[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952) › c2.107 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.107 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.107 - **Language:** English ### [c2.107](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.107) The machines referred to here are either on either side by Kauṭilya in his \*Arthaśāstra\* and Bhoja in the \*Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra\*. The mechanical fighters are included in Bhoja; the artificial rain occurs in Kauṭilya in the yantra called Parjanyaka, and the machine intended to smite the elephants' heads may be related to the Hasti-yantra advocated by Kauṭilya for use against an elephant corps. From a passage that follows it would appear that these yantras are dealt with in treatises associated with the authors Brahma, Indra and Parāśara, and that their vogue had become so reduced by long neglect that even humble efforts in the line excited people's wonder. - [Previous: c2.106](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.106) - [Next: c2.108](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.108) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) ## Linked texts (2) - [Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.samaranganasutradhara) — Bhoja, Sanskrit - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.107](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.107) · Pramāṇa