Changes

=== Yantras in a Fort ===

=== Yantras in a Fort ===

There were a variety of weapons housed inside the fort to attack enemy and defend the fort. There are basically two types of such instruments. One is sthira and the other cala. Dr. Raghavan in his Mechanical Contrivances presents a clear picture of the various yantras or weapons used in forts.<ref name=":1">Raghavan, V. (1952) ''Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in  Ancient India''. Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Culture</ref>  

There were a variety of weapons housed inside the fort to attack enemy and defend the fort. There are basically two types of such instruments. One is sthira and the other cala. Arthashastra mentions enlists a number of weapons:<blockquote>सर्वतोभद्रजामदग्न्यबहुमुखविश्वासघातिसङ्घाटीयानकपर्जन्यकबाहूर्ध्वबाह्वर्ध्बाहूनि स्थितयन्त्राणि। (Arth. Shas. 2.18.5)</blockquote><blockquote>पाञ्चालिकदेवदण्डसूकरिकामुसलयष्टिहस्तिवारकतालवृन्तमुद्ग्ररगदास्पृक्तलाकुद्दालास्फोटिमोत्पाटिमोद्घाटिमशतग्नित्रिशूलचक्राणि चलयन्त्राणि।(Arth. Shas. 2.18.6)</blockquote>Dr. Raghavan in his Mechanical Contrivances presents a clear picture of the various [[Yantra Shastra (यन्त्रशास्त्रम्)|yantra]] or weapons used in forts.<ref name=":1">Raghavan, V. (1952) ''Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in  Ancient India''. Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Culture</ref>

Sthira(स्थिरयन्त्रम्) types are :  Sarvatobhadra (सर्वतोभद्रः)- A Sharp edged wheel placed on wall that is rotated to fling stones ; Jamadagnya (जमदग्नीययन्त्रम्)-mechanical arrow thrower that is placed behind a wall to shoot arrows through crevices in the wall; Bahumukha (बहुमुखः)– A leather-covered elevation and mount for archers to enable shooting all around; Vishvasaghati (विश्वासघाटी)– It kills people as it falls and pounds them ; Sanghati (सङ्घाटी) - It is made of wood and used to set fire to enemy fortifications; Yanika (यानिकः) is a yantra on wheels that discharges batons ; Parjanyaka (पर्जन्यकः) is a fire-quencher; Bahu (बाहुः)is a torture-tool which crushes a person to death. This could be small sized or a overhead column.

==== Sthira(स्थिरयन्त्रम्) types are :  ====

* Sarvatobhadra (सर्वतोभद्रः) A Sharp edged wheel placed on wall that is rotated to fling stones  

* Jamadagnya (जमदग्नीययन्त्रम्) mechanical arrow thrower that is placed behind a wall to shoot arrows through crevices in the wall

* Bahumukha (बहुमुखः) A leather-covered elevation and mount for archers to enable shooting all around

* Vishvasaghati (विश्वासघाटी) It kills people as it falls and pounds them  

* Sanghati (सङ्घाटी) It is made of wood and used to set fire to enemy fortifications

* Yanika (यानिकः) is a yantra on wheels that discharges batons  

* Parjanyaka (पर्जन्यकः) is a fire-quencher

* Bahu (बाहुः)is a torture-tool which crushes a person to death. This could be small sized or a overhead column.

The moving ones are called Cala yantra (चलयन्त्रम्) types are:-

==== Cala yantra (चलयन्त्रम्) types are:- ====

 

* Pancalika (पाञ्चालिका) It has sharp protruding points and is thrown in the waters of the moat  

Pancalika (पाञ्चालिका)– It has sharp protruding points and is thrown in the waters of the moat; Devadanda (देवदण्डः) – is a long cylindrical cannon-like tool placed on the parapet walls of the fort; Sukarika (सूकरिका)- It is  huge,creates obstruction on the path and when suspended on the walls prevents scaling by the enemies. Not only this, it also acts as a buffer when enemies fling stones. Musala (मुसलः); Yashti (यष्टिः); Hastivaraka (हस्तिवारकः) -It is a two or three pronged iron rod which strikes elephants;Hastiparigha (हस्तिपरिघः)- It is a machine which hurls iron rods at elephants to smite or demoralise them;Talavrinta (तालवृन्तम्)-This creates a tempest kind of effect; Mudgara (मुद्गरः);Gada (गदा);Kuddala (कुद्दालः);Asphotima (आस्फोतिमयन्त्रम्)– has four feet, is covered by hide, has a projectile and throws stones; Udghatima (उद्घाटिमयन्त्रम्) - This is a machine which has iron bars fitted to it and demolishes walls;Utpatima (उत्पाटिमयन्त्रम्)-This uproots and tears up things; Trishula (त्रिशूलम्);Cakra (चक्रम्)and Shataghni (शतघ्नी)  

* Devadanda (देवदण्डः) is a long cylindrical cannon-like tool placed on the parapet walls of the fort  

* Sukarika (सूकरिका) It is  huge,creates obstruction on the path and when suspended on the walls prevents scaling by the enemies. Not only this, it also acts as a buffer when enemies fling stones.

* Musala (मुसलः)  

* Yashti (यष्टिः)  

* Hastivaraka (हस्तिवारकः) -It is a two or three pronged iron rod which strikes elephants  

* Hastiparigha (हस्तिपरिघः)- It is a machine which hurls iron rods at elephants to smite or demoralise them  

* Talavrinta (तालवृन्तम्)-This creates a tempest kind of effect  

* Mudgara (मुद्गरः);Gada (गदा);Kuddala (कुद्दालः)  

* Asphotima (आस्फोटिमयन्त्रम्) has four feet, is covered by hide, has a projectile and throws stones  

* Udghatima (उद्घाटिमयन्त्रम्) This is a machine which has iron bars fitted to it and demolishes walls  

* Utpatima (उत्पाटिमयन्त्रम्)This uproots and tears up things  

* Trishula (त्रिशूलम्)  

* Cakra (चक्रम्)and

* Shataghni (शतघ्नी)  

=== Buildings within the fort ===

=== Buildings within the fort ===