History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t9.1

v1.c32.s2.t9.1

The origin of the Yantras or mechanical contrivances for lift irrigation in India is obscure, because of their great antiquity. R.J. Forbes (1965, II. p. 32) believes that, “such machines existed in the later stages of antiquity and they were developed from the simple ladle gourd or vessel used to collect water from stream or pool. The machinery moved by beast or men was finally driven by force of the river alone, by water-wheels”.