Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c55.90

v1.c55.90

Yantra-vidyā was applied art of Dhanur-vidyā. Some of the weapons could not have been used without some mechanism attached to them. We know four classes of Śastras—Mukta, Amukta, Muktāmukta and Yantra-mukta. In the S. S. weapons such as Cāpas etc. Śataghnīs etc. Uṣṭra-grīvas etc. are said to be operated upon by a Yantra only (S.S. 31-108). The species of arrows like Nalikā and Bṛhannalikā were also used by some mechanism akin to that of the modern guns. The science of Archery is full of such details.