[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.666 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.666 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.666 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.666](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.666) Avata, a word occurring several times in the Rigveda,¹ denotes a well, artificially made (khan ‘to dig’) in contrast with a spring (utsa), though the latter expression is also applied to an artificial well. Such wells were covered by the makers,² and are described as unfailing (a-kṣita) and full of water.³ The water was raised by a wheel (cakra) of stone, to which was fastened a strap (varatrā), with a pail (kośa)⁴ attached to it. When raised it was poured (siñc) into buckets (āhāva) of wood.⁵ Sometimes those wells appear to have been used for irrigation purposes, the water being led off into broad channels (sūrmī suṣirā).⁶ - [Previous: v1.c3.665](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.665) - [Next: v1.c3.667](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.667) - [Up: v1.c3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.666](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.666) · Pramāṇa