[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) › c2.160 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.160 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.160 - **Language:** English ### [c2.160](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.160) Chapter 31 of the \*Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra\* is called \*Yantravidhāna\* and its 224 verses are wholly devoted to a description of various mechanical consructions. Bhoja opens with the definition of yantra, that it is so called because it controls and directs, according to a plan, the motions of things that act each according to its own nature. As we have seen and as Bhoja explains, it is from the principle of control, \*yam\*, that the name yantra is derived (3, 4). - [Previous: c2.159](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.159) - [Next: c2.161](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.161) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) ## Linked texts (1) - [Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.samaranganasutradhara.31.3) — Bhoja, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.160](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.160) · Pramāṇa