[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) › c2.131 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.131 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.131 - **Language:** English ### [c2.131](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.131) Once Pukkasaka sadly told his family of his impending departure for Benaras whither King Mahāsena had ordered him to go to build a temple for his friend King Brahmadatta of Benaras. Viśvila asked leave to deputize for his father-in-law and, with the King's permission and accompanied by a retinue, he departed for Benaras. At the end of every day's journey, however, Viśvila would vanish somewhere and slip back inconspicuously into the camp. At his home, Ratnāvalī shortly became pregnant, to the surprise and agony of her parents. That news reached the King who, putting two and two together, explained that every night, Viśvila, according to the report of the men of his retinue, would mount a machine-cock, \*Yantra-kukkuṭa\*, fly away somewhere and stealthily and with shrouded face slip back into his bed in the small hours of the morning. Once he had been forced to return late in the morning and, confessing to his friends about his nocturnal visits to his wife by an aerial vehicle, he had begged them not to inform any, architects or laymen, of the secret of his aerial vehicle, which in fact could not be understood by non-Yavanas; if that knowledge became public, the ākāśa-yantra would become a cheap affair like a cot. - [Previous: c2.130](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.130) - [Next: c2.132](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.132) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.131](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.131) · Pramāṇa