Pushpak Viman to Sanjeevani: Divine wonders in Ranbir Kapoor-Sai Pallavi's Ramayana

Director Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, is set to bring the timeless mystical world back to the big screen. The film, based on sage Valmiki's ancient text Ramayan, explores the extraordinary marvels, divine weapons, and supernatural feats of Treta Yuga.Ramayana: Rise of a Legend features Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Rama, with Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Yash playing the demon king Ravana. Beyond its central narrative, the epic introduces us to legendary creatures and seemingly impossible wonders—from flying chariots to life-restoring herbs — that continue to fascinate generations.Ancient vision of aerial warfareTop of the list is the Pushpak Viman, among the most fascinating objects in ancient literature. Crafted by celestial architect Vishwakarma for Lord Brahma, the flying chariot originally belonged to Kubera, the god of wealth and Ravana's half-brother. Ravana seized it by force after defeating Kubera, using its speed-of-thought travel and shape-expanding capabilities as a symbol of his supreme dominance.The vessel features prominently during Goddess Sita's abduction — triggering the iconic airborne battle where the elder vulture king Jatayu heroically tore into the chariot to stop Ravana — and later serves as Lord Rama's triumphant transport back to Ayodhya with Goddess Sita, Lakshman, and his army.Sanjeevani ButiEqually iconic is the Sanjeevani Booti, the life-restoring herb that turns the tide of the war when Lakshman is struck down on the battlefield. Unable to identify the exact plant glowing on the Dronagiri mountain, Lord Hanuman performs an unmatched feat of devotion: he lifts the entire mountain peak and carries it across the sky.Lord Hanuman's feat of strengthThis mountain-lifting display is backed by Hanuman’s mastery over Anima and Mahima siddhis — the divine powers to alter his physical scale. Earlier in the epic, Hanuman shrinks to the size of a cat to slip past Lanka's guard Lankini undetected, and later expands into a colossal giant to leap across the ocean and decimate Ravana’s forces.Astras of mass destructionThe battlefields of Lanka extended far beyond hand-to-hand combat, governed by celestial weapons of mass destruction. A key example is the Brahmastra, a nuclear-scale weapon of total annihilation. When Indrajit unleashes it on the battlefield, its sheer force incapacitates 67 crore vanaras along with Lord Rama and Lakshman. Earlier, when Lakshman aims a Brahmastra to wipe out Lanka's entire army, Lord Rama stops him, as using a weapon of mass destruction against an entire population is against dharma.Similarly, the Nagapasha — a supernatural weapon that binds targets with venomous serpent coils — is famously used by Indrajit to temporarily paralyse Lord Rama and Lakshman on the frontlines, proving that victory in Treta Yuga demanded spiritual authority alongside physical strength. Lord Indra's Vajra is another weapon of mass annihilation that is depicted in the film's trailer, as actor Kunal Kapoor, who portrays the king of deities, holds the fierce weapon. Maricha and DashananThe kingdom of Lanka introduces an added layer of dark mysticism through divine illusions (Maya). The entire catalyst of the epic hinges on this sorcery: the demon Maricha transforms into a magnificent golden deer (Suvarna Mruga) with jewel-encrusted antlers to lure Lord Rama far into the Dandakaranya forest, leaving Sita vulnerable to abduction.This illusionary warfare peaks in Lanka with Indrajit’s ability to fight while remaining entirely invisible from the sky, and Ravana revealing his terrifying ten-headed form (Dashanan)—where each head symbolises his mastery over the six Shastras and four Vedas, corrupted by pride.As Ramayana: Rise of a Legend prepares for its grand theatrical release, these legendary marvels will come alive using cutting-edge visual effects. Whether it is the soaring Pushpak Viman, Hanuman carrying an entire mountain, or the terrifying power of celestial astras, the ancient world of the Ramayana is once again ready to captivate global audiences.Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is set for a theatrical release on November 5, 2026.- Ends