History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t1.2

v1.c32.s2.t1.2

The bridge-cum-dam are generally mentioned in Sanskrit literature as Setu. The word ‘aṇai’ in Tamil denotes a dam which we find mentioned in Tamil literature and inscriptions. Hemadri in the Dānakhaṇḍa of his Catur-varga-cintāmaṇi quotes from Devipurāṇa which says “The measurements of a superior type of Pālibandha are given as 200 cubits by the specialists in their treatises” (Satya Srava, 1953, p.5). The term Pālibandha possibly denotes a dam or embankment. Another term Vipāli mentioned in the Devipurāṇa must be smaller in dimension or subsidiary to Pāli. So the system of damming the rivers was practised for the purpose of irrigation.