We all understand that things are with respect to something and are never absolute. The term absolute will soon be obsolete. Humans think that things can be weighed, measured or quantified in absolute terms. But sadly that ain’t true. As our understanding of the world around us has increased we have come to terms with the fact that there is nothing absolute in this world and everything is compared to something else which is claimed to be a standard.
So over time we have developed technologies that amaze us and we keep building more and more. But when I hear stories from Mahabharata and Ramayana or other vedic references there is a striking similarity from what we see today and what it is depicted there. For eg:
1. Arjun destroying one Akshauhini in a single day.
a. 1 Akshauhini = 21,870 chariots (Sanskrit ratha); 21,870 elephants; 65,610 horse-mounted warriors and 109,350 infantry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshauhini)
2. Description of Rukma Vimana. Vimana (flying machines) have been attributed, in the Vedas to be created by Yavanas (greeks) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vim%C4%81na)
As I am not well read on this issue, there are only these few examples that I can cite for now. However it would be worthwhile to look at these and analyze a bit. So Arjun decimated a whole Akshauhini?? Let us assume it to be inaccurate as far as the numbers go, but definitely it hints at some kind of a huge army running in thousands. Now the question is, can bows and arrows, as we know of, be used to destroy a huge army single handedly in a day (or 2 say!)? I doubt that. In that case there has got to be something that enabled Arjun to mass destruct. Arjun was a good disciple but was not God himself! So he must have had some skill or “high-tech” weaponry to execute that destruction.
Looking at the second citation, people back in those ages did have some imagination I guess. But then the question is how can imagination be so precise with measurements and results? That suggests that there is a possibility that flying machines did exist then. My point is simple. Are we recreating stuff that existed back in the ages? Probably what we call dark ages was not the beginning of our era but as a matter of fact was the end of some high tech species. Well we know the age of earth and lot more things but again isn’t all that a perception based on our standards?
Moving ahead with the question, I am forced to ask whether our time scale be linear or is it circular? If we continue to move at this pace of technological advancements, we will come to a point where huge armies are commonplace and technologies exist to destroy those in a day or so! Again a downfall begins and again the rebuilding and reverence of history and amusement with the “current” scientific advancements! Am not atheist but do respect the perspective of Erich von Däniken, author of Chariots of Gods?
I am open to discuss this topic. But most of it would be speculations and hypothetical as am no archeologist!
i see arjuna example in some other lights.....
ReplyDeletethose days all rajkumars were trained in a way that they could become good leaders....so arjuna on battlefield was probably was not one arjun himself...it was his expert unit he used to have on his chariot..... seeing the present day chariot of jagganath... u can imagine size of chariots ....so many floors with expert archers under leadership of arjuna used to fight at a time... that way it can be explained about aagneya astra... where hundreds of archers swinging firearrows at enemy would result in rain of fire.... same with parjenyastra..... everything in mahabharta is not meant literally as it is .. finally it is a poetry.....epic indeed.... some exaggeration might also be there but this gives me more logical explanation.
Ok... Can a chariot of the proportions of jagannath or twice at best may hold even a quarter of Akshauhini? if not then the sheer number could overwhelm Arjun and his unit. Besides if Arjun was capable of such destruction why did he restrain on other days. Did he possess some weapon which he wanted to use as the very last resort as he was aware of its destructive power?
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