Pushpaka Vimanas-The first flying airplane on earth (2023)

Pushpaka Vimanas-The first flying airplane on earth

Having discussed the usage of airplanes by ancient Indians in my preceding article, in this article, I will go through the first airplane of all times, ‘Puspaka Vimana’. Anyone who has read Ramayana or have watched Ramayana on TV must know about “Pushpaka Vimana”. “Puspaka Vimana” was created by Deity architect Vishwakarma and was gifted to Kuber, king of island kingdom Lanka. This vimana was later forcefully usurped by his half-brother Ravana. After the victory over Ravana, Lord rama along with his army travelled to ayodhya on this vimana.

Seven cities of Rama kingdom
To understand the anti-gravity and aero-space technology of Ramayana, let us first apprehend the fact that during the Era of Ramayana, Northern India and Pakistan was a cluster of many independent highly sophisticated kingdoms. Apparently, the existence of Atlantean civilization in the mid- Atlantic Ocean is believed to be of the same era. Mohen-jo-daro, one of the seven cities of the Rama kingdom, has an undeciphered text which is very similar to undeciphered text found in Easter Island. This makes some historians claim that Easter Island was one of the seven rishi cities of lord rama empire. Easter Island is also said to be one of the landing sites of pushpaka vimana which was used by king Ravana on the way travelling to PaatalDesh(Nazca).


On the left is script fromEasterIsland and on the right is tablet found at Mohen-jo-daro with similar script and image of lord shiva

Brief introduction of ‘pushpaka vimana’
Pushpaka vimana was one of its rare kind of celestial aerial vehicles that existed long before the arrival of modern age. Pushpaka vimana was owned by king kubera. Under the order of lord brahma, Celestial architect Vishvakarma built Pushpak Vimana to assist the disabled king kubera to travel far off places. Using this plane, King kubera, the deity of wealth and prosperity, travelled different places on earth to distribute wealth among his devotees and needy humans.
King kubera was the king of Yakshas and the wealthiest of all beings on earth. He was the half-brother of Ravana, the arrogant demon king and arch villain in the story of Ramayana. Ravana usurped the ship from Kubera and began using it for his personal wicked goals and military exploits.


With the aid of illusionary powers, Pushpaka vimana was used by ravana and maricha to kidnap goddess sita thereafter carrying her to ashoka vatika.


Evidence of Pushpak Vimana in sri lanka
In sri Lanka, Pushpak Vimana is known as “Dhandu Monara” translated to Flying-Peacock in Sinhalese. “Puspaka vimana” in Sanskrit also translates to flying peacock.
As quoted below, there is a mention of many vimanas in ravana hangar. Ravana used them to travel different parts of lanka along with his wife Mandodari. Galle Face Hotel of Colombo is etched with the inscription of ravana flying along his wife Mandodari in one of his vimanas.

Ravana and Mandodari in the Vimana at Galle Face Hotel, 1864
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In total, Ravana had six airports in lanka.
1)Weragantota in Mahiyangana
Present weragantota was one of the six landing place (airports) of Pushpak Vimana. Weragantota in Sinhalese means 'The-Landing-Place-of-Aircraft'.
2)Gurulupotha
Very close to weragantota is Gurulupotha, the aircraft repair center of king ravana. Gurulupotha in Sinhalese means parts-of-birds.
3)Thotupola Kanda at Hoton Plains
Thotupola means port and Kanda means rock. Thotupola Kanda is a flat land over a rocky mountain at a height of 6000 feet from sea level. As it lies above the mountain, it must have not been a sea port and must have been a landing place for aerial vehicles only.
4)Wariyapola in Mattale
Wariyapola is derived from Watha-ri-ya-pola which in Sinhalese means place for landing and takeoff of aerial machines.
5)Usangoda on the southern coast
6)Wariyapola in Kurunegala

6 airports of Ravana
Features of PushpakaVimana
Originally designed for king Kuber of lanka, Pushpaka vimana was usurped by his half-brother ’Ravana’, along with his kingdom of Lanka.
Driven by mind power
Attractive qualities of pushpaka vimana are explained through many descriptive verses of Ramayana such as
कांचनम्रथम्आस्थायकामगम्रत्नभूषितम् |
पिशाचवदनैःयुक्तम्खरैःकनकभूषणैः || ३-३५-६
मेघप्रतिमनादेनसतेनधनदअनुजः |
राक्षसाधिपतिःश्रीमान्ययौनदनदीपतिम् || ३-३५-७
“That chariot which is decorated with golden ornaments, yoked with monster-faced mules that have gem studded trappings is ride-able by the wish of the rider, and sitting in such a chariot which is wholly golden and which rides with a sound like the pealing of thunder, that celebrated Ravan, the brother of Kuber and the lord of demons, traveled towards the lord of rivers and rivulets, namely the ocean.”



So, Pushpaka vimana was an aerial vehicle that was controlled by thought to travel anywhere across the earth.
Now you may call this concept of driving a vehicle by mind power as ridiculous and mythical nonsense but BEWARE!!! Even the modern researchers were successful in navigating an unmanned vehicle by mind power.
On june 5, 2013, for the first time in modern history, humans were able to control flying robot just by applying their thoughts. Team of young researchers showcased their helicopter model that was controlled by mind power. This model was flown in an orderly manner across the college gymnasium of Minnesota University. This helicopter model was controlled by electrodes that were attached to a wearable cap. Instead of using a remote control, they used their mind power to produce electrical impulses that was captured by electrodes to guide the helicopter through a series of foam hoops.

Volunteers send commands to the helicopter by thinking

Unlimited seating capacity
One of its special qualities was its adjustable seating capacity. Number of seats in pushpaka vimana was +1 the number of passengers. So if the pilot thinks of boarding 100 passengers, then pushpaka vimana would rearrange its layout to accommodate 101 passengers. Irrespective of the number of passengers, there would be always one seat vacant in pushpak vimana. This adjustable seat capacity is mentioned in the following verses:
प्रियाअत्प्रियतरंलब्धंयदहंससुहृज्जनः || ६-१२२-२२
सर्वैर्भवद्भिःसहितःप्रीतिंलप्स्येपुरींगतः |
Shri Raam said - Something more dearer than everything dear will be achieved by me, if I reach Ayodhya with the host of my friends along with all of you, for, I shall feel delighted.
When lord rama expressed his desires to carry whole army with him to his home city “ayodhya”, thought of pushpaka vimana immediately stuck vibhishan, brother of ravana and friend of lord rama. He exclaimed of having an aircraft that would carry as many passengers as the lord intend to carry. Below is the translation of the verse
“I will arrange for thee to reach that city in one day, O Prince! May happiness attend thee! There is an aerial car named Pushpaka that shines like the sun, which powerful Ravana forcibly took from Kubera, having overcome him in combat. That celestial and marvelous chariot, going everywhere AT WILL, is at thy disposal. That car, bright as a white cloud which will transport thee to Ayodhya in perfect SAFETY, is here”-(chapter 123, Yuddha Kanda, Valmiki Ramayana)
Below is the verse translation that states the airplane to be multi-storeyed and having multiple chambers
“When morning dawned, Rama, taking the Celestial Car Puspaka had sent to him by Vivpishand, stood ready to depart. Self-propelled was that car. It was large and finely painted. It had two stories and many chambers with windows, and was draped with flags and banners. It gave forth a melodious sound as it coursed along its airy way.”
ततह्सपुष्पकंदिव्यंसुग्रीवःसहवानरैः || ६-१२२-२४
आरुरोहमुदायुक्तःसमात्यश्चविभीषणः |
Thereupon, that Sugreeva along with the monkeys gladly ascended that wonderful Pushpaka, the aerial car. Vibhishan together with his counselors also ascended it.


Armies of lord rama that included bears and monkeys descending from
Pushpakavimana.

तेष्वारूढेषुसर्वेषुकौबेरम्परमासनम् || ६-१२२-२५
राघवेणाभ्यनुज्ञातमुत्पपातविहायसम् |
When all of them ascended, that excellent aerial car, belonging to Kuber, flew into the sky, after having been duly authorized by Rama.

Lord Rama is the pilot here who is navigating pushpaka vimana just by thought (mental commands).



खगतेनमिवानेनहंसयुक्तेनभास्वता || ६-१२२-२६
प्रहृष्टश्चप्रतीतश्चबभौरामःकुबेरवत् |
Feeling greatly rejoiced and satisfied while travelling in that splendid aerial car, which was now in the air and was provided with the image of a swan, Rama shone like Kuber.तेसर्वेवानरर्क्षश्चराक्षसाश्चमहाबलाः || ६-१२२-२७
यथासुखमसंबाधंदिव्येतस्मिन्नुपाविशन् |
All those mighty Vanars, bears and demons sat comfortably and spaciously in that wonderful aerial car.


Extra ordinarymaximum speed and maximum altitude
Pushpaka vimana had the maximum greater than “speed of wind” and maximum altitude that made the ocean look like a swimming pool.
Normally, jet planes travels at 500 to 600 miles per hour but Lord Rama Pushpaka vimana was no doubt faster than this. Though the exact travel time cannot be calculated from verses, pushpaka vimana travelled the distance of 2500+ miles between Sri lanka and India within few hours.
Traveling on air, Lord rama was able to see the entire lanka with many airplanes and airports. As they flied to ayodhya from lanka, lord rama tells Lakshmana

Lanka shines on the earth
Studded with many Vimana
As if it is the capital of Vishnu
Covered with white clouds- Valmiki Ramayana, YuddhaKhanda, Sarga 20
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Multi-storied saucer shaped design
From the accurate description laid out in Ramayana it is very difficult to envision the actual design of this aerial vehicle. Design of pushpaka vimana somewhat closely resembles Nasa spacecraft vehicle ‘Dragon’ except that it was much bigger in size. Pushpaka vimana was a double decker circular aircraft with a central dome similar to 20th century flying saucer. Yellowish white liquid similar to gold was used as a fuel to drive Pushpaka vimana


Maya Danava- the architect of magical airplanes and airports
In addition to pushpaka vimana, Ravana also had many other vimanas gifted by Maya Danava, the architect of demons. Maya danava also assisted Ravana in constructing many airports in his island kingdom ‘Lanka’.

An inhabitant of Paatal Desh (‘Peru’ and adjoining countries), Maya was the foremost architect of demons. Demons regarded him far greater than Vishwakarma, the chief Architect of Devas. He created marvelous engineering structures not only for demons but also for devas and humans. Below are some of his engineering feats
1) Three flying cities of Tripura for sons of Tarkasur
2) Golden island city of Lanka for Kuber
3) Palace-of-illusions at Indraprastha(Delhi) for Pandavas
He is also regarded as the author of astronomical text 'Surya-siddhant’ which is still used in Indian astronomical calculations.

Aerial Mansion in airplanes
While flying on top of Lanka in search of goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman, blessed with mystic flying powers, saw a great hovering aerial-mansion vehicle, decorated with pearls and diamonds, featured with artistic windows made of refined gold, in the middle of residential quarter of king Ravana.

One of the airplanes of ravana
Below is how hanuman describes pushpakaVimana
“Constructed as it was by Visvakarma himself, none could gauge its power nor effect its destruction....it was poised in the atmosphere without support. It had the capacity to go anywhere. It stood in the sky like a milestone in the path of the sun. As a result of the great prowess gained by austerities, it could fly in any direction that one wanted. It had chambers of remarkable beauty...Knowing the intentions of the master, it could go anywhere at high speedunobstructed by anyone including the wind itself.It had towers of high artistic work. It had spires and domes like the peaks of mountains. It was immaculate like the autumnal moon. It was occupied by sky-ranging RakSasas of huge proportions with faces brightened by their shining ear-pendants.”


Summary:
Having a speed greater than “speed of wind”, Multi-storied “Pushpaka Vimana” with unlimited seating capacity had the power of travelling very high in the sky. Though conditioned souls may find it difficult to believe, Pushpaka Vimana was undoubtedly one of its first rare kinds of vimanas that didn’t run on fuel, instead it was controlled by mental commands.

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