The city where Indra ruled was not of the earth. It was called Amaravati and was located in another dimension. His court was known as 'Indra sabha' and is endlessly described in many a text. Indra sabha is said to have been grand, its streets dotted with trees and its architecture coveted by many. Its splendour could not be equaled anywhere in the universe nor its palaces or Indra's throne which it is said glistened like the sun and surpassed only by the presence of Indra. And the architecture and design of Ayodhya was inspired from Amravati.
The existence of Amravati is an indicator to the existence of inter-dimensional realities of the universe. Amravati was built by Vishvakarma. In fact all the ancient glorious cities of the Vedic world were built by Vishwakarma- whether it is one person or a set of architects all referred to as Vishvakarma is debatable. Another interesting bit of information is that the same Ganga that flows on this earth also flows in Amravati, and there it is known as Akash-Ganga. But how is that possible?
The cognition capability of the humans is limited to three dimensions - length, breadth and depth (or height). However, the Vedas say that this universe is multi-dimensional. To perceive a multi-dimensional world is beyond our capacities- we are trapped within the limitations of our body and by the five-senses.
In a three dimensional world we can only perceive a 'cube'. If we move one dimension up to the fourth dimension, the analog of a cube is the tesseract and it looks like this:
And this is how a tesseract is created by adding a dimension:
It is therefore difficult to fathom what the reality of Indra's Amravati or that of Akash-Ganga is. Maybe Amravati is not that far away if we could travel beyond the three-dimensional concept of our reality.
Nevertheless, even the description of the ancient city of Ayodhya from where King Dashratha and later his son Sri Rama ruled the 'earth' is no less fascinating. The Valmiki Ramayana states :
3. That glorious city with well-devised highways is twelve yojana-s lengthwise and three yojana-s breadth wise.
4. That city is surrounded with gateways and archways; the front yards of buildings are well laid; it lodges all kinds of machinery, weaponry and craftsmen, and king Dasharatha dwells in this city.
The existence of Amravati is an indicator to the existence of inter-dimensional realities of the universe. Amravati was built by Vishvakarma. In fact all the ancient glorious cities of the Vedic world were built by Vishwakarma- whether it is one person or a set of architects all referred to as Vishvakarma is debatable. Another interesting bit of information is that the same Ganga that flows on this earth also flows in Amravati, and there it is known as Akash-Ganga. But how is that possible?
The cognition capability of the humans is limited to three dimensions - length, breadth and depth (or height). However, the Vedas say that this universe is multi-dimensional. To perceive a multi-dimensional world is beyond our capacities- we are trapped within the limitations of our body and by the five-senses.
In a three dimensional world we can only perceive a 'cube'. If we move one dimension up to the fourth dimension, the analog of a cube is the tesseract and it looks like this:
A 'tesseract' . A cube in a four dimensional world. |
And this is how a tesseract is created by adding a dimension:
The missing dimension of a 'cube' that we cannot see or perceive |
Nevertheless, even the description of the ancient city of Ayodhya from where King Dashratha and later his son Sri Rama ruled the 'earth' is no less fascinating. The Valmiki Ramayana states :
1. A world-renowned city, on the river banks, was personally built by Manu, the foremost ruler of mankind.
2. That city shone forth with well-laid great royal highways that were always wetted with water, and strewn and scattered with flowers.
3. Ayodhya was like a hovering space station attained by those who practiced asceticism (or science). Its edifices were well planned and it was teaming with 'best' people. The descriptive word used in the Ramayana is 'vimana' (विमान).
3. Ayodhya was like a hovering space station attained by those who practiced asceticism (or science). Its edifices were well planned and it was teaming with 'best' people. The descriptive word used in the Ramayana is 'vimana' (विमान).
3. That glorious city with well-devised highways is twelve yojana-s lengthwise and three yojana-s breadth wise.
4. That city is surrounded with gateways and archways; the front yards of buildings are well laid; it lodges all kinds of machinery, weaponry and craftsmen, and king Dasharatha dwells in this city.
5. The housing is very dense and there is no place or ground unutilized, and all are constructed on well-levelled lands, and rice-grain is plentiful while the drinking water tastes like sugar cane juice.
6. Buildings are studded with precious gems, and with such multi-storied skyscrapers she is adorned, and filled with them she is like Amaravati, the capital of Indra
The Ramayana says that as an improver of the great kingdom, Dasharatha made Ayodhya his abode, as Indra had made Amravati in the 'heavens' as his abode.
"That city (Ayodhya) is sounding with the drumbeats of great drums, and with musical rhythm instruments like mridnga, cymbals, and with string instruments like veena and on earth she is uniquely the best city." Valmiki Ramayana.
Update by Vinay Vaidya:
I would like to point out that neither Amaravati nor Ayodhya 'were' 2 cities. They are there in existence as long as this world exists. Our main difficulty is to imagine that these cities and other such 'PurANika' could be 'verified' with the help of history and scientific support. No. These 'dimensions' are there ever accessible for any one who has attain a level of purity of mind and heart. Veda show how to reach them while still alive or after death. Indra Himself is 'shatkratu' That means He performed 100 or more 'yajna' in order to attain the kingship of Amaravayti. The Vedik truth as is experienced is three fold. Vedik about the gross world at its many levels, the subtle at the 'PrANika' levels and the 'beyond' The Atman / Brahman. And there is no contradiction in that. I have been a student of Mathematics (M.Sc.) and know well how Atharva-ved describes mathematically the manifestation and existence and dissoultion again at various levels. So this confusion that these 'were' the cities could be easily removed on the basis of 'PurANika' and vedika evidence, if one is interested, sincere, willing and ready to go deep in vedik texts. Valmiki Ramayana and Mahabharata are no exception.
"That city (Ayodhya) is sounding with the drumbeats of great drums, and with musical rhythm instruments like mridnga, cymbals, and with string instruments like veena and on earth she is uniquely the best city." Valmiki Ramayana.
Update by Vinay Vaidya:
I would like to point out that neither Amaravati nor Ayodhya 'were' 2 cities. They are there in existence as long as this world exists. Our main difficulty is to imagine that these cities and other such 'PurANika' could be 'verified' with the help of history and scientific support. No. These 'dimensions' are there ever accessible for any one who has attain a level of purity of mind and heart. Veda show how to reach them while still alive or after death. Indra Himself is 'shatkratu' That means He performed 100 or more 'yajna' in order to attain the kingship of Amaravayti. The Vedik truth as is experienced is three fold. Vedik about the gross world at its many levels, the subtle at the 'PrANika' levels and the 'beyond' The Atman / Brahman. And there is no contradiction in that. I have been a student of Mathematics (M.Sc.) and know well how Atharva-ved describes mathematically the manifestation and existence and dissoultion again at various levels. So this confusion that these 'were' the cities could be easily removed on the basis of 'PurANika' and vedika evidence, if one is interested, sincere, willing and ready to go deep in vedik texts. Valmiki Ramayana and Mahabharata are no exception.