Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.195

c2.195

An artificial object which was probably common in Bhoja's time is a wooden elephant which Bhoja describes twice; earlier he cited it as an example of various wonderful effects that could be achieved through yantras (72-3). It occurs here again under yantras based on the principle of sending water upward, *Ucchrāya* (115). This wooden-elephant drinks water placed in a vessel,³⁶ any amount of it, and neither the intake nor the water taken in is perceivable. On the *Samaucchrāya* principle of circulation of water on the same level is based the underground conduit which brings water to a tank from a distant source (116). Water conduits in general are described earlier also in Chapter 18 in connection with the city and residence.