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Yantra (Samskrit: यन्त्रम्) refers to contrivances or instruments developed using the fundamental knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, agriculture etc., for enabling ease of activities in daily lives. Enormous scientific marvels of modern day mechanical interventions and development of instruments and appliances in the past few centuries, may lead to a misplaced conclusion that sciences have only developed in the recent few centuries.

Yantra (Samskrit: यन्त्रम्) refers to contrivances or instruments developed using the fundamental knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, agriculture etc., for enabling ease of activities in daily lives. On the other hand, in worship and ritualistic works they are regarded as devices for devotional sadhanas. These are used as tools for mental concentration and meditation. Enormous scientific marvels of modern day mechanical interventions and development of instruments and appliances in the past few centuries, may lead to a misplaced conclusion that sciences have only developed in the recent few centuries.  

The discovery of ancient manuscripts and the advance of research have both brought to light no insignificant amount of ancient Indian activity in the fields of positive aspects of life, of subjects of practical interest and scientific value, which reveal a holistic intellectual advancement in Bharat bringing about outstanding contributions in the fields of [[Ganita Shastra (गणितशास्त्रम्)|ganita]], [[Jyotisha (ज्योतिष)|jyotisha]], [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|ayurveda]], agriculture. It is these earlier experiments that have been the forerunners of the recent advancements in the field of science and technology, many of which continue to exist as the foundational principles of modern day appliances and technical advancements.<ref name=":1">Raghavan, V. (1952) ''Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in  Ancient India''. Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Culture</ref>

The discovery of ancient manuscripts and the advance of research have both brought to light no insignificant amount of ancient Indian activity in the fields of positive aspects of life, of subjects of practical interest and scientific value, which reveal a holistic intellectual advancement in Bharat bringing about outstanding contributions in the fields of [[Ganita Shastra (गणितशास्त्रम्)|ganita]], [[Jyotisha (ज्योतिष)|jyotisha]], [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|ayurveda]], agriculture. It is these earlier experiments that have been the forerunners of the recent advancements in the field of science and technology, many of which continue to exist as the foundational principles of modern day appliances and technical advancements.<ref name=":1">Raghavan, V. (1952) ''Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in  Ancient India''. Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Culture</ref>

== Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

That from ancient times the idea of a ''yantra'' was very common is proved by two facts, the application of the concept to the esoteric sphere, and the way the yantra roused the imagination of the spiritual writers. In esoteric worship the yantra was a chart which stored up within its confines spiritual power; drawn on' a flat surface or made in relief, it had components or details which had to be strictly conformed to and, as an instrument for achieving spiritual power, it eminently deserved the name "yantra." Yantras as means of achieving spiritual progress are discussed elsewhere while in this article focus is placed on yantras used for any simple contrivance used freely for many activities of daily lives.  

 

That from ancient times the idea of a ''yantra'' was very common is proved by two facts, the application of the concept to the esoteric sphere, and the way the yantra roused the imagination of the spiritual writers. In esoteric worship the yantra was a chart which stored up within its confines spiritual power; drawn on' a flat surface or made in relief, it had components or details which had to be strictly conformed to and, as an instrument for achieving spiritual power, it eminently deserved the name "yantra."<ref name=":1" />  

Some very simple yantras are commonly known: the water-pulley in the well was called ''Ghatiyantra ;'' an oil-presser was ''Taila-yantra (तैलयन्त्रम्);'' wooden contrivances for pounding rice was ''kuttakayantra (कुट्टकयन्त्रम्);'' a cane-presser was ''Ikshu-yantra;'' ploughs, water-lifts and even weighing balances were referred to as yantras (Arthashastra 2.19<ref>Shamasastry. R, (1915) ''Kautilya's Arthashastra, Translation into English''. Bangalore: The Government Press</ref>). Complex yantras were used in warfare, astronomy and vimanas (aerial cars).

Some very simple yantras are commonly known: the water-pulley in the well was called ''Ghatiyantra ;'' an oil-presser was ''Taila-yantra (तैलयन्त्रम्);'' wooden contrivances for pounding rice was ''kuttakayantra (कुट्टकयन्त्रम्);'' a cane-presser was ''Ikshu-yantra;'' ploughs, water-lifts and even weighing balances were referred to as yantras (Arthashastra 2.19<ref>Shamasastry. R, (1915) ''Kautilya's Arthashastra, Translation into English''. Bangalore: The Government Press</ref>). Complex yantras were used in warfare, astronomy and vimanas (aerial cars).

Yantras, in Indian medicinal texts of Ayurveda, refer to instruments used in surgery (shalya chiktsa). Rasashastra texts of Ayurveda, mention the term Yantra to describe apparatuses used for preparation of Rasa drugs (rasa-aushadha-nirmana). The construction of yantras is described in the ancient literature with definite measurements and details for each arrangement. As per Rasasastra, metals and minerals needs to undergo specific procedures like shodhana, marana etc., before they could be administered into the body. All of this could be achieved with the help of yantras.<ref>Sen Aparna and S. Thara Lakshmi. ''A Review on the Yantras with special reference to commonly used Yantras in Rasoushadhi Nirmana.'' Int. Res. J. Pharm. 2019;10(9):35-38 <nowiki>http://dx.doi.org/10.7897/2230-8407.1009257</nowiki></ref>

Yantras, in Indian medicinal texts of [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]], refer to instruments used in surgery (shalya chiktsa). [[Rasashastra (रसशास्त्रम्)|Rasashastra]] texts of Ayurveda, mention the term Yantra to describe apparatuses used for preparation of Rasa drugs (rasa-aushadha-nirmana). The construction of yantras is described in the ancient literature with definite measurements and details for each arrangement. As per Rasasastra, metals and minerals needs to undergo specific procedures like shodhana, marana etc., before they could be administered into the body. All of this could be achieved with the help of yantras.<ref>Sen Aparna and S. Thara Lakshmi. ''A Review on the Yantras with special reference to commonly used Yantras in Rasoushadhi Nirmana.'' Int. Res. J. Pharm. 2019;10(9):35-38 <nowiki>http://dx.doi.org/10.7897/2230-8407.1009257</nowiki></ref>

 

 

<blockquote>यदृच्छया प्रवृत्तानि भूतानि स्वेन वर्त्मना। नियम्यास्मिन् नयति यत्तद्यन्त्रमिति कीर्तितम् ॥३ yadr̥cchayā pravr̥ttāni bhūtāni svēna vartmanā| niyamyāsmin nayati yattadyantramiti kīrtitam ||3 (Sama. Sutra. 31.3)<ref name=":2">Raja Bhojadeva's Samarangana Sutradhara ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%A7 Adhyaya 31])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>स्वरसेन प्रवृत्तानि भूतानि स्वमनीषया। कृतं यस्माद्यमयति तद्वा यन्त्रमिति स्मृतम् ॥४ svarasēna pravr̥ttāni bhūtāni svamanīṣayā| kr̥taṁ yasmādyamayati tadvā yantramiti smr̥tam ||4 (Sama. Sutra. 31.4)<ref name=":2" />

Dr. V.R. Raghavan in his article “Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India” describes that yantra is so called because it controls and directs according to a plan, the motions of things that act each according to its own nature.<ref name=":0" /> Thus, Yantra usually means '''any appliance or apparatus, contrivance, or device, engine or machine, implement or instrument''' in general. Depending on the context, it may specifically denote an object of any or the above type in different areas of Indian Sciences in a broad sense.<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>

The word yantra is derived from the dhatu यम् (yam) used in the sense "to control", and has been freely used in ancient India for any contrivance or machine. In Samarangana Sutradhara, Maharaja Bhojadeva defines Yantra as follows<blockquote>यदृच्छया प्रवृत्तानि भूतानि स्वेन वर्त्मना। नियम्यास्मिन् नयति यत्तद्यन्त्रमिति कीर्तितम् ॥३ (Sama. Sutra. 31.4)<ref name=":2">Raja Bhojadeva's Samarangana Sutradhara ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%A7 Adhyaya 31])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>स्वरसेन प्रवृत्तानि भूतानि स्वमनीषया। कृतं यस्माद्यमयति तद्वा यन्त्रमिति स्मृतम् ॥४ (Sama. Sutra. 31.4)</blockquote>Dr. V.R. Raghavan in his article “Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India” describes that yantra is so called because it controls and directs according to a plan, the motions of things that act each according to its own nature.<ref name=":0" />

Here we allude to another usage of the word 'yantra'. Ayurveda makes use of the word 'tantra' in the sense of 'body' and 'yantra' in the sense of its machinery. Yantra also is used to refer to a geometrical pattern, a synthesis of lines and 'beeja aksharas' or 'seed letters', a total representation mentioned widely in Tantra shastra. Tantra technically is a process of relating the unusual patterns (yantra) with uncommon formulae (mantra). Basic to both these patterns and formulae is the belief that the human body is the ground where they operate. Yantras are merely extensions or externalisations of the forces purported as working within the individual; and Mantras are in the nature of  formalisations of the vibrations occurring within. A few largely used yantras  mostly for protection, health and warding off evil include those such as Vishahara yantra for snake bite, Rogahara yantra for curing consumptive ailments, Svarnabhairava yantra used in Alchemy, Kartavirya yantra for recovering lost property etc.<ref>Prof. S. K. Ramachandra Rao. (1979) ''Tantra Mantra Yantra, The Tantra Psychology.'' New Delhi: Arnold Heinemann</ref>

* [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]] makes use of the word 'tantra' in the sense of 'body' and 'yantra' in the sense of its machinery. In traditional [[Rasayana Shastra (रसायनशास्त्रम्)|Rasayana shastra]], different types of apparatus used in the processing of medicines (aushadhis) and [[Mercury or Parada (पारद)|mercury]] and other preparations (rasas) were called yantras. Rasatarangini mentions<ref>Shastri K, editor. ''Rasatarangini of Sadananda Sharma,'' 8th Taranga, 8th ed. Varanasi: Motilal Banarasidas; 2012. p. 41- 71</ref><ref>Sekhar Reddy, P. ''A textbook of Rasashastra''. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia (pp.35)</ref><blockquote>रसोपरसलोहाद्यः मारणद्यर्थसिद्धये । यन्त्र्यतेऽनेन यस्मात्तु तस्माद् यन्त्रं प्रकीर्तितम्॥ rasōparasalōhādyaḥ māraṇadyarthasiddhayē | yantryatē’nēna yasmāttu tasmād yantraṁ prakīrtitam|| (Rasa. Tara. 4.1)</blockquote>Yantras are apparatuses used for the shodhana, marana, swedana etc purposes of rasa, uparasa, lohadis.

* Yantra is used to refer to a geometrical pattern, a synthesis of lines and 'beeja aksharas' or 'seed letters', a total representation mentioned widely in Tantra shastra. Tantra technically is a process of relating the unusual patterns (yantra) with uncommon formulae (mantra). Basic to both these patterns and formulae is the belief that the human body is the ground where they operate. Yantras are merely extensions or externalizations of the forces purported as working within the individual; and Mantras are in the nature of  formalisations of the vibrations occurring within. A few largely used yantras  mostly for protection, health and warding off evil include those such as Vishahara yantra for snake bite, Rogahara yantra for curing consumptive ailments, Svarnabhairava yantra used in Alchemy, Kartavirya yantra for recovering lost property etc.<ref>Prof. S. K. Ramachandra Rao. (1979) ''Tantra Mantra Yantra, The Tantra Psychology.'' New Delhi: Arnold Heinemann</ref>  

However, the present article pertains to the yantras as mechanical contrivances and aims to bring out the scientific aspects in the field of mechanical and physical sciences, the knowledge of which shastras were well developed and widely used in fields such as Agriculture, Warfare, and Ayurveda.  

However, the present article pertains to the yantras as mechanical contrivances, instruments and apparatuses with an aim to bring out the scientific aspects in the field of mechanical and physical sciences, the knowledge of which shastras were well developed and widely used in fields such as Agriculture, Mathematics, Warfare, and Ayurveda.  

== Constituent elements of Yantra ==

== Constituent elements of Yantra ==

== Classification of Yantras ==

== Classification of Yantras ==

According to different texts we find various versions of the classification of yantras. Bhojadeva in Samarangana Sutradhara classifies yantra mainly into three categories based on their characteristics. They are:<blockquote>स्वयंवाहकमेकं स्यात्सकृत्प्रेर्यं तथापरम्। अन्यदन्तरितवाह्यं वाह्यमन्यत् त्वदूरतः ॥१० (Sama. Sutr. 31.10)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>

According to different texts we find various versions of the classification of yantras. Bhojadeva in Samarangana Sutradhara classifies yantra mainly into three categories based on their characteristics. They are:<blockquote>स्वयंवाहकमेकं स्यात्सकृत्प्रेर्यं तथापरम्। अन्यदन्तरितवाह्यं वाह्यमन्यत् त्वदूरतः ॥१० svayaṁvāhakamēkaṁ syātsakr̥tprēryaṁ tathāparam| anyadantaritavāhyaṁ vāhyamanyat tvadūrataḥ ||10 (Sama. Sutr. 31.10)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>

* '''स्वयंवाहकम् ॥ Svayamvahakam''' - That which is automatic and sakrt-prerakam (that which requires occasional propelling)  

* '''स्वयंवाहकम् ॥ Svayamvahakam''' - That which is automatic and sakrt-prerakam (that which requires occasional propelling)  

== Yantras in Ancient Literature ==

== Yantras in Ancient Literature ==

One of the best creations of the most ancient architects of this country is the chariot, ''Ratha.'' The ''Rathakara'' of Vedic times was ever a person of importance, according to the Vajasaneyi''-Samhita'' the ''Sathapatha-Brahmana'' and the ''Atharva-veda.'' In the ''Mahabharata'' we hear of the ''Matsya-yantra'' or the revolving wheel with a fish which Arjuna had to shoot in order to win Draupadi in the ''svayamvara.'' In the ''Harivamsa,'' a supplement to the ''Mahabharata,'' there is mention of the stone-throwing machine, ''Asma-yantra,'' in the battle with Jarasandha (II. 42. 21).  

One of the best creations of the most ancient architects of this country is the chariot, ''Ratha.'' The ''Rathakara'' of Vedic times was ever a person of importance, according to the Vajasaneyi''-Samhita'' the ''Sathapatha-Brahmana'' and the ''Atharva-veda.'' In the ''Mahabharata'' we hear of the ''Matsya-yantra'' or the revolving wheel with a fish which Arjuna had to shoot in order to win Draupadi in the ''svayamvara.'' In the ''Harivamsa,'' a supplement to the ''Mahabharata,'' there is mention of the stone-throwing machine, ''Asma-yantra,'' in the battle with Jarasandha (II. 42. 21).  

=== Ramayana ===

=== Ramayana ===