(“Flower chariot”) In Hindu mythology,
the most famous of the aerial cars.
Pushpak Viman is built by the divine
architect Vishvakarma. Vishvakarma’s
daughter Sanjna has married the Sun
but is so overwhelmed by his brilliance
that she begs her father to reduce his
luster so she can stand to be with him.
Vishvakarma does this by trimming
some bits off the sun, which are later
fashioned into the Pushpak Viman as
well as several divine weapons. For
some time the Pushpak Viman is held
by the minor deity Kubera, who obtains
it as a reward for performing intense
physical asceticism (tapas). It is later
taken from Kubera by the demon-king
Ravana, who uses its powers to wreak all
sorts of tyranny, culminating in the
abduction of Rama’s wife Sita. After
slaying Ravana, Rama uses the Pushpak
Viman to return to the city of Ayodhya
and then returns the car to Kubera.