Question

Summarize the following.

Ravana: An Unlikely Pioneer In Aviation?

Shannine Daniel, 2017

Ravana is a legendary figure who looms large in Sri Lankan and Indian folklore. It is said that the ten-headed monarch, also known as the demon king, ruled over the prehistoric kingdom of Lanka more than 4,000 years ago. While there is no archaeological evidence to show that King Ravana existed, several Puranic texts, including the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, claim that he was real, and not just a mythical figure. Ravana is portrayed as a villain in these texts, albeit one who was famed for his intellect, power, and religious devotion. In addition, these texts contain descriptions of the legendary aircraft that he used to travel within Sri Lanka and to other kingdoms across the ocean. Ravana was famed to have owned many flying vehicles for air travel.

In Sri Lankan mythology, these aircraft are called vimana; in Sanskrit, the word vimana is composed of “vi” (the sky) and “mana” (measure). Ramayana in Lanka states that the term vimana was used to refer to airborne chariots that traversed long distances through the skies. The book goes on to mention that the Vaimanika Shastra, an ancient Sanskrit text on aeronautics, speaks about the construction of these ‘chariots’.

The Indian epics and our own local legends speak of Ravana’s fascination with these aircraft. These chariots are also mentioned in contemporary literature, such as D. K. Hari and D. K. Hema Hari’s Ramayana in Lanka and Historical Rama, which draws on old texts and ancient legends to describe the aircraft comprehensively.

Answer 1

Ravana : An unlikely pioneer in Aviation ?

  Shannine Daniel, 2017

Eventhough there are no archeological proofs, Ramayan the Hindu Epic claims the real existence of Demon king Ravana who ruled Lanka , 4000 years ago.

He is facinated by VIMANA, the Sanskrit term referring to Air Bourne Chariot which he used to travel long distances in skies and he owned many of them.

In contemporary literature of Ramayan also there are comprehensive descriptions about aircrafts which are drawn from old texts.