04-04-2006, 11:47 AM
In the Itrans transliteration scheme it is chakra- the first 'ch' (as in china) is cha. The aspirate form is written as Ch (Tamil does not distinguish the two). A quick note regarding the chakra yantra. It is described in the chapter 1.150 onwards in the Hindu version, may be slightly different in the bauddha version which has been translated:
The chakra yantras are placed on the fort walls or on towers along fort walls. It has a lower wheel with its rim attached with sharp swords or blades. The wheel has a upper sail that powers the wheel with wind or it is attached to a water wheel. The wheel rotates rapidly cutting up those who come its way.
Etymologically:
tAla- in many modern indian languages means bolt/lock/bar. vR^inta means frame or a spike. So clearly as the commentators state tAlavR^inta was blocade. vAraka root in sankrit going back to proto-Indo-Iranian period is a block. So both were unlikely to be catapults.
The vajra yantra is more likely to match the account of Philostratos. The kAlachakra tantra describes it thus:
"A waving vAta-paTTa (wind-cloth) and a stambha (post) are fastened in one samudra-ashri dhAra ma~Ncha (oceanâcornered platform). Men pull the machine from the back side by the rope, and it makes rocks goes up from the earth. It falls on houses descending like the crash of the vajra (thunderbolt).
If you really want more precise engineering details try to get hold of the yantra chapter of the samarangaNa sUtradhAra of king bhoja deva. Unfortunately I do not have my copy with me here.
The chakra yantras are placed on the fort walls or on towers along fort walls. It has a lower wheel with its rim attached with sharp swords or blades. The wheel has a upper sail that powers the wheel with wind or it is attached to a water wheel. The wheel rotates rapidly cutting up those who come its way.
Etymologically:
tAla- in many modern indian languages means bolt/lock/bar. vR^inta means frame or a spike. So clearly as the commentators state tAlavR^inta was blocade. vAraka root in sankrit going back to proto-Indo-Iranian period is a block. So both were unlikely to be catapults.
The vajra yantra is more likely to match the account of Philostratos. The kAlachakra tantra describes it thus:
"A waving vAta-paTTa (wind-cloth) and a stambha (post) are fastened in one samudra-ashri dhAra ma~Ncha (oceanâcornered platform). Men pull the machine from the back side by the rope, and it makes rocks goes up from the earth. It falls on houses descending like the crash of the vajra (thunderbolt).
If you really want more precise engineering details try to get hold of the yantra chapter of the samarangaNa sUtradhAra of king bhoja deva. Unfortunately I do not have my copy with me here.