Changes

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 [[Yantra Shastra (यन्त्रशास्त्रम्)|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. Dr. Raghavan in his Mechanical Contrivances presents a clear picture of the various [[Yantra Shastra (यन्त्रशास्त्रम्)|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>  

Sthira types are :  Sarvatobhadra (सर्वतोभद्रः)- A Sharp edged wheel placed on wall that is rotataed to fling stones ; Jamadagnya (जमदग्नीयः)-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:

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

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; 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 (तालवृन्तः)-This creates a tempest kind of effect; Mudgara (मुद्गरः);Gada (गदा);Kuddala (कुद्दालः);Asphotima (आस्फोतिमः)– has four feet, is covered by hide, has a projectile and throws stones; Udghatima (उद्घाटिमः) - This is a machine which has iron bars fitted to it and demolishes walls;Utpatima (उत्पाटिमः)-This uproots and tears up things; Trishula (त्रिशूलः);Cakra (चक्रम्)and Shataghni (शतघ्नी)  

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)  

=== Buildings within the fort ===

=== Buildings within the fort ===

* Upajapa(उपजापः) - Kautilya always emphasises the need for a procedure which reduces the enemy’s forces. This enhances the surety of victory for the king. A messenger speaks high of the king, his omniscience  and tries to create sense of awe towards him in the enemy.Astrologers, soothsayers, horologists, pauranikas should publicise the king’s  power in associating with Gods. There should be repeated efforts to portray the enemy in poor light.The needs of the people of the enemy should be taken care of. At times of suffering the seeds of dissension should be sown effectively by saying :“ राजानमनुग्रहं याचामहे निरनुग्रहः परत्र गच्छामः।” When people agree to this they should be supplied with abundance of money, food and presents. All necessary help should be provided.

* Upajapa(उपजापः) - Kautilya always emphasises the need for a procedure which reduces the enemy’s forces. This enhances the surety of victory for the king. A messenger speaks high of the king, his omniscience  and tries to create sense of awe towards him in the enemy.Astrologers, soothsayers, horologists, pauranikas should publicise the king’s  power in associating with Gods. There should be repeated efforts to portray the enemy in poor light.The needs of the people of the enemy should be taken care of. At times of suffering the seeds of dissension should be sown effectively by saying :“ राजानमनुग्रहं याचामहे निरनुग्रहः परत्र गच्छामः।” When people agree to this they should be supplied with abundance of money, food and presents. All necessary help should be provided.

* Yogavamanam (योगवामनम्!) '''-''' In this type of siege, role of ascetics and spies are important. A group of people pretending to be ascetics who know everything about the king and his country should, by magical means beguile the king  and win his confidence. In pretending to fulfil the king’s desires, a set of rituals may be done whereby the king is murdered unawares. Spies disguised as merchants, sooth-sayers or snake-Gods should use secret contrivances and indicate defeat of the king with various bad omens. A king who is addicted to hunting is deluded by the sight of beautiful elephants, lured into a remote place and killed or taken away as prisoner. A king who is fond of wealth or women should be beguiled by rich, beautiful widows. He might be poisoned or killed with weapons when he comes to meet the woman at night. These people of the conqueror who come to the enemy fort may leave that as secretly as they come in.

* Yogavamanam (योगवामनम्) '''-''' In this type of siege, role of ascetics and spies are important. A group of people pretending to be ascetics who know everything about the king and his country should, by magical means beguile the king  and win his confidence. In pretending to fulfil the king’s desires, a set of rituals may be done whereby the king is murdered unawares. Spies disguised as merchants, sooth-sayers or snake-Gods should use secret contrivances and indicate defeat of the king with various bad omens. A king who is addicted to hunting is deluded by the sight of beautiful elephants, lured into a remote place and killed or taken away as prisoner. A king who is fond of wealth or women should be beguiled by rich, beautiful widows. He might be poisoned or killed with weapons when he comes to meet the woman at night. These people of the conqueror who come to the enemy fort may leave that as secretly as they come in.

* Apasarpapranidhi (अपसर्पणप्रणिधिः)- The work of spies is crucial in this type of siege. After making peace with the enemy, the conqueror may dismiss some of his own confidential ministers and send with him a group of spies, traitors, bold thieves and wild tribes who have no distinction between a friend and a foe. They secure the goodwill of the enemy and put persons of the boundary guard and other chiefs to death calling them traitors. The conqueror may strike a proposal with the enemy to put down a common enemy and in the tumult, kill enemy. Spies disguised as hunters sell flesh to the gate sentinels and make friendship. They inform the enemy of the arrival of thieves on certain occasions and then when they become reliable, they strike the enemy with all their military might. Some spies aim at the enemy king’s life.

* Apasarpapranidhi (अपसर्पणप्रणिधिः)- The work of spies is crucial in this type of siege. After making peace with the enemy, the conqueror may dismiss some of his own confidential ministers and send with him a group of spies, traitors, bold thieves and wild tribes who have no distinction between a friend and a foe. They secure the goodwill of the enemy and put persons of the boundary guard and other chiefs to death calling them traitors. The conqueror may strike a proposal with the enemy to put down a common enemy and in the tumult, kill enemy. Spies disguised as hunters sell flesh to the gate sentinels and make friendship. They inform the enemy of the arrival of thieves on certain occasions and then when they become reliable, they strike the enemy with all their military might. Some spies aim at the enemy king’s life.