[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) › c2.34 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.34 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.34 - **Language:** English ### [c2.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.34) More interesting references are made by Vālmīki to yantras on the field of battle, the continuity of which tradition we see later in the \*Arthaśāstra\* of Kauṭilya. The fortifications include equipment in the form of yantras. In \*Ayodhya\* 100.53, in the \*Kaccit-sarga\*, while enquiring about measures of defence, Rāma asks Bharata whether the fort is equipped with yantras. Laṅkā, as a city built by Maya, is naturally more full of the yantras. The city, personified as a lady, is called \*yantra-agāra-stanī\*, informing us of a special chamber filled with yantras. (\*Sundara\* 3. 18). In his account to Rāma of the fortifications of Laṅkā, Hanumān says in \*Yuddha\* 3.12 that Laṅkā has four big gates and that each gate is furnished with strong and huge yantras that can hurl both arrows and stones (\*Upala-yantras\*): - [Previous: c2.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.33) - [Next: c2.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.35) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) ## Linked texts (2) - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.100) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.34) · Pramāṇa