Explanation

The Araghatta was a traditional irrigation device used in ancient and medieval India for lifting water from wells or reservoirs. The term itself comes from “ara” (spokes) and “ghatta” (pots), indicating its structure.

It consisted of a large vertical wheel fitted with a series of earthen pots along its rim. The wheel was rotated using animal power (usually bullocks) or human effort. As the wheel turned, the pots would dip into water, fill up, and then empty into a channel, allowing a continuous flow of water for irrigation.

This mechanism made Araghatta more efficient than earlier manual methods, as it enabled continuous and automated water lifting. It is often identified with the Persian wheel (Rehat), which became widely used in later periods.

Thus, Araghatta represents an important example of early agricultural technology in India.