[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) › c2.201 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.201 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.201 - **Language:** English ### [c2.201](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.201) More specific descriptions of the four types of \*Dhārāgṛiha\* now follow: The main speciality of the first, the \*Pravarshaṇa\*, the shower, is that it pours down water. Strong figures of three, four or seven men should be set up, with curved tubes; the whole mechanism is fitted with water which is poured out in different ways by these figures (142-46). Bhoja calls this shower-house a pseudo-cloud, \*anukaraṇam ekam jalamucām\* (148)—(Somadeva Sūri's commentator gives it the name \*kṛitrima-megha-mandira\*)—a boon in summer and a feast to the eyes. Kālidāsa's reference to the yantra-dhārā-gṛiha has already been noted but when he says in his \*Meghasandeśa\* I. 61 (\*nesyanti tvām sura-yuvatayo yantra-dhārā-gṛihatvam\*), that the celestial damsels on the Himālayas would scratch the cloud with their bangles and convert it into a yantra-dhārā-gṛiha, he seems to know also the name of this type called after the cloud. - [Previous: c2.200](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.200) - [Next: c2.202](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.202) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) ## Cites (1) - [Meghadūta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.duta.meghaduta) — Kālidāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.201](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.201) · Pramāṇa