History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t9.3

v1.c32.s2.t9.3

In the Vedas, mention is made of wells, canals and dams. That is to say, the Vedic Aryans did not entirely depend on rainfall alone for agriculture, but some definite artificial devices were used by them. In the hymns of the *Rgveda* the uses of mechanical contrivances for drawing water from deep and goodly wells are well narrated (*RV*. X. 101.5-7). The contrivance with a stone wheel as mentioned in the same Veda is known as the *aśma-cakra* (*RV*. 101.7). In other places we are informed of the use of machine, *ghaṭi-cakra* or *ghaṭi-yantra*, for lifting water (*RV*. X. 93. 13).