[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) › c2.83 # Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.83 Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.83 - **Language:** English ### [c2.83](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.83) Without being able to subscribe to Oppert's early date for the \*Śukranīti\*¹⁷ or the \*Nītiprakāśikā\* of Vaiśampāyana,¹⁸ one feels that there is much to be said in favour of the findings on the antiquity of firearms in ancient India. Two data cited by Oppert and Elliot have some significance in relation not only to the use of yantras in battle in the ancient times but also to the question of the yantras and the \*Yavanas\*. As we shall see, Bāṇa, Daṇḍin and Budhasvāmin associate yantras in general and the aerial vehicle in particular with Yavanas. The Yavanas may mean Greeks or Arabs and, at the time when these are mentioned, the 7th-10th centuries, both meanings are possible.¹⁹ - [Previous: c2.82](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.82) - [Next: c2.84](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.84) - [Up: c2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2) ## Linked texts (1) - [Nītiprakāśikā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.nitiprakasika) — Vaiśampāyana, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.83](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.raghavan-1952.c2.83) · Pramāṇa