DESCRIPTIONS OF ALIENS (EXTRATERRESTRIAL BEINGS) IN VEDIC SCRIPTURES

Sari

Polemics emerge when religion is faced to the fact that there are supposedly visitation of
intelligent beings from other planets in many cases from ancient times up to now. Vedic literature
as basis of Hindu religious teachings is one of many religious resources which can be used as
reference to this inquiry. This descriptive-qualitative study aims to (1) clarify whether Vedic
Scriptures mention about extraterrestrial life, or intelligent life outside Planet Earth, and (2)
enlist categories of extraterrestrial life as mentioned in the Vedic Scriptures. The methods used
are literature study and documentary. Result of the study reveals that Vedic Scriptures, especially
the four Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas clearly mention about existence of extraterrestrial species
(alien beings) and their interactions with humans since the Vedic era. These extraterrestrial
beings are of different categories which are more elaborately enlisted in some major Puranic
literatures.
Keywords: Extraterrestrial, Alien, Vedic Scriptures