History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s6.40

v1.c24.s6.40

A number of inscriptions belonging to the early centuries of the Christian era refer to the pious work of digging tanks. Excavations also support it. In many cases this activity is connected with foreign people entering India from the north-west. Possibly the experience of irrigational work in Central Asia contributed to the promotion of tank-digging. Excavations show that in this period the practice of offering votive tanks had become popular. The Smṛti literature shows that the digging of wells and tanks was included in the list of works of high religious merit designated as iṣṭāpūrta.