History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t9.27

v1.c32.s2.t9.27

(iii) *From wells by animal power*: Irrigation by means of animal on draught-plane came to be known and practiced in ancient India atleast as early as the fifth century B.C., as indicated by the word *yugavartra* (Agrawala, 1931, p. 204) meaning the yoke and the rope or strap by which the bullocks were harnessed for raising water from wells. The classified modes of irrigation in the *Arthaśāstra* of Kauṭilya brings to light, the word *skanda* which stands for the shoulders or the backs of bullocks. It is thus evident that harnessing animals to the task of drawing water from wells had been conceived quite early, but to our knowledge no ancient representations on stone are traceable of a beast pulling up the bucket. It is also curious to note that water from wells worked by bullocks, now popularly known as *Kapilai-ettam* in South India, does not find place either in the early Tamil works or in the numerous inscriptions of South India. Though the *Dosapāḍu* inscription (*HRAS*, No. 18) dated A.D. 1254, records the gift of a water-lifting pulley, *rāṭanam*, together with two bullocks, yet it does not disclose the much needed details. Probably this important mode or practice with full improvements may have been introduced into or adapted in South India at a later stage as an additional means of distributing water for irrigation.