To highlight the value placed on water and to describe water supply systems, the authors quote from the Chandogyo-Upanishad, Yajurveda and other ancient Indian texts.
Acharya Bhrugo divided his book, Shilpa Samhita into three parts, of which Dhatukahand deals with agriculture, water and minerals. A treatise written by Acharya Wagbhatt classifies water into rain water, contaminated water, sea water, warm water and coconut water.
Various stanzas of the Rigveda and Atharvaveda which deal with water have been translated.
Varahmihira’s Vrihat (Bruhat) Samhita is one of the best treatises on ground water hydrology. Sourcing water through topography and types of flora, forms part of this ancient text. It also describes the kind of water that will be found under various soils. For example, the water beneath soil bearing copper colour and with small pebbles tastes bitter. This text also gives ways to treat water.
Atharveda describes a water purification process that uses sand and coal. This book also says that water can be purified by air, sun rays or fire.
The authors mention the efforts of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to study the antimicrobial properties of some of the herbs mentioned in Vrihat Samhita.
In conclusion, the authors state that "progress" should not be at the cost of traditional wisdom that pioneered and perfected water management techniques.
This paper was presented at the National Seminar on Water and Culture organised by Kannada University and Sahayoga in 2007.
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