A vimana is a mythological flying machine, described in the ancient literature of India. 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, vimanas were also said to be able to travel into space and travel submerged underwater.
Descriptions in the Vedas and later Indian literature detail vimanas of various shapes and sizes:
Gurkha,
flying a swift and powerful vimana hurled a single projectile Charged with all the power of the Universe.
An incandescent column of smoke and flame As bright as the thousand suns Rose in all its splendour...
a perpendicular explosion with its billowing smoke clouds......the cloud of smoke rising after its first explosion formed into expanding round circles like the opening of giant parasols... ..it was an unknown weapon, An iron thunderbolt, A gigantic messenger of death, Which reduced to ashes The entire race of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas....The corpses were so burned As to be unrecognizable. The hair and nails fell out; Pottery broke without apparent cause, And the birds turned white. After a few hours All foodstuffs were infected... ...to escape from this fire The soldiers threw themselves in streams To wash themselves and their equipment.
Ancient verses from the Mahabharata: (6500 B.C.E?)
