Nevertheless, some of them are similar to things that are common in our world of science and technology. Indeed, some of the descriptions and details of what we read in Hindu epics and sacred history seemed incredibly strange a century ago. In fact, some of the items mentioned in the poem are relevant today. In some ways, they are no different from the writings of fiction writers. From another perspective, however, they look like records of ancient technology that have left no visible trace.
Some scholars argue that the ancient Indian civilization was sophisticated not only in mysticism and metaphysics, but also in technology. The poem contains an account of the achievements of the ancients, or it is simply a reflection of the rich imagination of the ancients. But it is hard to deny that many of them bear a strange resemblance to what is happening in the modern world.
In descriptions of wars we read of fantastic weapons. For example, quote, "Devices that killed by hundreds, Threw down men and beat them too, A demon, with one eye, could follow, Elephants, snakes that could swallow men. Death-like vultures causing pain, Handmade tigers, spears, chains. Automatically produced bows and arrows, Mechanical horses, swords that never ceased, Stone-throwing devices as they say, And statues spewing flames in red, Hot balls of iron, storks and owls, Head-crushing rays, molten metals from bowls..." These lines are taken from the oldest surviving Tamil epic (first century AD) known as the Chivakatsint Amani. What is impressive about this passage is the scientific fictional nature of the weapons described and the way the author's imagination paints pictures of mass murder machines: elephants that devour people, rockets that shoot automatically, vats of molten metal, and the like.
In the Ramayana there is the fact that the sage Vishvamitra gave the hero Ram a weapon with which to stupefy the enemy, to put him to sleep and simply make him mad, to humiliate him, and so on. These weapons came in various forms: some were lightning-like, long and thin, some glittered brightly, others had the shape of a noose, and one had the head of a horse. Another was a simple sword. One weapon was designed to release pure heat. Researchers have interpreted the descriptions to refer to missiles and laser weapons.
The variety of weapons listed in such works speaks eloquently of the high level of civilization at the time, as variety and sophistication are hallmarks of great civilizations. It is common for thinkers to engage with ideas and create complex images. In the Indian context, it is striking that poets could go into detailed descriptions of specialized weapons.
Unfortunately, it is hard to disagree with the conclusion that all kinds of sophisticated weapons were quite common in those days. The problem is that the inventive genius of modern man still flourishes in the field of military technology today.
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