ANCIENT SKIES

Magazine Overview

Title: ANCIENT SKIES
Issue: Volume 16, Number 1
Date: March-April, 1989
Publisher: Ancient Astronaut Society
Country: USA

This issue of Ancient Skies explores the possibility of advanced technology and sophisticated weaponry existing in ancient times, drawing evidence from Indian epics and archaeological findings.

Sophisticated Weaponry of the Mahabharata War

Dr. Dileep Kumar Kanjilal, a Professor at the West Bengal Senior Educational Service, presents a compelling argument for the existence of advanced technology in ancient India, as described in the Mahabharata. He debunks the notion that modern scientific principles are solely responsible for technological advancements, citing references to weapons and vehicles that mirror modern warfare. The Dronaparvan is cited for descriptions of mechanical vehicles with eight wheels, covered in black deer skin, capable of moving without horses or elephants, and producing a loud roar, akin to modern tanks. The Gita Press Edition suggests these vehicles were automatic and could travel significant distances, while the Brandarkar Oriental Research Institute Standard Edition mentions them being run by mighty elephants and horses feeding on blood and flesh. Kanjilal leans towards the 'automatic' description as more relevant.

The Vanaparvan details missiles that emitted light, moved in a writhing, snake-like manner, and followed sound tracks. The demon-king Salva used a flying machine called Saubhapura against Krsna, who countered with missiles. Krsna was temporarily incapacitated by Salva's fiery missiles but recovered and used sound-sensing missiles to destroy demons.

The Sataghni weapon is described as capable of killing a hundred persons, possibly a large boulder studded with iron nails, placed on wheeled carriers and used with mechanical contrivances or ignition. The 'asani' is a projectile carried on an eight-wheel vehicle, launched to cause fire upon impact.

The Udyogaparvan mentions three classes of weapons: 'prasvapana' (inducing sleep), 'prabodha' (awakening), and the mighty Brahmastra, which caused instant destruction, stormy winds, clouds, intense heat, and threatened world annihilation. Arjuna used the 'prasvapana' to put the Kaurava army to sleep. The fierce battle between Bhisma and Parasurama also involved the Brahmastra.

Kanjilal highlights the use of artificial lighting and the creation of blinding darkness during the Mahabharata war, suggesting awareness of means to create both light and darkness for tactical advantage.

Environmental warfare is also discussed, with weapons like 'paryana' creating clouds and rain, and 'vayavya' exerting pressure on the wind to disperse them. The Udyogaparvan, Sabhaparvan, and Bhismaparvan refer to weapons that caused flooding by extracting subsoil water, raising concerns about the ecological balance.

The Sauptikaparvan describes Asvatthama's use of the Brahmasir weapon, which created a tremendous fireball, meteorites, and lightning, threatening world destruction. Arjuna countered with the Brahmastra, and though he withdrew his weapon, Asvatthama's could not be fully contained, resulting in the birth of stillborn, deformed babies among the surviving Pandava warriors, a phenomenon compared to the effects of radioactive fallout from Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Other weapons mentioned include the Kanapa, a short-range firearm using heated iron balls, and the Tvastra weapon, which could mirror the user's image on the faces of the enemy, possibly through optical illusion or electromagnetic waves.

Kanjilal questions the historical timeline of gunpowder discovery, suggesting that ancient Indian texts like the Manusamhita (before 200 AD) and Kautilya (2nd Century BC) refer to incendiary powder, flammable oil, and mechanical contrivances, including robots. The science of firearms is traced back to sage Brhaspati, transmitted through Bharadwaja, Agnivesya, and Drona to Arjuna.

The period after the Mahabharata war (circa 3127 BC) saw a decline in military tradition and the use of mechanical weapons, leading to a 'dark age' until around 500 BC.

The Maltese Cross

Maurice Chatelain explores the possibility of advanced astronomical and mathematical knowledge in ancient civilizations, focusing on the Aegean Sea. He posits that Delos, a small island in the Aegean, is the geometric center of a vast design known as the 'Maltese cross,' spanning hundreds of miles across Greece and Turkey. This geometric figure, he argues, could not have been accurately marked without aerial observation, possibly from synchronous satellites and advanced airborne radar.

Chatelain identifies thirteen sacred sites connected by this cross, many of which were submerged due to a past lower sea level. He notes that these sites were not chosen by chance and that the measurements used (stadia of 600 ft or 180 m) are consistent with Mayan and Egyptian measurements, suggesting a common prehistoric standard.

The Maltese cross exhibits a peculiar characteristic: its eight outer points divide the circle into 3/28 and 4/28 sections. This division into 28 parts is also found in the Medicine Wheel of Wyoming, the temple of Tiahuanaco in Bolivia, and the cubit of Cuenca in Ecuador, suggesting a connection between these ancient cultures.

Chatelain links the cataclysmic variations in sea levels and volcanic eruptions, such as the one on Thera in 1521 BC, to the submergence of civilizations and the rise of the Mediterranean Sea level by at least 200 m (600 ft) about 12,000 years ago, following the flooding of the Gibraltar Strait.

He suggests that legends of Paradise on Earth and the Garden of Eden might refer to this period of increased rainfall and prosperity after the sea level stabilized. The legend of Hercules and his twelve labors is also interpreted in the context of ancient astrological eras, with the collapse of land between Ceuta and Gibraltar occurring about 12,000 years ago.

Chatelain's article is excerpted from his book "Our Ancestors Came from Outer Space," which explores UFO phenomena and ancient astronaut theories.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly advocates for a re-evaluation of ancient history, challenging conventional timelines and interpretations. The recurring themes include:

• Advanced Ancient Technology: The existence of sophisticated weaponry, flying machines, and mechanical devices in ancient civilizations, particularly in India.
• Global Ancient Civilizations: The possibility of interconnected ancient cultures across continents, evidenced by shared measurement systems and geometric patterns.
• UFOs and Ancient Astronauts: The implication that extraterrestrial influence may have played a role in the development of ancient civilizations and their technologies.
• Reinterpreting History: A call to reinterpret ancient texts and archaeological findings to uncover a more accurate and awe-inspiring history of humankind.

The editorial stance is one of open inquiry and a willingness to consider unconventional theories that challenge mainstream historical and scientific paradigms. The magazine aims to present evidence that suggests a far more advanced and complex past than is currently accepted.