History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c32.s2.t9.42

v1.c32.s2.t9.42

Archaeological evidence in support of the use of *araghattas* is available in the form of two sculptures at the Jodhpur museum. They are from Mandor and Saladhi (Pali district, Rajasthan). A panel from Mandor (Agrawala, 1966, pp. 87-88) belonging to the 11th century depicts a ‘water-wheel’ or *araghatta* with pots (*Fig.6*). The surviving evidence serves to illustrate the most important parts of the wheel. The panel, small in size, depicts a band of warriors, the water-wheel with pots, the operator and an animal in a row from left to right. The right side of the panel shows the wheel with six spokes (*aras*), probably the other spokes are concealed. The supporter, perhaps made of wood, is shown supporting the hub of the wheel. The pots with pronounced and flaring mouth are mounted on the outer rim of the wheel with ropes at regular intervals. The position of the wheel and the direction of pots unmistakably indicate the rotary motion of the wheel, that too in the anti-clockwise direction.