History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t3.8

v1.c32.s2.t3.8

On the bridge which crosses the head-sluice is placed a stone, which is stated to have originally formed part of one of the pillars of the sluice itself. This head-sluice was constructed about A.D. 1205-06 for conducting water to flow into the Uyyakondan Channel during the reign of the Cola Kulottunga III (ANRIE, No. 70, 1890; 1891 para 4; SII, IV, no. 394, p. 119). Another example of such a nature comes from the same district. This head-sluice, now popularly known as nāṭṭu-vāykkāl (native channel) or Periya-vāykkāl (big channel), is on the northern bank of the Kaveri near Musiri (Tiruchirappalli district). This head- sluice is spanned by a bridge across the channel Periya-vāykkāl. On one of the side walls of the sluice close to the bridge is an inscription of Rājarāja Cola III which records that in the fourth year of his reign (A.D. 1219), the head-sluice was built of stone at Musiri (ANRIE, No. 72, 1890; 1891, para 4; SII, IV. No. 396, p. 120).