travel in the sky from world to world, in eight chapters, consisting of 100
topics, in 500 sutras.”Synopsis of Chapter OneSutra one describes for us the nature of a Vimaana:
“Owing to similarity of speed with birds, it is named Vimaana.”
“The Vimaana is a vehicle which flies in the sky with speed comparable with birds”.
“That which can fly in the sky with speed equal to that of birds is called Vimaana.”
“That which can speed on earth, on water, through air, by its own power, like a bird, is a
“Vimaana.”
“That which can fly through air from one place to another is a Vimaana”
“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 for us what the word Vimaana means, in sutra two, the author proceeds to
describe its details to us:
The texts say that a vimaana pilot should acquaint himself thoroughly with 32 secrets of the
workings of the Vimaana before attempting to use the craft. Such things as the technical details
of the craft; special maneuvers and abilities it could perform, how to handle the vehicle in battle
situations and deal with hostile Vimaanas, are all described in detail in this sutra.
In sutra three, we are told of five types of atmospheric regions and the different aerial routes
that a pilot needs to familiarize himself with:
“...the regions of the sky are five... 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. 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.”
Sutra Four deals with the dangers of ‘whirlpools’:
“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.”
Sutra Five Deals with the various structural parts of the Vimaana:
We are told that a Vimaana consists of 31 main parts
“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”
Sutra Six deals with the clothing required by the pilot:
“The clothing should be different for different seasons.”
A great amount of detail is given on the methods for fashioning specific apparel the pilots were
required to wear for health, safety and psychological reasons:
“With this material, fashioning the apparel and clothes of the pilots handsomely... It will ward
off evils, promote fitness of body and health of mind, and improve their strength, energy, and
competence.”