Chapter 3d - The varieties of Yantras (mechanical devices)

Three categories of yantras or machines as per my interpretation of the explanatory note on Yāna-mātrikā (one of the sixty-four kinds of Arts (Catuṣṣaṣṭi-kalās) by Yaśodhara, the celebrated commentator of Vātsyāyana’s Kāma-sūtra, have already been indicated as the Yāna-yantra, Udaka-yantra and Saṅgrāma yantra. The descriptions of the yantras in the Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra warrant us to add the further categories viz the yantras for Vinoda (amusement aud recreation) and the domestic yantras. Yantras for amusement by far exceed the number and the importance attached to them in the text.

Though there is no systematic classification given in the text, all the yantras described in it can be arranged under five categories.

1. Yantras for Amusements.
2. Domestic and Defensive Yantras.
3. Machines for Warfare.
4. Conveyance Machines—The Yāna-yantras.
5. Water Machines—Vāri-yantras.

(i) Yantras for Amusements.

1. Bhūmika-Śayyā-Prasarpaṇa—Here five storeys could be arranged and the bed placed on the ground floor made to go up each higher floor at the end of each watch of the night.

2. Another pleasure-contrivance is the couch called Kṣīrābdhi-śayyā in which the serpent-like bed goes up and down by the soft action of air, like that of the serpeants breathing.

3. Putrikā-Nāḍīprabodhana—It is a kind of chronometre. It has a circular device in which, in a broad open vessel, there are three hundred (or thirty?) probably ivory figures (Danta [dantāḥ]) or tooth-like pieces lying flat all along the circumference. The whole thing is revolving. A lady like figure is in the centre. She wakes up one figure or piece for every Nāḍikā.

4. There is yet another chronometre-like object in which there is a rider on a chariot, an elephant or any other animal. The rider on his mount goes round for a fixed time, say a Nāḍikā and the Chronometre strikes at the end of the Nāḍikā.

5. Gola-bhramaṇa yantra—It is an astronomical model. There are needles showing the day and night movements of the heavenly bodies like Sun, etc.

6. A dancing doll, pouring oil in the lamp keeps on circumambulating to the beating of tune (a musical instrument).

7. An elephant-machine drinking a great quantity of water.

8. Machine-parrots dancing, singing with the best of tune (by a musical instrument).

9. Dolls, elephants and horses (mechanical), dancing, singing with the best of tune (by a musical instrument).

10. Sound producing wooden bird machines.

11. Paṭaha, Muraja etc.—sound producing machines.

The 10th and 11th varieties of this class of Yantras call for a special notice.

A wooden bird is made to create a pleasing sound. In its h hollow body is placed a copper contrivance one inch long and one quarter inch high. It is of slender cylindrical shape in two well joined halves with a hole at the centre along which air passes when the bird moves.

The next is a bed-room accessory. The mechanism is similar to one noticed in the above except that here a drum-like piece is placed in halves. As the bird oscillates, a highly pleasing sound is created which reduces the anger of the ladies who are cross.

This is also indicative of the palace life of those days as absorbed in amorous sports with the help of these mechanical contrivances.

(ii) Domestic and Defensive Yantras.

1. Wooden men machines serving as servants.
2. Wooden women machines serving as maid servants,
3. Door-keeper machines—the palace guard with a batton, sword, iron rod, spear or other weapon to kill a thief entering at the dead of night.
4. Soldier-machine—to check the undesired fellows from having an entry into the house.
5. Lion-roaring machine to ward off a wicked elephant.

N.B.—In this category of the Yantras, comprising male and female figures designed for various kin Is of automatic service, it may be noted that each part of their figures is made and fitted separately, with holes and pins, so that thighs, eyes, neck, hands, wrists, forearms and fingers can act according to the need. The material used is maṃ’y wood, but a leather-cover is given to complete the impression of a human being. The movements are managed by the stream of holes, pins and strings attached to rods controlling each limb. Some of the acts performed by these figures are: looking into a mirror, playing a lute, stretching out hands to touch, give pan, sprinkle water and make obeisance.

(iii) Machines for Warfare:

These are only referred to and not treated in detail in the text.

1. Cāpa, bows, etc.
2. Śataghnī, etc. (hundred-killer).
3. Uṣṭagrīva etc,—Camel’s neck (the modern cranes?).

(iv) Conveyance Machines—The Yāna-yantras.

1. Wooden vimāna machine. (Ambarcārī-vimāna).

N.B.—On this we will see more in the next section.

(v) Water Machines—Vāri-yantras.

1. Pāta-yantra (for the purpose of watering the plants of a garden).
2. Ucchrāya-sampāta-yantra.
3. Pātasamochrāya Yantra.
4. Uchrāya-Yantra—(The modern pipe lines fixed in a tank or well, cf. the modern borings having their proto-type in these).

It may be noted that the Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra makes two broad classifications of Vāri-yantras e.g. Pleasure-giving (Krīḍārtha) and Purposeful (Kārya-sidhyartha [=Kārya-siddhyartha?]). The second category is illustrated in the Pāta-yantra and the first in the three following (2.3. and 4). All the above four tabulated Vāri-yantras result in the manipulation of the movement of the water. In the first, it is the downward flow from an overhead tank; in the second, release of water at a higher level from tanks placed at the equal level; in the third, is a contrivance using bored columns for letting down water from a height and then taking it up through columns placed aslant; and lastly in the fourth, water from a well or a canal on the ground is sent up by a device.

N.B.—There are yet two other Yantras falling in this category of Vāri-yantras. The first is the Wooden-elephant drinking water placed in a vessel, any amount of it, and neither the intake nor the water taken in is perceivable. The other one is the underground conduit (referred at other places also, cf. Ch, 18 in connection with the planning of cities and palaces) and is based on the Samuchhrāya principle of circulation of water on the same level. Here water is brought to a tank from a distant source.

The further important types of Yantras not so far included in the above classification, though covered by the Vāri-yantra and swing-machines are respectively the Dhārāgṛha and the Dolāgṛha.