Maharshi Bharadwaja Sutra 1

“Jaati tryvidhyam Yugabhedaad Vimaanaanaam.”
“Vimanas are of three types according to the differences between the Yugas.”

Bodhaananda Vritti Explanation

This sutra explains that Vimanas fall into three primary categories, each corresponding to a specific cosmic age or Yuga.

During Krita Yuga, also known as Satya Yuga, Dharma stood firmly on all four legs. In other words, righteousness and harmony prevailed everywhere. As a result, human beings possessed extraordinary spiritual strength and intellectual clarity.

People of that age naturally developed superhuman abilities. Because of their spiritual purity, they did not need intense yogic practices or complex rituals to attain extraordinary powers. Their devotion to Dharma itself enabled them to become Siddhapurushas, beings endowed with remarkable abilities.

Among these abilities were the eight classical siddhis:

• Animaa – the ability to become infinitesimally small
• Mahimaa – the ability to grow to gigantic size
• Garimaa – the power to become extremely heavy
• Laghimaa – the power to become weightless
• Praapti – the ability to obtain anything desired
• Praakaamya – complete fulfillment of desires
• Eeshatwa – supreme mastery or lordship
• Vashitwa – the ability to control or influence

Because individuals possessed such powers, they could travel through the sky at the speed of wind by their own will. Consequently, no mechanical aircraft or Vimanas were necessary during this age.

Duration of the Four Yugas

Ancient Hindu cosmology describes the duration of the four Yugas as follows:

• Krita Yuga – 1,728,000 years
• Treta Yuga – 1,296,000 years
• Dwapara Yuga – 864,000 years
• Kali Yuga – 432,000 years

As Krita Yuga ended and Treta Yuga began, the strength of Dharma slightly declined. Instead of standing on four legs, Dharma stood on three legs. Consequently, human capabilities began to diminish.

People gradually lost their natural ability to fly through the sky. Therefore, sages began to explore new ways to achieve aerial travel.

The Teaching of Dakshinamurthy

At this stage, Lord Mahadeva (Shiva) manifested in the form of Dakshinamurthy, the divine teacher of wisdom. His purpose was to restore humanity’s understanding of the Vedas.

Through sages such as Sanaka and other enlightened ascetics, the divine teacher organized and clarified the Vedic mantras. Moreover, he blessed the sages with the ability to perceive deeper meanings hidden within the scriptures.

Then Dakshinamurthy addressed them:

“Until now you have been known as Munis. From this moment, by my grace, you shall be known as Rishis, the seers of truth.”

He instructed them to preserve knowledge, compose sacred literature, and develop practical sciences for the benefit of humanity. Among these sciences was the art of constructing aerial vehicles known as Vimanas.

Emergence of the Science of Vimanas

Inspired by this divine guidance, the sages composed numerous treatises related to ethics, cosmology, rituals, sciences, and mechanical arts.

Among these works were several texts describing the construction and operation of Vimanas. These treatises classified Vimanas into three major categories:

1. Maantrika Vimanas

2. Taantrika Vimanas

3. Kritaka Vimanas

Each category reflects the technological and spiritual conditions of a particular Yuga.

Three Types of Vimanas

• Maantrika Vimanas – During Treta Yuga, people possessed strong mastery over mantras. Therefore, aerial vehicles operated through mantric energy and sacred vibrations. Such aircraft were called Maantrika Vimanas.
• Taantrika Vimanas – Later, during Dwapara Yuga, knowledge of tantric sciences and energetic principles expanded significantly. Consequently, aircraft of that era used tantric methods to harness cosmic energy. These vehicles were known as Taantrika Vimanas.
• Kritaka Vimanas – By the time Kali Yuga arrived, knowledge of both mantra and tantra declined. As a result, engineers began constructing mechanical aircraft using physical materials and mechanical systems.

These machines were known as Kritaka Vimanas, meaning artificial or constructed aircraft. Several ancient texts confirm this classification, including:

• Vimana Chandrika
• Vyomayaana Tantra
• Yantra Kalpa
• Kheta Yaana Pradeepika
• Vyoma Yaana Arkaprakaashikaa

Maharshi Bharadwaja Sutra 2

“Pancha-vimshan Maantrikaaha Pushpakaadi Prabhedena.”
Maantrika Vimanas are of twenty-five varieties beginning with Pushpaka.

According to Shounaka Sutra, the following Vimanas belong to the Maantrika category:

Some traditions, such as Maanibhadrakaarikaa, list 32 varieties, showing that ancient scholars preserved multiple classifications.

Maharshi Bharadwaja Sutra 3

“Bhyravaadi Bhedaat Tantrikaa-shshat-panchaashat.”
Taantrika Vimanas are fifty-six varieties beginning with Bhairava.

These Vimanas belonged to Dwapara Yuga. Although their shape and movement resembled Maantrika Vimanas, their operation relied on tantric energy systems connecting earth and sky.

Examples of Taantrika Vimanas

In total, 56 types of Taantrika Vimanas are mentioned in the tradition.

Maharshi Bharadwaja Sutra 4

“Shakunaadyaah Panchavimshat Kritakaah.”
Shakuna and twenty-four other varieties are Kritaka (mechanical) Vimanas.

These belong to Kali Yuga, where aircraft rely on mechanical engineering rather than mantra or tantra.

Maharshi Bharadwaaja Sutra 5

“Raaja-lohaadeteshaam Aakaara Rachanaa.”
“These should be built out of Raajaloha.”

Bodhaananda Vritti

This sutra explains that the Kritaka Vimanas must be constructed using Raajaloha metal.

According to the text Kriyaasaara, the best metals for constructing aircraft are those known as Ooshmapaa metals, which possess the ability to absorb and regulate heat.

Among these metals, Raajaloha, meaning “the king of metals,” is considered the most suitable for building aircraft such as the Shakuna Vimana.

The alloy forms by combining:

• Soma metal
• Soundaala metal
• Maardweeka metal

in the ratio 3 : 8 : 2, along with borax. The mixture must be heated to 272 degrees inside a furnace until it melts and forms the alloy Raajaloha.

Structure of the Shakuna Vimana

The Shakuna Vimana contains twenty-eight structural and mechanical components, including:

• Peetha (base platform)
• Naalastambha (hollow mast)
• perforated wheel mechanisms
• heating yantras
• air suction pipes
• water jackets
• oil tanks
• air heaters
• steam boilers
• vidyud yantra (electric generator)
• propulsion mechanisms
• direction indicators
• wings and tail system
• owshmyaka engine
• kiranaakarshana sun crystal

Construction Details

• Peetha (Base Platform) – The base platform should consist of Raajaloha metal sheets shaped into circular or quadrangular forms. The width must equal half the total height of the aircraft, while the weight must equal one-hundredth of the total aircraft weight.
• Naalastambha (Hollow Mast) – The mast rises 80 feet high and gradually narrows toward the top. Engineers constructed it from Raajaloha metal and secured it to the Peetha with screw joints.
• Wheel Mechanism – Three perforated wheels installed inside the mast regulate airflow. Two wheels remain fixed, while the middle wheel rotates using external control keys. Consequently, airflow inside the aircraft can increase or decrease depending on operational requirements.
• Window Dome – At the top of the mast sits a window dome measuring 15½ feet in circumference. This structure allows observation and airflow regulation.
• Sun Crystal – A Sun Crystal, measuring 7 feet in circumference and 2 feet in height, crowns the window dome. The text describes this crystal as a Kiranaakarshana device, meaning a mechanism that attracts solar rays.
• Internal Structure – Three internal floors stand above the Peetha, each 14 feet high. Pillars placed at 10-foot intervals support the structure. Passenger compartments occupy the ground floor, while the upper floors contain mechanical systems responsible for flight stability and safety.

Mechanical Systems

Below the ground floor lies a 7-foot machinery chamber containing:

• Air pumping machines
• Steam engines
• Air expelling mechanisms
• Heating systems

Together these systems regulate airflow and propulsion.

Wings and Flight Mechanism

Two large wings attach firmly to the sides of the aircraft. Each wing extends approximately 60 feet and widens gradually toward the tip. At the front, rotating tractor blades connected to the engine push air aside and assist forward motion. The tail structure, measuring 20 feet in length, helps stabilize ascent and descent.

Air Blower and Heating System

The aircraft includes large air blowers, pipes, and heating chambers that regulate air pressure and temperature. Hot oil fumes heat incoming air, while fresh air enters through external pumps. Exhaust pipes release excess gases safely outside the aircraft.

Pilot Control Mechanisms

The pilot controls wing movement and tail adjustment using rope mechanisms connected to hinges. Meanwhile, an electric generator powers the ignition burner, which assists in maintaining fuel combustion.

Fuel and Air Storage

Beneath the passenger chamber lie two large oil tanks and four air-storage bellows. These systems store fuel and compressed air required for propulsion. Additionally, ground wheels installed beneath the aircraft allow movement while on land.

Conclusion

The aircraft described in this section is known as the SHAKUNA VIMAANA.

The descriptions in the Vaimanika Shastra attributed to Maharshi Bharadwaja combine elements of metallurgy, mechanical design, propulsion theory, and aerodynamics. Whether interpreted as symbolic, technological, or philosophical knowledge, these ancient texts demonstrate a remarkable intellectual curiosity about aerial travel and advanced engineering concepts.