Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.21

c2.21

⁴ It may be interesting in this connection to draw attention to the story of the 8th century Jain writer Haribhadra and his two nephews, Hamsa and Paramahamsa, as told in the *Prabhavakacarita* (IX. 48 ff.) where we hear of the employment of a parachute for escaping. The nephews were confined in an upper storey by their angry Buddhistic teacher and, to escape further punishments, the brothers spread two umbrellas, jumped out of the window, and softly and safely set foot on the ground. (*Ibid*., Ch. IX, verses 87-89)