Question map
The irrigation device called 'Araghatta' was
Explanation
Araghatta, also known as the Persian Wheel, was an ancient water-lifting device that consisted of a rotating wheel with earthen pots affixed to its outer rim.[1] The Persian wheel is a mechanical water lifting device operated usually by draught animals like bullocks, buffaloes or camels.[2] The device worked through a gear mechanism where the bullock turns one wheel whose teeth catch in the teeth of the second wheel, and thus the wheel with the pitchers is turned.[3] This description matches option B, which refers to a large wheel with earthen pots (pitchers) tied to the outer ends. The other options describe different water-lifting mechanisms - leather water bags (option A), a single large earthen pot (option C), or a simple bucket-and-rope system (option D) - none of which accurately describe the Araghatta's distinctive wheel-and-pot mechanism.
Sources
- [3] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/lehs204.pdf
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Term-Definition' question from Ancient History, specifically the History of Science & Technology. While the provenance scan flagged it as web-heavy, this term appears in standard advanced textbooks (like Upinder Singh or RS Sharma). It is a fair question testing your grasp of agrarian technology beyond just political dynasties.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Was the irrigation device 'Araghatta' a water bag made of leather pulled over a pulley?
- Statement 2: Was the irrigation device 'Araghatta' a large wheel with earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes?
- Statement 3: Was the irrigation device 'Araghatta' a larger earthen pot driven by bullocks?
- Statement 4: Was the irrigation device 'Araghatta' a large water bucket pulled up by rope directly by hand?
- Explicitly identifies Araghatta as the Persian Wheel, not a leather bag device.
- Describes its form: a rotating wheel with earthen pots on the rim, which contradicts the 'water bag over a pulley' description.
- States that the Sanskrit term 'Araghatta' refers to the Persian Wheel in ancient texts.
- Links the name directly to the known wheel-based water-lifting technology rather than a leather bag/pulley system.
- Explains the Persian wheel (saqia) is a land-based water-lifting device from wells, i.e., a pump/wheel mechanism.
- This description aligns with a wheel-and-pots mechanism and does not support the leather water-bag over a pulley idea.
Mentions cattle-driven water-lifts using pulleys in Rig-Vedic/early contexts, showing pulleys were used historically to lift water.
A student could combine this with the claim about 'pulley' to judge plausibility that an Araghatta used a pulley mechanism.
Gives a concrete example (Babur) of a roller/rope and bucket system operated by animals β demonstrates common use of a rope-over-roller and bucket for well irrigation.
Compare the described bucket-over-roller design with the proposed leather-bag-over-pulley design to see if form and function match.
Lists traditional well-lifting devices (Persian-wheel/Rehat, Charas, mot) as named historical technologies for drawing groundwater.
Use this pattern (named regional devices) to ask whether 'Araghatta' appears among known device names or fits a category like a leather-bag lift.
Describes Persian wheel and similar devices as widely used methods for underground water utilization, indicating diversity of historical lifting mechanisms.
A student could use this to infer that alternative lifting devices (including leather bags) might exist regionally and seek linguistic/archaeological matches for 'Araghatta'.
- From an NCERT textbook describing mechanism: gears turned βthe wheel with the pitchers,β indicating a wheel carrying pots.
- Explains how animal power rotated the gearing that turned the wheel holding the pitchers, matching the description of pots on a rotating wheel.
- Explicitly names the device as the βara-ghattaβ or rope-pot system used to lift water from wells.
- Describes the araghatta/Persian wheel as a rope-pot based lifting device, consistent with pots attached to a rotating wheel.
- Direct statement that Araghatta (Persian Wheel) was a rotating wheel with earthen pots on its outer rim.
- Concise, explicit description matching 'earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes.'
Describes the Persian wheel (Rehat) as a widely used wheel-based method to lift groundwater.
A student could compare structural features of the Persian wheel (a wheel lifting buckets) with the claimed 'large wheel with pots on spokes' to judge plausibility.
Notes that Persian wheels were used to draw water from wells before tubewellsβshowing historical prevalence of wheel-based irrigation.
Use the historical ubiquity of wheel devices to argue that variants (including ones using pots) are plausible and worth checking in region-specific sources.
Lists other traditional water-lifting devices (shaduf, Archimedean screw), indicating multiple mechanical solutions existed for irrigation.
A student can use this pattern to infer that local innovations (like tying vessels to a wheel) fit a broader pattern of diverse lifting mechanisms and thus merit investigation.
Describes a simple well-edge arrangement with a roller, rope, and bucket driven by a bullockβan example of mechanically aided lifting using containers.
Compare the bucket-on-rope example to the 'pots-on-spokes' claim to see whether replacing buckets with tied pots is mechanically reasonable.
Documents the historical presence of earthen pots and pottery fragments in the region.
Combine evidence that earthen pots were common with wheel-based irrigation examples to assess whether pots could have been used as lifting containers on a wheel like the alleged araghatta.
- NCERT describes a rope-and-bucket arrangement where the rope is tied to a bullock to lift water, linking animal power to water-lifting devices.
- The same source refers to a reconstructed Persian wheel (Fig. 8.2), connecting this bullock-driven lifting mechanism to the Persian wheel/araghatta tradition.
- Explicitly identifies the ΕadΔra Yantra (Persian Wheel) as a wheel fitted with pots or buckets to lift water, and notes it is powered by bullocks.
- Mentions Araghatta in the same list of water-lifting wheels, implying similarity to the bullock-powered Persian Wheel.
- Describes the Persian Wheel (also called sakia or saqia) as a mechanical water-lifting device typically operated by draught animals like bullocks.
- Supports the claim that Persian wheelβtype devices (identified with araghatta) were driven by bullocks.
Describes a bullock-driven device where a rope and roller lift a large bucket from a well, showing bullocks were used to operate water-lifting mechanisms.
A student could compare the described bucket-on-roller mechanism with descriptions or illustrations of 'araghatta' to see if araghatta used a similar bullock-driven pulling motion.
Mentions cattle-driven water-lifts using pulleys in the Rigvedic period, indicating an established pattern of animal-powered pulley/lift systems for irrigation.
Use this rule (animal-powered pulley lifts existed) plus linguistic or iconographic data on 'araghatta' to judge if it fits that class of devices.
Notes use of Persian wheels and other well-drawing devices historically, giving examples of non-manual lifting apparatus used for irrigation.
A student could contrast Persian-wheel mechanics with the proposed earthen-pot driven-by-bullocks design to evaluate mechanical plausibility of an 'earthen pot' being the lifting reservoir.
Records the existence of earthen pots of various sizes in the archaeological record, establishing that large earthenware containers were known and used.
Combine this with the mechanical examples above to assess whether a large earthen vessel could plausibly serve as the water-lifting container in a bullock-driven device.
Lists named well-lifting methods (Persian-wheel, Rahat, Charas, mot) implying a taxonomy of water-lifting technologies, some animal-driven.
A student could search within that taxonomy (using these names) to see if 'araghatta' appears as a variant or synonym indicating similar operation.
- Explicitly names 'ara-ghatta' as a 'rope-pot system' and equates it with the Persian wheel.
- Describes lifting water from open wells using pots on a wheel rather than a single large bucket pulled by hand.
- Describes a wheel with pitchers (pots) that are turned and emptied into a trough β i.e., a pot-wheel mechanism rather than one large hand-pulled bucket.
- States the last wheel was turned by a bullock, indicating animal or wheel-driven operation rather than direct hand-pulling of a large bucket.
Describes a well-edge arrangement where a rope is put over a roller with a large bucket tied to it and the other end tied to a bullock (animal) β not hauled solely by hand.
A student could compare this example of a roller-and-rope system driven by an animal with descriptions of 'Araghatta' in other sources to see if Araghatta similarly used animal power rather than only hand-pulling.
Lists traditional well-lifting devices (Persian-wheel, Rahat, Charas, mot) used historically in India, implying a variety of mechanical/animal-driven systems for drawing groundwater rather than simple hand-only bucket hauling.
Use this catalogue of named devices as a pattern: check whether Araghatta appears among named mechanical/animal-driven devices or instead is described as a hand-operated bucket.
Notes well irrigation as the long-standing, common method of irrigation in India, implying established, often specialized devices and practices for extracting well water.
A student could infer that common well-irrigation practice favored known lifting mechanisms and then look for technical descriptions of Araghatta to see which category it fits.
- [THE VERDICT]: Standard Static (Medium). While basic NCERTs mention 'Persian Wheel', the specific Sanskrit term 'Araghatta' requires advanced reading (Upinder Singh/RS Sharma).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Ancient Indian Economy & Technology > Evolution of Irrigation techniques.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these water-lifting terms: **Ghatiyantra** (early pot-wheel), **Ashmantaka** (pulley device), **Tula-yantra** (shaduf/lever-lift), **Vapi** (stepwell), and **Tadaga** (tank). Also, distinguish between the *Araghatta* (pot-garland) and the later *Persian Wheel* (which added gearing).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Stop reading history as a story of Kings. Start reading it as a dictionary of Terms. Create a 'Glossary Sheet' for every chapter focusing on: 1) Agriculture, 2) Taxation, 3) Administration, 4) Technology.
Describes cattle-driven pulley systems used to draw water from wells, which is the technology invoked by the question about a pulley-driven irrigation device.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often probe traditional agrarian technology and rural labour arrangements; links agricultural technology to economic and social history and helps answer comparative questions about resource and labour requirements for irrigation systems.
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Economy: Agriculture > p. 24
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > Irrigating trees and fields > p. 199
Explains the practice of using a rope-tied bucket run over a roller (fork-and-roller) with animal traction to lift water at wells, a specific mechanical setup close to pulley-based devices.
Useful for questions on local irrigation techniques and peasant practices; connects to topics on village technology, community participation in irrigation, and regional variations in water-lifting methods.
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > Irrigating trees and fields > p. 199
Covers Persian-wheel (rehat), Charas/mot and other well-irrigation methods that contextualize pulley and bucket systems within broader historical well technologies.
Important for linking technological evolution (manual/animal methods to mechanical/tube-well systems) to themes like groundwater use, irrigation policy, and agrarian change; enables answers comparing historical and modern irrigation methods.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Table 9.9 > p. 37
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Well and Tube-well Irrigation > p. 72
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > 29 1. Well Irrigation > p. 358
Persian wheel, Rehat and related terms identify a prominent traditional method for lifting groundwater for irrigation.
High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask about traditional irrigation technologies and their regional usage, technological evolution, and impact on cropping patterns. Mastering this links to agriculture, rural economy, and technological history topics and helps answer comparative questions on irrigation efficiency and diffusion.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Table 9.9 > p. 37
- Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: The Story of Village Palampur > 2. Is there a way one can grow more from the same land? > p. 3
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Well and Tube-well Irrigation > p. 72
A simple well-edge device using a roller, rope, bucket and bullock exemplifies animal-powered irrigation mechanisms.
Useful for UPSC essays and mains answers on pre-mechanised irrigation and rural labour relations; it connects to agrarian technology, resource requirements, and social organisation of labour in historical and contemporary contexts.
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > Irrigating trees and fields > p. 199
Shaduf and the Archimedean screw are named examples of ancient/simple mechanical devices still used to lift water for irrigation.
Important for comparative questions on technological continuity and adaptation; mastering these devices aids answers on engineering history, hydrology in agriculture, and persistence of low-cost technologies in rural development.
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > Soil Conservation and Sound Farming Techniques > p. 246
Bullocks were employed to operate rollers or pulley arrangements to draw water from wells for irrigation.
High-yield for questions on pre-modern irrigation technology and agrarian practices; helps distinguish animal-powered mechanisms from mechanical or modern systems and links to rural labour and resource requirements in historical contexts.
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > Irrigating trees and fields > p. 199
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Economy: Agriculture > p. 24
The 'Gear Mechanism'. The Araghatta existed early on, but the introduction of the 'pin-drum gearing' (which allowed animal power to rotate the wheel horizontally) is often attributed to the arrival of the Turks/Mughals (Baburnama mentions it). A future question might ask to distinguish the 'Ghatiyantra' (manual) from the 'Saqia' (geared).
Use **Sanskrit Etymology**: 'Ara' means 'Spoke' (like in the Ashoka Chakra) and 'Ghatta' means 'Pot' (like a Ghatam). Therefore, 'Araghatta' literally means 'Spoked Wheel with Pots'. Only Option [B] describes a wheel with pots. Option [A] is a pulley (Ashmantaka), and Option [D] is a simple rope-bucket.
Links to **GS-1 (Water Resources & Culture)**: Traditional water conservation systems (like Kuls in HP, Zabo in Nagaland, or Eris in TN) are modern survivors of these ancient technologies. Use 'Araghatta' as an intro example in an essay on 'Traditional Knowledge vs Modern Water Crisis'.