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And before the '''Trisula and Cakra''', which are well-known, there occurs the '''Sataghni''', the centicide, which is mentioned in all descriptions of warfare in old literature, but as to, the exact nature of which there is difference of opinion. Bhattasvamin takes it as a huge, cannon-like, cylindrical thing with wheels, placed on the parapet.

And before the '''Trisula and Cakra''', which are well-known, there occurs the '''Sataghni''', the centicide, which is mentioned in all descriptions of warfare in old literature, but as to, the exact nature of which there is difference of opinion. Bhattasvamin takes it as a huge, cannon-like, cylindrical thing with wheels, placed on the parapet.

== Yantras in Engineering ==

== Yantras in Engineering ==

Ancient Indians were incredibly skilled in civil engineering, showcasing their prowess through remarkable feats of architecture and urban planning.  

Ancient Indians were incredibly skilled in civil engineering, showcasing their prowess through remarkable feats of architecture and urban planning.  

# City planning - As seen from Mohenjodaro and Harappan excavations, there were advanced extensive water drainage systems, well laid out planned streets, and urban facilities. They were regarded as the world's pioneers in city construction.

# City planning - As seen from Mohenjodaro and Harappan excavations, there were advanced extensive water drainage systems, well laid out planned streets, and urban facilities. They were regarded as the world's pioneers in engineering and city construction as shown by their use of building materials, and construction of roads, drains etc. Arterial streets, road alignments, well-built houses with bricks having more than one floor, provision of sanitary amenities in houses, paved baths, underground sewer pipes are all indicative of the civil engineering skills of the people. Advanced community living is portrayed by two remarkable structures, viz., the Great Bath situated in the citadel mound at Mohenjo-daro and the Great Granary at Harappa.<ref name=":7" />

# Hydraulic structures - Advanced water supply and drainage system was the hallmark of the Harappan civilization's Great Bath. Use of vertical and underground sewer pipes, pulley wheels for drawing water from the wells, swimming pools, and use of paved baths and public drainage system is well evidenced in Harappan city. The step tanks in various cities of India such as Hampi in Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan served as vital water sources and communal gathering spaces, harnessing the groundwater resources. The advanced knowledge of hydraulic engineering enabled them to harness the power of water for agricultural and domestic purposes. The importance of the hydraulic structures<ref name=":6" /> in the Mauryan period can be judged on the basis of the punishments or fines imposed on the offenders. As mentioned in the Arthashastra, “when a person breaks the dam of a tank full of water, he shall be drowned in the very tank; of a tank without water, he shall be punished with the highest amercement; and of a tank which is in ruins owing to neglect, he shall be punished with the middle-most amercement”.

# Hydraulic structures - Advanced water supply and drainage system was the hallmark of the Harappan civilization's Great Bath. Use of vertical and underground sewer pipes, pulley wheels for drawing water from the wells, swimming pools, and use of paved baths and public drainage system is well evidenced in Harappan city. The step tanks in various cities of India such as Hampi in Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan served as vital water sources and communal gathering spaces, harnessing the groundwater resources. The advanced knowledge of hydraulic engineering enabled them to harness the power of water for agricultural and domestic purposes.<ref name=":7" /> The importance of the hydraulic structures<ref name=":6" /> in the Mauryan period can be judged on the basis of the punishments or fines imposed on the offenders. As mentioned in the Arthashastra, “when a person breaks the dam of a tank full of water, he shall be drowned in the very tank; of a tank without water, he shall be punished with the highest amercement; and of a tank which is in ruins owing to neglect, he shall be punished with the middle-most amercement”.

# Road network - The construction of extensive road networks facilitated trade and communication across ancient India. Notable examples include the Grand Trunk Road, commissioned during the Mauryan Empire, which connected major cities and regions, promoting economic prosperity and cultural exchange.

# Road network - The construction of extensive road networks facilitated trade and communication across ancient India. Notable examples include the Grand Trunk Road, commissioned during the Mauryan Empire, which connected major cities and regions, promoting economic prosperity and cultural exchange.

# Architectural Innovations such as the rock-cut cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora, the towering temples of Khajuraho and Hampi, and the intricately carved stupas of Sanchi, are a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship and knowledge of the ancient artisans.  

# Architectural Innovations such as the rock-cut cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora, the towering temples of Khajuraho and Hampi, and the intricately carved stupas of Sanchi, are a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship and knowledge of the ancient artisans. The Buddhist Stupas and Viharas depicted their engineering skills. Temple architecture stands testimony for the mathematical and constructional abilities of the ancient artisans.<ref name=":7" />

=== Akasa-yantras ===

=== Akasa-yantras ===

In Somadeva Suri's, ''Yashastilaka Campu,'' written in South India in 949 A.D., the first part of the work, describes the hero resorting to the cool ''yantra-dhara-griha'' to spend the hot hours of the summer days. This park, fitted with mechanical fountains, is appropriately called by the commentator ''Kritrima-megha-mandira,'' the artificial cloud-pavilion. It is erected in the dense garden in an area provided with many canals. There is the stream for water sports in the midst of which is a sandbank raised like a pavilion, provided with a water-bed, ''Salilaika tulika;'' nearby are numerous vessels containing fragrant water, at one end there is an ''yantra-jala-dhara,'' a contrivance producing artificial waterfall; the water is taken through and thrown out of the mouth's of figures of elephants, tigers, lions, snakes etc. Many artificial works adorned the palaces of kings, such as celestial damsels giving shower-baths, figures of monkeys spouting water, statuettes of water- damsels, (jaladevatas); there are wind-damsels (pavana-Kanyakas), wafting breezes with fly-whisks; and figures of ladies, scattering cool sandal-water all around. Somadeva Suri says of such a figure that if her hands were touched, she would emit sprays through her nails; if her face, through the eyes and so on. Somadeva describes how near the bed was a yantra-putrika, a mechanical breeze-lady was plying a fan for the King’s relief.<ref name=":1" />

In Somadeva Suri's, ''Yashastilaka Campu,'' written in South India in 949 A.D., the first part of the work, describes the hero resorting to the cool ''yantra-dhara-griha'' to spend the hot hours of the summer days. This park, fitted with mechanical fountains, is appropriately called by the commentator ''Kritrima-megha-mandira,'' the artificial cloud-pavilion. It is erected in the dense garden in an area provided with many canals. There is the stream for water sports in the midst of which is a sandbank raised like a pavilion, provided with a water-bed, ''Salilaika tulika;'' nearby are numerous vessels containing fragrant water, at one end there is an ''yantra-jala-dhara,'' a contrivance producing artificial waterfall; the water is taken through and thrown out of the mouth's of figures of elephants, tigers, lions, snakes etc. Many artificial works adorned the palaces of kings, such as celestial damsels giving shower-baths, figures of monkeys spouting water, statuettes of water- damsels, (jaladevatas); there are wind-damsels (pavana-Kanyakas), wafting breezes with fly-whisks; and figures of ladies, scattering cool sandal-water all around. Somadeva Suri says of such a figure that if her hands were touched, she would emit sprays through her nails; if her face, through the eyes and so on. Somadeva describes how near the bed was a yantra-putrika, a mechanical breeze-lady was plying a fan for the King’s relief.<ref name=":1" />

There is a corroborative evidence of such works from Bhojadeva's treatise and was not merely imaginative fictions. Mechanical fountains were constructed as necessary adjuncts to all palaces is seen in casual descriptions of many dramas. In Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra drama, fountains or jala-yantras are mentioned.  

There is a corroborative evidence of such works from Bhojadeva's treatise and was not merely imaginative fictions. Mechanical fountains were constructed as necessary adjuncts to all palaces is seen in casual descriptions of many dramas. In Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra drama, fountains or jala-yantras are mentioned. <blockquote>बिन्दूत्क्षेपात्पिपासुः परिपतति शिखी भ्रान्तिमद्वारियन्त्रं bindūtkṣēpātpipāsuḥ paripatati śikhī bhrāntimadvāriyantraṁ (Malavikagnimitram. 2.12)<ref>Malavikagnimitra by Kalidasa ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83 Dvitiyanka])</ref></blockquote>

 

बिन्दूत्क्षेपात्पिपासुः परिपतति शिखी भ्रान्तिमद्वारियन्त्रं (Malavikagnimitram. 2.12)<ref>Malavikagnimitra by Kalidasa ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83 Dvitiyanka])</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Shastras]]

[[Category:Shastras]]

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