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.