History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t2.5

v1.c32.s2.t2.5

Taṭākas were dug and built either in the middle or the peripheral area of the village. Care was always taken that in the site chosen there were springs of good drinkable water. A well was usually dug in the middle of the tank with its length in the north south direction. The tank was also fitted with an inlet and outlet channels for filling and emptying it (Kalavali, 2:4; Nānmaṇikkaḍigai, 73:3). Big tanks attached to temples were provided with a number of deep sunk wells (urai-kiṇaru) and maṇḍapa at the centre which was known in Tamil as nīrāli maṇḍapa. Such tanks were generally provided with flights of steps, a covered verandāh or corridors or platform all round and ornamental gateways on all the four sides (VV. p. 51).