Underwater Nivatakavachas.

When I saw posts about underwater aliens, Nivatakavachas from Mahabharata came to my mind. Nivatakavachas were one of the many clans or races of Asuras who lived in the oceans. They also had Vimanas. Vimanas are mythological flying palaces or chariots described in Hindu texts and Sanskrit epics. The "Pushpaka Vimana" of Ravana is the most quoted example of a vimana. Both Arjuna, the hero of Mahabharata and Ravana, the villain of Ramayana fights Nivatakavachas. In the youtube video titled A Perspective on Aliens: 5 Minutes with Dr. Robert, Robert Svaboda mentions that most UFOs are from the Asuras.

Maya got into a four-wheeled chariot that was entirely made with gold, as broad as twelve hundred cubits that voyages through difficult routes in space, water, or earth, well-equipped with outrageous weaponry, that stood high among all the best chariots. The rider’s cabin merits comparison with a mountain, assorted with numerous artificial beings and stockpiles of many celestial missiles.

Having said this, Somaprabha (Mayasura's daughter) opened the basket and showed to her some very interesting mechanical dolls constructed by her magic, made of wood. One of them, on a pin in it being touched, went through the air at her orders and fetched a garland of flowers and quickly returned. Another in the same way brought water at will; another danced, and another then conversed.

Somaprabha said, “King, these magical contrivances and machines were created by my father in ancient times through various ingenious methods. Just as this vast machine we call the world is composed of five elements, so too are these devices. Allow me to explain them one by one.

The machine dominated by earth is capable of shutting doors and similar objects. Once sealed with it, not even Indra himself could open them. The shapes created by the water-based machine appear to be alive. The fire-based machine produces and emits flames. The wind-powered machine can perform actions such as movement, coming, and going. Finally, the machine derived from ether is capable of producing clear, spoken language.

All of these marvels came to me from my father. However, the wheel-machine, which guards the water of immortality, is a secret known only to him and no one else.”

Below is the description of hall of illusions constructed by Maya.

Maya, the Asura architect, brought jewels from Lake Vindu and created a crystal surface that looked like a lake. Seeing the artificial lotuses on it, I thought it was real water. As I lifted my clothes to cross it, Bhima (Vrikodara) laughed at me.

Later, I came across a real lake filled with water, but I mistook it for a crystal floor and accidentally fell in. Bhima, Arjuna, and Draupadi, along with the other women, laughed at me again.

Another time, I tried to walk through something that looked like a doorway but wasn’t an actual passage. I hit my forehead on the stone and hurt myself. Nakula and Sahadeva saw what happened from a distance and rushed to help me. They held me up with concern, and Sahadeva, smiling, said, "This is the door, O King. Go this way!" - Duryodhana describing his experience of the hall of illusions

Tripura and Hiranyapura were flying cities constructed by Maya.

Below is the description of the battle between Nivatakavachas and Arjuna. Nivatakavachas were a clan of Asuras who lived deep in the oceans.

Arjuna continued:

"I traveled through sacred places praised by the great sages and eventually reached the vast ocean, that boundless lord of waters. Its waves rose and fell like moving cliffs, sometimes crashing together and sometimes drifting apart. I saw thousands of boats filled with precious gems, and massive sea creatures like whales, tortoises, and makaras looked like submerged rocks. Scattered all around were countless shells, gleaming beneath the water like stars hidden behind thin clouds at night. Heaps of floating jewels shimmered on the surface, and a powerful wind blew in swirling gusts, it was a breathtaking sight.

Not far away, I saw the city of demons, home to the Danavas. Matali, the expert charioteer, guided our chariot swiftly, diving beneath the earth. The sound of the chariot’s wheels echoed like thunder, striking fear into the hearts of the Danavas, who mistook me for the king of the gods. Terrified, they grabbed their weapons—bows, arrows, swords, javelins, axes, and maces, and quickly fortified the city, shutting the gates to prevent us from entering.

With great excitement, I blew my conch, Devadatta, which let out a powerful, resonating sound that filled the sky and echoed across the land. The mighty beings within the city panicked and hid themselves. Soon, thousands of Nivata-Kavachas, the offspring of Diti, emerged. They were adorned with ornaments, clad in various types of armor, and armed with an array of weapons, iron javelins, maces, axes, swords, and more.

After careful thought, Matali chose a level path for the chariot. The horses galloped with such speed that everything around me became a blur, it was astonishing. Suddenly, the Danavas began playing strange and dissonant instruments, creating a cacophony that confused and frightened schools of fish, causing them to scatter.

Then, the demons launched a fierce attack, shooting countless arrows at me. What followed was a ferocious battle between me and the Nivata-Kavachas. The divine sages, demon sages, Brahma sages, and Siddhas all arrived to witness the fight. Seeking my victory, the sages praised me with hymns, just as they once praised Indra in his battles for the goddess Tara."

Arjuna continued:

"Then, O Bharata, the Nivata-Kavachas charged at me in full force, armed and shouting fiercely. They surrounded my chariot, blocking my path, and rained down a storm of arrows from all sides. Other powerful demons hurled spears, axes, and darts at me, while maces and clubs pounded my chariot relentlessly.

Grim-faced warriors armed with bows and sharp weapons rushed at me. In response, I shot swift arrows from my bow, Gandiva, piercing each of them with ten arrows. My shafts, sharp as stone-tipped blades, drove them back. Matali, with expert skill, guided the chariot and made the horses move as swiftly as the wind. The steeds trampled the sons of Diti, displaying incredible agility despite their vast numbers, as though they were but a few.

The battlefield echoed with the thunderous clatter of chariot wheels and the thudding of hooves. My arrows cut down the Danavas by the hundreds, and their lifeless bodies, along with slain charioteers, were dragged across the field. Even as some demons fell, others rose with renewed fury, attacking from every direction with a variety of weapons. The sight of their relentless assault weighed on my mind.

I marveled at Matali’s mastery over the chariot, guiding it effortlessly through the chaos. With unyielding determination, I pierced hundreds and thousands of armed demons with my arrows. Seeing me fight with all my strength, Matali was pleased. Many of the demons, crushed under the weight of my assault, perished, while others retreated. Some, however, continued their attack, unleashing a massive shower of arrows.

Drawing upon the power of divine weapons blessed with Brahma’s mantras, I launched a fierce counterattack. My weapons burned through their ranks, and the asuras, enraged, struck back with torrents of clubs, darts, and swords. In that moment, I called upon the celestial weapon of Indra, the mighty Maghavan, blazing with fiery energy. With it, I shattered their spears, swords, and tridents into countless fragments. Enraged, I pierced each demon with ten more arrows.

My arrows flew like swarms of black bees, swift and unrelenting. Matali watched in admiration. Though their arrows rained down upon me, I skillfully cut them down midair with my own. Despite their efforts, the Nivata-Kavachas regrouped and launched another massive volley. I countered with blazing, swift weapons, neutralizing their attack and striking them down by the thousands. Blood gushed from their wounds, flowing like streams down a mountainside in the rainy season.

Pierced and battered by my arrows, which struck with the force of Indra’s thunderbolt, their strength faltered. Their bodies were riddled with wounds, and their power diminished. In desperation, the Nivata-Kavachas resorted to their final weapon, illusion, trying to deceive and overwhelm me with their trickery."

Arjuna said:

"Then, a massive storm of rocks, as large as trees, rained down upon me, causing great difficulty. I countered with a barrage of swift arrows empowered by Mahendra’s weapon, as powerful as a thunderbolt, shattering the rocks into dust. But from that dust, flames erupted, turning the air into a blazing inferno.

Next, a torrential downpour began, with streams of water as thick as chariot axles pouring from the sky, covering the entire horizon and drenching the earth. The rain was so overwhelming, accompanied by fierce winds and the deafening roars of the Daityas, that I could barely see. The water seemed endless, stretching from the heavens to the ground, disorienting me completely.

To stop it, I unleashed a celestial weapon I had learned from Indra, the blazing Visoshana, which instantly dried up the floods. With the rock and water assaults neutralized, the Danavas unleashed more illusions, summoning fires and storms. I quenched the flames with water-based weapons and calmed the winds by summoning massive boulders.

But the Danavas were relentless, creating a chaotic storm of rocks, fire, and howling winds. The entire battlefield was cloaked in thick darkness. The horses faltered, Matali fell from the chariot, and his golden whip slipped from his hand. Disoriented and terrified, Matali called out, 'Where are you?' Panic gripped him, and fear began to creep into my heart as well.

Matali then spoke urgently: 'O Partha, I have witnessed many great battles. I was the charioteer for the gods during their fight for the nectar of immortality. I guided Indra’s chariot in his battles against Samvara, Vritra, Virochana’s son, Prahlada, and others. Yet, never before have I been overwhelmed like this. Surely, this battle is meant for the destruction of the universe, decreed by the Creator Himself.'

Hearing his words, I calmed myself and reassured Matali: 'Fear not. Watch as I shatter their illusions with my strength and the power of my bow, Gandiva. Today, even their trickery will fail against my weapons. Stay calm, charioteer. I will end this darkness and their deceptions.'

Determined, I summoned a powerful illusion of my own, crafted from divine weaponry, to counter theirs. When their illusion dissipated, the Nivata-Kavachas unleashed another wave of deceit. The battlefield flickered between light and darkness, as the world seemed to alternately vanish and reappear. Sometimes it seemed submerged in water; other times, it was bright and clear.

Matali regained control of the chariot, guiding the horses skillfully across the eerie, fearsome battlefield. The Nivata-Kavachas attacked fiercely once more. Seizing my chance, I struck them down relentlessly, sending many to the realm of Yama. Yet, despite my efforts, some demons remained hidden in their illusions, making them difficult to locate. The battle raged on, but I resolved to overcome their trickery and emerge victorious."

Arjuna continued:

"The Daityas, using their magic, turned invisible and launched their attacks. I fought back using my visible weapons, unleashing a storm of arrows from Gandiva that found their hidden targets, cutting them down wherever they stood. Overwhelmed, the Nivata-Kavachas withdrew their illusion and retreated into their city.

As the battlefield cleared, I saw hundreds and thousands of their slain warriors lying around. Broken weapons, shattered armor, severed limbs, and scattered ornaments covered the ground so densely that my horses couldn’t move freely. Suddenly, they leapt into the sky, finding space only above.

Then, the Nivata-Kavachas again became invisible and bombarded us with massive boulders. Meanwhile, other demons burrowed into the earth and grabbed at the horses’ legs and the chariot wheels, trying to drag us down. Encased by falling rocks, it felt as if we were trapped in a mountain cave. I was surrounded and in grave distress, which Matali noticed.

Seeing my fear, Matali reassured me: ‘Do not fear, Arjuna. Release the thunderbolt weapon!’ Encouraged, I invoked the divine mantras and fired Gandiva’s thunderbolt-charged arrows at the source of the rocks. The arrows, infused with celestial energy, pierced through the illusions and struck the hidden demons. The Nivata-Kavachas fell in clusters like shattered cliffs, crashing to the ground.

The arrows hunted down those demons burrowed in the earth, sending them to Yama’s realm. Soon, the battlefield was covered with the bodies of the fallen, resembling scattered boulders. Miraculously, neither the horses, the chariot, Matali, nor I had sustained any injury, which seemed incredible.

Smiling, Matali said, ‘Even among the celestials, no one matches your prowess, Arjuna.’

With the Nivata-Kavachas vanquished, their city fell into mourning. The cries of their women echoed like cranes lamenting in autumn. I entered their magnificent city alongside Matali, our chariot’s rumbling terrifying the demon wives.

When they saw the ten thousand peacock-hued horses and the radiant chariot, the demon women fled in panic, their ornaments falling like stones from a cliff. The sound of their jewelry hitting the ground echoed through the city. Eventually, they sought refuge in their jeweled palaces.

Amazed by the splendor of the city, which seemed superior even to the heavens, I asked Matali, ‘Why don’t the gods live in such a place? This seems grander than Indra’s city.’

Matali replied, ‘Long ago, this was indeed Indra’s city. But after performing intense austerities, the Nivata-Kavachas earned a boon from the Creator, granting them this city and protection from gods in battle. When Indra sought help, the Creator promised that someone else, in a different form, would destroy them. That someone is you, Arjuna. Indra gave you these weapons specifically for this purpose. The gods couldn’t defeat these demons, but you have fulfilled that task. You were destined to come here and end their reign.’

Thus, I understood the role I had played in the cosmic order, wielding Indra’s weapons to accomplish what even the gods could not."