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VimanaA vimāna is a mythological flying machine, described in the ancient literature of India. Physical evidence of such craft has yet to be found, if indeed such evidence does exist, but references to these flying machines are commonplace in ancient Indian texts, even describing their use in warfare. As well as being able to fly within Earth's atmosphere, vimānas were also said to be able to travel into space and travel submerged underwater. Descriptions in the Vedas and later Indian literature detail vimānas of various shapes and sizes: - In the Vedas: the sun, and flying wheeled chariots pulled by animals, usually horses (but the Vedic god Pūsan's chariot is pulled by goats).
- The "agnihotra-vimāna" with two engines. (Agni means fire in Sanskrit.)
- The "gaja-vimāna" with more engines. (Gaja means elephant in Sanskrit.)
- Other types named after the kingfisher, ibis, and other animals.
The word comes from Sanskrit and seems to be vi-māna = "apart — having been measured". The word also means a part of a Hindu temple. The meaning of the word likely changed in this sequence: - An area of land measured out and set apart to be used for sacred purposes.
- Temple.
- A god's palace.
- In the Rāmāyana: the demon-lord Rāvana's flying palace called Pushpaka.
- In later Indian writings: other flying vehicles, and sometimes as a poetic word for ordinary ground vehicles.
In some modern Indian languages (e.g. Gujarati), the word vimāna means ordinary real aircraft. The Buddhist book Vimānavatthu (Pali for "Vimāna Stories") uses the word "vimāna" with a different meaning: "a small piece of text used as the inspiration for a Buddhist sermon". External links *Flying Machines of Ancient India (Be advised, this site believes in psychic phenomenon, UFO abduction, etc.)
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