Vedic Discoveries-IV

In Utaanchal, India, a site of ancient human activities was discovered. The discovery proved that humans lived in the Himalayas about 20,000 years ago, 10,500 years earlier than previously known.

The 31^st issue of the American Journal of Geo-physics contains an article written by two professors at the Delhi University. The Division of History Analysis from Release of an Ancient Mans Handprint and Footprint Fossils Found In India, including a discussion of an ancient environment on the Himalayas during the 4^th Ice Age. The article said that 85 km from Dehradun, on a slope 5,200 meters high, 19 handprint and footprint fossils were found in a calcified rock stratum. Fire pit relics were also discovered. After a series of analyses by Joint team of Americans and Indians of the samples of these prints, it was found that the prints were made about 20,000 years ago.

A 40,000 Year Old Cave Painting

This is said to be a 40,000-year-old cave painting seen on a white silica sandstone rock shelter depicting existence of human civilization is seen in Banda district 800 kilometers(500 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002. The painting shows organized hunting by men in Neolithic Age . These caves were discovered recently by Indian and British Archelogits.

Stealth Bomber from Shastra

A glass-like material based on technology found in an ancient Sanskrit text that could ultimately be used in a stealth bomber (the material cannot be detected by radar) has been developed by a research scholar of Benaras Hindu University.

Prof M A Lakshmithathachar, Director of the Academy of Sanskrit Research in Melkote, near Mandya, told Deccan Herald that tests conducted with the material showed radars could not detect it. "The unique material cannot be traced by radar and so a plane coated with it cannot be detected using radar," he said.

The academy had been commissioned by the Aeronautical Research Development Board, New Delhi, to take up a one-year study, 'Non-conventional approach to Aeronautics,' on the basis of an old text, Vaimanika Shastra, authored by Bharadwaj.

Though the period to which Bharadwaj belonged to is not very clear, Prof Lakshmithathachar noted, the manuscripts might be more than 1,000 years old. The project aims at deciphering the Bharadwaj's concepts in aviation. However, Prof Lakshmithathachar was quick to add that a collaborative effort from scholars of Sanskrit, physics, mathematics and aeronautics is needed to understand Bharadwaj's shastra.

The country's interest in aviation can be traced back over 2,000 years to the mythological era and the epic Ramayana tells of a supersonic-type plane, the Pushpak Vimana, which could fly at the speed of thought. "The shastra has interesting information on vimanas (airplanes), different types of metals and alloys, a spectrometer and even flying gear," the professor said. The shastra also outlines the metallurgical method to prepare an alloy very light and strong which could withstand high pressure.

He said Prof Dongre of BHU had brought out a research paper Amshubondhini after studying Vaimanika Shastra and developed the material. "There have been sporadic efforts to develop aeronautics in the country's history. There has never been a holistic approach to it. Vaimanika Shastra throws up many interesting details that can benefit Indian aviation programme," the director added.

Prof Lakshmithathachar rubbished the tendency among certain scholars to discount such ancient Sanskrit texts and said, "Why would our scholars want to cheat future generations? Unless it was important, nothing was written in the old days. The fact that there exists manuscripts indicates the significance." The academy has also embarked on other projects including 'Indian concept of Cosmology' with Indian Space Research Organisation, 'Iron & Steel in Ancient India - A Historical Perspective' with the Steel Authority of India Limited, and 'Tools & Technology of Ancient India.'

Arheological Dicovery at Saraswati Basin

Sandhaya, Tehsil Bilaspur (30-20.5N, 77-20E)

Sandhaya is located about 6 kms. north of Bilaspur on Bilaspur-Nahan highway. Two sites have been located: Jarasandh-ka- tila and Gyarsyan Sati Mata As'ram. Jarasandh-ka-tila is situated 2 kms. west of the village and a large cultural mound of 70X70m. oriented north-south. The northern portion of the mound has a large gateway facing north; the walls of the gate rise above 8 m high and made of lakhauri bricks. Many edges of walls are visible on the surface. Potsherds belong to Kushana and Gupta periods and shapes include: bowls and vases in Red Ware and Red Slipped Ware. A number of coins, culptures, beads, terracotta figurines have been reported by villagers and treasure-hunters. Gyarsiyan Sati Mata Ashram is about 1.5 kms. from the village. The site has one stone sculpture dating back 4,000 BC which appears to be sculpture of Lord Rama. A temple is also found which dated to 16th-17th century.