[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) › c2.33 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.33 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.33 - **Language:** English ### [c2.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.33) In \*Ādi\* 64 (Kumbhakonam edition), the \*Mahābhārata\* describes the festival of Indra's banner inaugurated by Uparicara Vasu, which thereafter continued to be celebrated as a great national festival, by the Kings especially. The \*Rāmāyaṇa\*, which refers to Indra's Banner more than once, takes it specifically as a \*yantra-dhvaja\*. The Flagstaff representing Indra was an elaborate affair, with a large number of things hanging about it all around, and its raising and bringing down after a 10-day festival were impressive sights. The falling down of Bharata in \*Ayodhya\* 77.9 is compared to the \*yantra-dhvaja\* of Indra falling down. That the flag was raised and pulled down by means of fittings and ropes is known from another reference, in the \*Yuddhakhāṇḍa\*, where Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa lying down in Indrajit’s \*Nāgapāśa\* are compared to the Indra-banner after the ropes have been let loose. The full particulars of the erection and dismantling of the \*Indradhvaja\* are set forth by Bhoja in a chapter of over 200 verses exclusively devoted to it in his \*Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra\*. The central pole, the pedestal, the painted flag itself, the subsidiary fittings, the dolls to be hung on it, its outstretched arms, the six ropes attached to it and several \*yantras\* fitted to it for raising it and bringing it down are described by Bhoja. In the \*Harivaṁśa\*, a supplement to the \*Mahābhārata\*, there is mention of the stone-throwing machine, \*Aśma-yantra\*, in the battle with Jarāsandha (II. 42. 21). - [Previous: c2.32](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.32) - [Next: c2.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.34) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) ## Linked texts (4) - [Harivaṃśa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.harivamsa.2.42) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.77.9) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit - [Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.samaranganasutradhara) — Bhoja, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.33) · Pramāṇa