History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t4.3

v1.c32.s2.t4.3

A survey of South Indian epigraphical evidence shows that a number of canals and channels bearing different names would indicate their specific use. The reason is that in the South each agrarian unit had a network of channels to supply water in each field, leading either from the river or the village reservoir. Generally the canals were known as *vāykkāl* (Tamil) and *kāluve* (Telugu and Kannada) (*SII*. II. Nos. 4 & 5). In the Tamil speaking areas the channels were dug from every conceivable source, natural or otherwise. The channels dug to bring water from the rivers to feed the tanks in the vicinity were known as *ārruk-kāl* (*SII*. II. p. 352). In the days of the Pallavas, there were native channels (*nāṭṭukkāl*) dug from the river Palar for irrigating the adjacent fields (*SII*. I. p. 150).