowdree mirror.
15. Vaataskandha keelaka at the bottom centre.
16. Shaktisthaana at the front and right sides.
17. Shabda-kendra-mukha at the left side.
18. Vidyuddwaadashaka at the north-east side.
19. Praanakundala at the moola of the Vimana.
20. Shaktyudgama at the navel of the Vimana.
21. Vakraprasaarana at the side of Vimanaadhaara.
22. Shaktipanjara in the central portion.
23. Shirahkeelaka at the head of the Vimana.
24. Shabdaakarshaka yantra at the shoulder.
25. Pata-prasaarana at the bottom centre.
26. Dishaampati yantra at the left front.
27. Pattikaabhraka at the centre of the hood of the Vimana.
28. Solar power attractor at the top of the Vimana.
29. Apasmaara or poison gas at the sandhi-naala mukha or junction
tube front.
30. Sthambhana yantra at the bottom.
31. Vyshwaanara-naala at the navel centre.
This is the placing of the
31 components of the Vimana. "Vasthraadhikaranam ": On Clothing
Maharashi Bharadwaaja:
"Yantu-praavaraneeyow prithak prithak
ritubhedaat." Sootra 6
"The clothing should be different for
different seasons."
The sootra defines the
clothing which is to be provided to the pilot in accordance with different
seasonal conditions. The impact of the sun's myriad rays on the revolving earth
causes seasonal climatic changes. Their effects on human life are either
wholesome or unwholesome, as the case may be. The latter cause cramps, drain
blood, and denude the body of fat, flesh, and other ingredients. The evil
forces of the seasons are reckoned as 25, and affect the skin, bone, flesh,
fat, muscles, nerves, joints and other parts of the pilots' body. The clothing
provided to them should be such as to safeguard against such effects, and
maintain their efficiency.
According to
"Pata-samskaara Ratnaakara", silk, cotton, moss, hair, mica, leather,
are to be purified by 25 processes, washed with mica-saturated water, and spun
into yarn as prescribed by Gaalava. Then fibres from the ketaki flower palm,
arka or swallow wort or madar, sun flower tree, cocoanut and jute, should each
be purified 8 times as prescribed and by 19 processes, spun into yarn, and
woven into cloth. Then the cloth should be soaked in the oils of linseed,
tulasi or basil, goose-berry, shamee or acacia suma, bael, and mustard, and
dried in the sun 5 times daily for 7 days. Then yellow ochre, lac, tamarind,
honey and gingelly manure and mica in equal parts and yena-kshaara salt, put in
a crucible vessel, placed in koorma furnace, and boiled with the aid of 3 faced
bellows. 8 seers of linseed juice should be added to it. Bees wax, mica,
shinjeera, vajra, borax, and ashoka fruit should be boiled, and their oil mixed
with the other composition, and boiled in garbhataapana yantra. Then the cloth
should be soaked in that decoction and dried 5 times. With this material,
fashioning the apparel and clothes of the pilots handsomely, according to the
types of the cloth and requirements the crew, as prescribed by Agnimitra, and
handing it to them to wear, they should be conferred benediction, given a
protective amulet and then sent out with cheers. It will ward off evils,
promote fitness of body and health of mind, and improve their strength, energy,
and competence.
Aahaaraadhikaranam: On
Food
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
"Aahaarah Kalpabhedaat" Sootra 7.
"Food according to Seasons."
Bodhaananda Vrritti:
As stated in Kalpa Sootra,
the food of the pilots is of three kinds, according to the seasons.
"Ashana-Kalpa" or "Principles of Diet", says--"During
the spring and summer months, the pilot's food should consist of buffalo-milk
among liquids, among grains aadhaka or tuvar-dhal, and among flesh, the flesh
of sheep.
In the 4 months of rains
and autumn, cow's milk among liquids, wheat and black-gram among grains, and
flesh of cocks and hens.
In the 4 months of winter
and snow, goat's-milk, yava and black-gram among grains, and flesh of sparrows.
For pilots belonging to
the three Dwija castes of Braahmin, Kshatriya and Vyshya, the food will not
include flesh.
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
"Visha
Naashas Tribhyaha" Sootra 8.
"The three Varieties ward off seasonal evil
effects"
Bodhaananda Vritti:
The 25 kinds of poisonous
effects of the seasons are warded off by alteration in the food so as to suit
the seasonal conditions.
"Vishanirnaya-adhikara"
states,--
The seasons are each
differently conditioned by the changes in the watery forces in the sky. The 101
forces in the aerial atmosphere, colliding with the 1/16th force in the watery
sky in the seventh region, at the sineevaalee and kuhoo yogas or full-moon and
new-moon conjunctions, produce maleficent and beneficent effects. The
beneficent forces are 7,58,00,700 in number, and the maleficent forces also are
of the same number, according to "Vaalmeeki Ganita". The beneficent
effects are during the full moon period, and the maleficent effects during the
new- moon period. 25 maleficent poisonous forces known as Bhedinee, tend to
paralyse the pilots' physical effeciency. That is avoided by altering their
food according to seasons. So says Sage Shaataatapa.
By such adjustment the
pilots' physical fitness will be maintained.
Maharashi Bharadwaaja:
"Tat Kaalaanusaaraat iti" Sootra 9.
"That at set times"
Bodhaananda Vritti:
Having defined the
seasonal types of food, the meal times are now defined. According to Shownaka,
the times for taking meals are prescribed as follows: Family men should take
food twice a day, or once a day. Ascetics should take food once a day. Others
can take food four times a day. Air pilots should take food 5 times a day. And
yogis may take as many times as they like.
According to "Lalla-kaarika"
or "Diet Rules" by Lalla,
Food should be taken at
the end of the 2nd yaama-(yaama=3 hours) in the day time, and at the end of the
1st yaama in the night. That is for family men. If they take only one meal a
day, it should be during the 3rd and 4th yaamas. Sanyaasis or ascetics who eat
only once a day should dine as above. For the labouring classes the times are
thrice during day time, and once in the night. For pilots of Vimanas the meals
are thrice during day time, and twice at night.
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
"Tadabhaavay Sathva-Golovaa" Sootra 10.
"If unavailable, then vitamin pills or
food-balls"
Bodhaananda Vritti:
If the prescribed
food-stuffs are not available for use during their flights, then essence
extracts made by proper cooking with admixture of spices and condiments into
potable and eatable form, or food balls-made out of them should be supplied to
the pilots for consumption on flights.
Says "Ashana
kalpa" or "Food manual",
"There are 5 kinds of
food, that are nutritious and wholesome; cooked rice or grain, gruel, cooked
flour, baked flat bread, and preparations made out of essence-extracts from
food materials. The last named are superior to all the others".
"Paakasarvasva"
or "Art of cooking" observes,
"Removing the husk
and other non-food parts from it by machines, the grain should be made into
flour and cooked in a suitable vessel and when it has reached the 8th degree of
reduction, add essences, sweets, condiments, and ghee, and prepare food-balls,
having nice flavour and delicious taste, and being nourishing to the body.
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
"Phala Moola Kanda Saarovaa." Sootra 11.
"Or essence of fruits, roots, and bulbs."
Bodhaananda Vritti:
In this sootra it is
stated that preparations made from edible roots, potato and other bulbous
vegetables, and from fruits are also suitable as food.
"Ashana-Kalpa"
says,
If food made of grains is
not available, that from roots, bulbs, and fruits may by used as food, in the
form of flour, sugarcandy, manjoosha or jaggery, honey, milk, ghee,
oily-products, and roots and berries which contain sweet, salt, pungent, acrid,
and alkaline tastes. Such roots are said to be 56 in number. They should be
purified, powdered, and duly cooked, and made into balls, and given out for use
as food.
Similarly the bulbous
vegetables which are of 16 kinds, and fruits which are of 32 kinds, and food
prepared out of them are excellent food, Food from roots develops brain,
nourishes the body, strengthens the bones, and gives virility. Food from bulbs promotes
brilliance, and bodily vigour, and strengthens the life current. Food from
fruits nourishes mind, intelligence, blood, flesh, and vital liquids. Therefore
these alternatives are recommended for pilots of Vimanas.
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
"Apicha
Trinaadeenam." Sootra 12.
"Even grasses, herbs and shrubs."
Bodhaananda Vritti:
This sootra indicates that
even grasses, herbage, and creepers, could be made to yield food. Says
"Ashana-Kalpa",
Like roots, bulbs and
fruits, grasses, shrubs and herbs, provide good food for men. Six kinds of
doorva grass, 6 kinds of munja hemp, 6 kinds of darbha or long grass, 6 kinds
of shoundeera, and 6 kinds of Ashwakarna or sal, or mimordica charantia,
Shatamoolee of 3 kinds, Kaaruvellee; Chandravellee, Madhuvellee, Varchulee,
Makutee vellee, sugandhaa, and sooryavellee may be made to yield good food,
nutritious and bracing.
Selected by men who know
them well, these vegetation, including their flowers, shoots, and leaves, by
proper cleaning and cooking, may be made to yield solid or liquid food, which
will serve as satisfactory substitute food for pilots of Vimanas. And
Somavallee or moon-plant, Chakrikaa, Rasavallikaa, Kooshmandavallee,
Ikshuvallee, Pishtavallaree, Sooryakaanta, Chandrakaanta, Meghanaada,
Punarnava, Avantee, Vaastu, Matsyaakshee, and Rukma and others, provide good
bases for lasting food, duly mixed with sweets and condiments.
Lohaadhikaranam: Metals
Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
"Athha Yaana Lohaani." Sootra 13.
"Next, the Metals for aeroplanes"
Bodhaananda Vritti:
Having dealt with clothing
and food for pilots, now the metals suitable for aeroplanes are being dealt
with.
Says Shounaka:
There are 3 kinds of
metals named somaka, soundaalika, and mourthwika. By mixing them, 16 kinds of
heat-absorbing metals are produced.
Their names are
ushnambhara, ushnapaa, ushnahana, raajaamlatrit, veerahaa, panchaghna,
agnitrit, bhaarahana, sheetahana, garalaghna, amlahana, vishambhara,
vishalyakrit, vijamitra and Vaatamitra etc.
"Maanibhadra
Kaarika," or "Dictas of Manibhadra," Says, "Metals which
are light, and are suitable for producing aeroplanes are 16. They are heat
absorbing, and should be used in the manufacture of aeroplanes."
Saamba also says that the
16 metals formed by mixing the root metals, soma, soundaala and mourthwika, are
non-heat-conductors and are useful for Vimanas. Their characteristics are now
examined.
In the 7th layer of the
earth, in the third mine therein, metals of the Soma series are found. They are
of 38 kinds. Among them there are three from which Ooshmalohas or heat
resisting metals are to be extracted. "Lohatantra" or "Science
of Metals" also says that in the 3rd section of the 7th layer of the
earth, Metals of Souma class, possessed of 5 special qualities, are called
"beejalohas" or "root-metals".
There are 3000 metal
bearing layers within the earth. Of them 1300 layers contain the better
quality. In the 7th layer metals are of 27 types. The 3rd type of metals are of
five-fold qualities, and are known as root metals. The origin of metals of the
Soma class is thus described in "Lohakalpa.":
"The gravity of the
centre of the earth, the gravity of global earth, the solar flood, the air
force, the force emanating from the planets and stars, the sun's and moon's
gravitational forces, and the gravitational force of the Universe, all together
enter the layers of the earth in the proportion of 3, 8, 11, 5, 2, 6, 4, 9,
and, aided by the heat and moisture therein, cause the origin of metals, of
various varieties, grades and qualities."
The Souma group of metals
are named, as per sage Atri, in "Naamaartha Kalpa".
"Souma, Sowmyaka, Soundaasya, Soma, Panchaanana, Praanana, Shankha, Kapila
are the names of the Souma metals, with distinct qualities indicated by their
names."
The name "Souma"
consists of sounds, s, on, ma, and ha, "Paribhaasha Chandrika" and
"Vishwambhara Kaarikaa" state, "The oceanic force and solar
force instil 4 kinds of forces into root metals. The sum total of the forces
are said, according to "Vaalmeeki Ganitha" to number 1, 67, 768. Some
of these forces are indicated by the sound "s" Some of the forces
emanating from the sun and the elements are indicated by the sound
"ou". Similarly other concerned forces are indicated by the letters
"ma" and "ha".
The Varuna and Soorya
force contents of all root metals are of four groups. In each group the force
content is said to be 1, 67, 768. Of the Koorma and Kashyapa forces of Vaaruna
group, the 67th from Ooshaa koorma, and the 85th Kaashyapa force, called
"Kaala", are indicated by the letter "Sa".
Of the solar group of
forces, maartaanda and bhoota 71st, and the ruchika force 160 are indicated by
the sound "ra". Similarly, of the forces of sun and stars in aditi,
the 9th called "Sundaa", and the stellar force 101 called "Bhowma"
are indicated by the letter "Ma". And in the dhruva varga, soma and
baadaba forces, 109 and 14 respectively, are indicated by the visarga sound
"ha".
The four forces working
inside the earth, by flux of time mature into the Souma type metal.
In Soundaala metal, the
11th force, dhanadaa, in Koorma is indicated by letter "sa". The
110th Kaashyapee force, rook, is indicated by the sound "ow". The
sun's 100 powered dravamukhee shakti, and bhoota-shakti known as anvee 700
powered, are together indicated by the anuswaara sound "m". The sun's
kaantaa shakti 49, and the stars' 25 shaktis, varchaa, are indicated by the
letter "da". Similarly the soma forces in dhruva varga, is indicated
by the long "aa" in "daa". The moon's 364 ujwalaa and
baadabaa's 500 known as kaala are indicated by the letter "la".
That is
"Soundaala".
Regarding the third,
"Mourtwika", Koormashakti, paarthiva 1300, is indicated by the letter
"ma". Kaasyapa shakti, kaalima 2001, is indicated by the sound
"ow". Maartaanda shakti, laaghava 260, is indicated by the sound
"r": bhootashakti, vaarchulee 37, by the letter "tha":
stellar force, rukshmaka 1063, is indicated by the letter "va".
Arkashakti, varuna 113, is indicated by the sound "e": soma force
rijukaa 8009, and pooshnikaa 1012, are indicated. by the letter,
"ka".
Lohashuddhyadhikaranam:
Purification of Metals. Maharshi Bharadwaaja:
"Tatchhuddhir yathaa shodhanaadhikaaray."
Sootra 14.
"Their purification is as per
shodhanaadhikaara".
Bodhaananda Vritti:
Taking soma metal first,
it should be filled in a wide-brimmed vessel and adding jambeera or citron
juice, likucha or lime juice, vyaaghra or castor, chinchaa or tamarind, and
jamboo or rose apple juices, it should be boiled to 27th degree of heat for a
day. Then taking it out and washing it, it should be boiled in 5 kinds of oils,
4 kinds of acids, and 7 kinds of decoctions.
They are named in "Samskaara
Darpana":
Gunjaa or wild liquorice,
Kanjala, castor, kunjara, and karanja or Indian beach oils, praana- kshara,
viranchi, kanchuki, and khura acids, and hingoo or asafoetida, parpata,
ghontikaaa, jataa- maamsee or spikenard, white gourd or Vidaaraanginee, and
matsyaakshee decoctions.
That is the process of
purification of soma metal.
The purification of
Soundaala metal is like that of soma with regard to boiling in the cauldron,
but the process of purification is with 6 acids, 7 oils, and 5 decoctions. They
are, according to Samskaara Darpana." Ingaala or, ingudee, gouree or
reddish herb, couries, grapes, rata, aapya, and ulbana oils, ankola, mushti,
shankha, bhallaataka, kaakola, and virancha acids, and kuluththa or horsegram,
nishpaava, sarshapa or mustard, aadhaka, and wheat decoctions or gruels.
Mourthweeka metal also
should be baked like soundaala, and then should be boiled with shivaari oil,
kudupa acid and vishambharee leather decoction.
Having defined the
root-metals and their purification, we next consider the casting of Ooshmapaa
loha.