The Rig Veda, the oldest document of the human race, includes references to the following modes of transportation: jalayan%u2014a vehicle designed to operate in air and water (Rig Veda 6.58.3); kaara%u2014a vehicle that operates on ground and in water (Rig Veda 9.14.1); tritala%u2014a vehicle consisting of three storeys (Rig Veda
3.14.1); trichakra ratha%u2014a three-wheeled vehicle designed to operate in air (Rig Veda 4.36.1); vaayu ratha%u2014a gas or wind-powered chariot (Rig Veda 5.41.6); vidyut ratha%u2014a vehicle that operates on power (Rig Veda 3.14.1).
Ancient Sanskrit literature is full of descriptions of flying machines%u2014vimanas. From the many documents found, it is evident that the scientist-sages Agastya and Bharadwaja had developed the lore of aircraft construction.
The Agastya Samhita gives Agastya%u2019s descriptions on two types of aeroplanes. The first is a chchatra (umbrella or balloon) to be filled with hydrogen. The process of extracting hydrogen from water is described in elaborate detail and the use of electricity in achieving this is clearly stated. This was considered
to be a primitive type of plane, useful only for escaping from a fort when the enemy had set fire to the jungle all around. Hence the name agniyana. The second type of aircraft mentioned is somewhat on the lines of the parachute. It could be opened and shut by operating chords. This aircraft has been described as vimanadvigunam, i.e. of a lower order than the regular aero
