History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t8.8

v1.c32.s2.t8.8

According to the Dharma Śāstras, the man-made receptacles are of four types kūpa, vāpi, puskarinī and taḍaga. The kūpa as a well is from five to fifty cubits in length (if rectangular) or in diameter (if circular). It has generally no flight of steps to reach the water. Vāpi is a well with a flight of steps on all four sides or on three or two sides or one side only and its mouth may be from 50 to 100 cubits; a puṣkariṇī is from 100 to 200 cubits in length or diameter and a taḍaga (a tank) is from 200 to 800 cubits. The Matsya Purāṇa states that a vāpi is equal to ten kūpas in merit (Kane, 1973, II, p. 893).