Water quality depends on land type (Nanmanikadigai, 80). Moisture stressed crops grow well on receipt of rains (Iniyavainarpathu15:2); construction of ponds for others use is essential (Iniyavainarpathu1, 23:1).
(i) Art of well divining - The Cankam art works speak of the art of well-divining practice of the Tamils to wells on the highways for the weary travellers (Naririnai, 240; Purananuru, 306). The didactic work Tirikatukam (14) refers to the virtuous act of digging ‘drinking water wells’ bounteously. Tivakaram and Kayatara Nikantu refer to those well-versed in well-divining as ‘ulliyar’ and calliyar’ respectively. Although ‘Kuval, Acumpu, Kupam, Kuli, Puval, Keni, Turavu are used synonymously to denote well, cankam classic speak of kuval only. Patirrupattu (51) and Ainkurunuru (203) revealed that the wells of those days, generally, were of shallow depth only. According to two manuscripts, rocky lands were classed as ‘Kurinchi’; the land with coarse sand, ‘Neytal’; the land abounding in scattered minor rocks, ‘Mullai’; muddy land, ‘Marutam’ and the unused tract ‘Palai’, of which the Neytal tract was supposed to have moisture. The depths of the water source in different lands differed from the surface land. In Kurinchi springs will be found at a depth of 33 cans, in Palai 30 cans, in Mullai 36 cans, in Neytal 35 cans and in Marutam 22 cans. The soil fit for the growth of banyan tree, tamarind, mango and so on might have water springs at different depths. The places where white rats, scorpion, the double-tongued lizard, toad and so on inhabit might have water sources. Another manuscript talks about the brownishness of Mullai water, whiteness of Palai water, Kurinchi’s blackish water, Marutam’s potable water and saltish water of Neytal. A well, which had disappeared due to human or natural calamities, can be traced on the basis of certain varieties of grass getting withered in winter and flourishing in summer season. In such places, there would be a swarm of flies and ants; also anthills appearing in places where certain grassy plants grow and such trees as ‘Vanci’ and ‘Nocci’ flourishing during the hot summer season, would be sure indications of the exist- ence of wells-now disappeared in such places.
(ii) Major irrigation system of ancient Tamil Nadu - In Purananur (18), Kudapula - Vianar says that a large irrigation system has relieved the peasants from dependence on the monsoon. The Pallavas, whose capital was in Tondaimandalam, constructed several irrigation tanks, and practically all of them are functioning to this day. The Cholas, besides constructing tanks, tamed
the Cauvery river, an achievement of which any monarch and his people may be proud. The Pandyan Country was divided between fringe irrigation alongside of the rivers and the utiliza- tion of tanks. The two major rivers of Tamil Nadu are the Cauvery and the Tamiraparani. The Vaigai has at no time been a source of great importance. The Cauvery river rises in the western ghats near Coorg and after a course of nearly 500 miles, enters the Bay of Bengal, draining an area of about 31,000 square miles in route. In the Cholamandala Satakam there is mention of the Kallanai or the Grand Anicut being constructed. Karikalan is said to have employed several thousands of Ceylonese for this purpose. According to the “Mahavamsa”, one hears of an aged woman complaining to Gajabahu that amongst the twelve thousand persons taken away by Karikalan for making the embankment of the Cauvery was her only son. According the Pattinathupalai, Karikalan was known as “Kaaverinaadan” due to his taming the violent river. His raising of the flood banks of the Cauvery was mentioned in the Malepadu plates of Punayakumara, a Telegu Choda king of the seventh or eighth century. A list of some of the major irrigation works are furnished in Table 2.3.
Table 2.3. Major Irrigation Works in Ancient Tamil Nadu
Name of the work King to whom attributed Date
Grand Anicut Karikalan Chola 1st Century
Thirayan Eri Thirayan 6th Century
Mahendra Tataka Mahendravarman I 7th Century
Parameswar Tataka Parmaeswara Varman 7th Century
Vairammega Tataka Vairamega Pallava 8th Century
Marpidigu Eri Vairamega Pallava 8th Century
Valian Eri Dandivarman 8th Century
Kaveripakkam tank Nandivarman 8th Century
Kilavan Ari Nedumaran Srivallabha 8th Century
Maraneri Maran 8th Century
Kudimallam Tank Tandikramavarman 8th Century
Maruthadu Vijayanripatunga 9th Century
Dharmapuri Tank Mahendra Pallava 9th Century
Ukkal Tank Kampavarman 9th Century
Chola Varuthi Parantaka I 10th Century
Chodiumbakan Tank Parantaka I 10th Century
Nangavaram Tank Arunjaya 10th Century
Veeranam Eri Veeranarayana 10th Century
Uyyakondan Channel Raja Raja I 10th Century
Bahur Tank Raja Raja I 10th Century
Periya Vaikal Raja Raja I 10th Century
Chola Ganga Rajendra 10th Century
The anaicuts on the Tamiraparani are noticed separately. Seven anaicuts were constructed across the Tamiraparani. The exact dates when they were constructed are not known. The usual local legends have grown around each of them. That they are ancient, however is evident. They are in order namely, Kodaimelalagiyan, Nadiyunni, Kannadiyan, Ariyanayakapuram, Palavur, Suttamalli, and Marudur.
(iii) Tank systems - The Tamils constructed two types of tanks; large tanks, such as those referred to in the early part of this paper, and innumerable smaller ones scattered all over the undulating interior of the Tamil country. Both kinds of tanks were largely looked after by the people themselves. The inscriptions in some of the tanks make mention of this responsibility. “The primary care of the village assemblies was to get the silt removed (Every year before the rains set in) from the tanks under their control in time for them to secure the proper depth needed to store the full supply for the next year. Often special endowments were created or the penury of village authorities. In some instances a cess called ‘Eriayan’ was collected from the villages for this purpose. The Cauvery system is very ancient is evident from Sangam literature. The Grand Anicut, constructed by Karikalan in the first century is still in effective use.