[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) › c2.46 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.46 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.46 - **Language:** English ### [c2.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.46) Yantras for actual warfare are generally touched upon in several contexts: II.3 and 18 mention the need to equip forts with \*yantras\*. In X. 4, yantras on the field are said to be attended to by special labourers and workers. In IX.2, Kauṭilya deals with counter-manœuvres for tackling particular kinds of enemy forces; here, among the things to be used against elephants yantras or probably \*Hasti-yantras\* are included; these are machines in general or special machines designed to scare elephants; Bhoja, in his \*Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra\*, mentions that one of the uses of the aerial vehicle is to create a terrific noise and frighten elephants. In XIII.4, Kauṭilya advocates the use of yantras for devastating an enemy place which is full of defence-erections. - [Previous: c2.45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.45) - [Next: c2.47](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.47) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) ## Linked texts (2) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya.2.3) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit - [Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.samaranganasutradhara) — Bhoja, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.46) · Pramāṇa