CHAPTER – 10

ON-BOARD SYSTEMS / FEATURES

The topic ‘Aeroplane parts’ listing 31 parts of the Vimanas is significant.  The topic is a derivative or corollary of 32 secrets of vimana discussed earlier.

·        Vishwakriyaadarpana or mirror of outside views.

·        Shaktyaakarshana or energy attracting mirror.

·        Parivesha mechanism above the hood of the vimana.

·        Angopasamhaara yantra or folding up yantra at the 7^th bindukeelaka.

·        Vistritakriyaa or opening out yantra, location in the middle of the 11^th section.

·        Vyroopya darpana 

·        Padmachakramukha at the sirobhaaga or crest of the vimana.

·        The kuntinee Shakti mechanism is to be in the neck of the vimana.

·        Pushpinee and pinjulaa mirrors are to be in the right side of the centre.

·        At the front of the left side are to be located the Naalapanchaka or five pipes

·        Guhaagarbha.mirror yantra is to be in the front part of the stomach of the plane

·        Thamoyantra at the north western side.

·        Pancha Vaataskandha naala on the western centre

·        Rowdree mirror

·        Vaataskandha keelaka at the bottom centre.

·        Shaktisthaana at the front and right sides.

·        Shabda kendra mukha at the left side.

·        Vidyutdwaadashaka at the north east side.

·        Praanakundala at the moola of the vimana.

·        Shaktiudgama at the navel of the vimana,

·        Vakraprasaarana at the side of Vimanaadhaara.

·        Shakthipanjara in the central portion.

·        Shirahkeelaka at the head of the vimana.

·        Shabdaakarshaka yantra at the shoulder.

·        Pata prasaarana at the bottom centre.

·        Dishaampatiyantra at the left front.

·        Pattikaabhraka at the centre of the hood of the vimana.

·        Solar power attractor at the top of the vimana.

·        Apasmaara or poison gas at the sandhi naala mukha or junction tube front.

·        Sthambhana yantra at the bottom.

·        Vyshwaanara naala at the navel centre.

This is the placing of 31 components of the vimana.

Discussions: Here parts are referred to as ‘Anga’.   Firstly it is noticed that these parts are not having one to one correlation with secrets or features and more importantly, many more complex systems dealt with later in the work do not find their mention here.

While some appear to be mechanical contraptions, some others are sophisticated avionic devices.

The systems have been given distinct locations on vimanas.  Propriety in location of each contraption needs special mention A quick glance at the list of ‘on board’ packages indicates:

Function-specific avionics systems have been conceptualised and developed to provide multiple role capabilities for vimana.

Systems can be generally classified under categories

§         Yantras.

§          Darpanaa or special mirrors.

§          Naalas

§          Energy generating devices.

§         Solar energy harnessing features at several places.

§         While some appear to be mechanical contraption, others are sophisticated special devices.

§         The systems have been given distinct locations on the vimana.  Propriety in location of each contraption needs special notice.

 More of these yantraas are covered under “Yantradhikaranam”.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER – 11

CLOTHING FOR PILOTS

The chapter on special clothing prescribed for the aviator throws light on the comprehensive manner in which aviation and it’s peripherals had been perceived.  Like in modern high-speed aviation, special flying suits for pilots had been visualised by the ancient scientists as well.

Highlights of the soothras are:

To provide season-compatible clothing

Attire is specially provided as a protection against harmful forces, energy beams, climatic effects.  It is also a means to improve his efficiency, strength and resistance.

“Pata Samskara Ratnaakara” is the guiding text and preceptor quoted is Gaalava.

The raw materials quoted for manufacture of the special fabric include silk, cotton, moss, hair, mica and leather.

Process-intensive methods of manufacture are stipulated.

Draping of apparel is stated to be governed by the prescription of Agnimitra.

Comments:

The study team points out that this aspect on occupational clothing has not been picked-up by any researcher so far for hardware validation.

Identification of materials, development of their processing methods must have been broad based on sound textile technology, exclusive for  aviation application.

Ergonomic and Aesthetic factors seem to have been taken into consideration fully upto the extent of smart draping of the apparel.

‘Ayurveda’ must have played a significant part in guiding this textile technology.

Raw materials going into the fabric prescribed such as silk, leather and even hair suggests that basic material research in this technology must have been highly advanced.

Note:  The project study team, in course of their data generation visited a Veda Vignana Ashram near Bangalore carrying out some practical research on ancient sciences.  Two researchers in the ashram, both chemical engineers have started work on synthesising the fabric for pilots as specified here.  Their research however is in preliminary stages.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER – 12

FOOD FOR PILOTS

A few soothras of Vymanika shastra deal with dietary prescriptions for flying personnel.  This is on the same lines on which ‘occupational clothing’ has been treated on scientific basis.  Flying itself being a specialized field involving skills, physical fitness, endurance, alertness, decision-making and so on, the supporting elements connected with the aviator have also been appropriately conceived.

Prescriptions of food for the pilot have been dealt under the following headings. :

:  Food according to seasons.

:  Three varieties to ward off seasonal effects.

:  Food at set timings

:  Essence of fruits, roots and bulbs.

:  Grasses, bulbs and shrubs.

Food according to seasons:

Type of food and diet principles are ascribed to “Kalpa sootra” and “Ashana kalpa”

Pilots belonging to Dwija class-Brahmins, Kshatriyas & Vysyas, were forbidden to consume flesh.

Restriction of flesh in their diet for dwija & non-dwija classes of the society focuses on two significant observations.

Aviator could be from any branch of the community without the usual barriers of “Chaturvarna” system that prevailed in ancient India.  Perhaps the vital qualitative requirements were skill and fitness.

Next the soothra dealing with three varieties of food especially to ward-off evil effects quotes the work ‘Visha Nirnaya Adhikaara’.  Here note the mention of beneficial and evil effects of atmospheric heat, moisture, cycles of full moon, new moon phases and changes of seasons. Accordingly changes in varieties of ingredients is justified.

Food at set times:

In this particularly interesting soothra, frequency of food intake needs focussed understanding.  Quoting sage Shownaka and Lallacharya the table of diet frequency / time is as under.

Note: Pilot has been singled out as a special craftsman with distinctly specified diet-set for himself.  Prescribing five times food intake per day implies that pilot of the vimanas is not permitted to keep his stomach empty at any time.  He can be called upon to perform his duties at short notice.  This interpretation is both logical and appropriate in the context of similar diet regulations for pilots of Indian Air Force.  A great deal of similar research-backed regulation came into being in the form of pre-flight meal before the first sortie.  Many accidents due to black out were attributed to pilots flying with empty stomach.

While the soothra covered so far relates to conventionally available foods,                    the next three short sootras pertain to contingent conditions such as,       

Non-availability of food, possibly due to shortage, drought, famine and so on.

Adverse survival situations

Non availability of specified ingredients necessitating substitutes.

Quoting ‘Ashana Kalpa’, the method of prepa