Were Vimānas real flying machines? Was Puṣpaka the world’s first aircraft?

These questions sparked great curiosity when we announced the endowment lecture under the Sri B. Madhavan Lecture Series at The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute (KSRI).

On 5 March 2026, Dr. R. Muthulakshmi, Sri B. Madhavan Chair at KSRI, delivered an engaging lecture on “Vimānas in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa” at the Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Hall, Sanskrit College Campus, Mylapore, Chennai.

Drawing from the original Sanskrit verses of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, the lecture explored how vimānas are described in the text — from the famous Puṣpaka Vimāna to various celestial chariots mentioned across the kāṇḍas. Through textual analysis, Dr. Muthulakshmi highlighted descriptions of aerial travel, atmospheric layers and even the detailed narration of Hanumān’s flight to Laṅkā, examining how these passages can be interpreted in light of modern ideas in aerospace science.

Rather than making exaggerated claims or dismissing the text as mere imagination, the lecture demonstrated how careful reading of classical Sanskrit literature can open fascinating conversations between ancient knowledge and modern science.

The event, held under the Rt. Hon’ble V. S. Srinivasa Sastri & Sri S. Sathyamurthy Memorial Endowments of The Samskrita Academy, Madras was well received and sparked lively discussion among scholars and students.

KSRI thanks Dr. R. Muthulakshmi for this insightful lecture that brought together Sanskrit scholarship, scientific curiosity and thoughtful interpretation of classical texts.