Lake

LAKE

1. Lake

A lake is a relatively large naturally occurring body of water. It is located in a basin surrounded by completely dry land. It helps to filter the incoming or outgoing streams. Lakes are generally larger and deeper than ponds. Most of the lakes are supplied with water by creeks and rivers.

2. Uses of Lakes

The ancient Tamilians were well aware of the importance of collecting rain water and preserving it. That was why Tiruvalluvar placed the power of rain next to prayer to God. Ilango Adigal started his Kappiyam by praising Sun, Moon and Rain.

Lakes and ponds are used to store water during rainy season and for drinking water and agricultural irrigation during summer. Water stored in lakes and ponds may come from overland runoff during the rainy season through streams or rivers.

Sangam poets asked the rulers of those days to build water bodies like lakes, ponds and puddles. They pointed out that development in irrigation is the root cause of all success of a country. The rulers accepted and implemented it.

Proof

Kudapulaviyanar, a poet of the 2nd Century BC said to Pandyan, Thalaiyalanganathu Seruvenra Neduncheliyan.

Purananooru 18

3. Enthals and Thangals

A succession of lakes is called a series of lakes. The first lake is called Enthal because it carries the rainwater flowing from the first lake. The lakes in the back, hold the water flowing from Enthal and other lakes and the water from the catchment areas of the respective lakes. We call them Thangals.

The run off from the lands irrigated by these series of lakes flows into the successive lakes. Through this, irrigation water is used again and again and finally let out. Therefore, series of lakes are well positioned to store more water and reuse the stored water multiple times.

4. Ooruni, Sunai (Kayam, Poigai, Oottru) Kanmai and Kuttai

1. Ooruni

Public drinking water tank.

2. Sunai (or) Kayam (or) Poigai (or) Oottru

Sunai refers to a natural spring (or) smaller body of water.

3. Kanmai

It is an artificial reservoir of any size.

4. Kuttai

A small stagnation of rain water.

5. Kalingals (Draining Part)

Kalingal is the opening used to drain out excess water in lakes and ponds after they are full. The design of the Kalingal should be such that the flood water can escape during the flood season; otherwise, the lake will break. And in series of lakes, if the upper pond breaks, that will also result in the breakage of lower ponds. This will cause mass destruction. Therefore, the role of Kalingals in series of lakes is much more important than the role of Kalingals in individual lakes.

Functioning of Kalingals

Dams are constructed 2 feet above the level of the Kalingals in the series of lakes. Inserting planks between the sub-stones will allow water to accumulate to a height of 2 feet. The total capacity of the lake is the water stored upto the top of the board. If water is stored only upto the Kalingal without the board, then it will be only half the capacity. Each pond is filled with water and the board is laid only when the last pond is full.

Once the final pond is filled with water upto the top of the plank. The plank is placed in the pond above it. Thus, each pond is boarded and finally, it is boarded in the Enthal pond. Only when that is also filled, irrigation will start in all lands.

When the flood is high, the boards in all the ponds will be removed and the flood water is allowed to escape quickly. Thus, steps will be taken to protect the ponds from breaking.

6. Pathavu

Pathavu is important in construction to help conserve water bodies. Pathavu is like a door. It is used to trap water from the lake or pond. The following Agananooru verse explains how the ancient Tamils used this to store water.

Proof: [Agananooru 237]

7. Madai

Ancient Tamils had built dams across the river to collect the water. The following proof confirms that rainwater harvesting schemes had been in place before 2000 years.

Proof: [Paripadal 6]

There is a door in the madai. If it was opened, water will come out. The amount of water cannot be decreased or increased. Stagnant water flows out uncontrollably.

8. Technology of Sand Banks of Lakes

Usual Practice

When constructing embankments in lakes, the practice throughout the world is to construct inner walls with clay to prevent seepage and then cover it.

Sangam Practice in Tamil Nadu

Ancient lakes in Tamil Nadu do not have such internal walls. There is no leakage. The banks of the lakes are made with the soil in the respective area.

Technology

Its technology is described in the literature. Sangam literature tells that the banks of the lake were built with mud. Along with the soil in the respective area, some soil compacting materials are added to form semi soil and thus the banks of lakes are formed.

But now, eventhough the best soil is brought from far away and used to build earthern embankments, water leakages occur. Looking at this, it is clear that the technology of our ancestors is simply amazing. The following proof speaks of this.

Proof: Contrary to the opinion of English engineers that it is necessary to build the river banks with wet clay, the ancient Tamils have built the banks of lakes in a perfect way using the soil available in the respective areas, according to Sir. Arthur Cotton.

9. Water Management of Lakes

The water flowing in the river and the water flowing on the ground during the rainy season are brought to the lakes and stored. Sangam people used the best technology related to drinking water and agriculture. Various personnel were appointed for water by management.

1. Neeranikaarars

They are responsible for bringing the river water to the lakes.

2. Neerkatiyaars

They are responsible for storing and protecting the water brought in. All activities like fishing in the lake, operating the coracles (Parisal) and cultivating in the lake land during periods of low water require the permission of Neerkatiyaars.

3. Karaiyars

The lifeline of a lake is its shore. The responsibility of the Karaiyars is to keep the lake shore strong and without damage. ⠀

4. Protector of lake

It is the responsibility of the lake protector to ensure that enemies do not breach the banks of the lake. They chased the trespassers away from the lake.

5. Kulathuppallars

Kulathuppallars are appointed to dispose of dead goats, cows and humans in the lake and to clear the plants and algae growing in the water. They are responsible for the cleanliness of the lake.

6. Neervettiyars (or) Neerpaichi

Neervettiyars are responsible for bringing the water released from the lakes to the fields through drains. They monitored the water required for the fields.

7. Madaiyars

There were systems like Puthavu, Madai, Mathagu, Kumizhi, Thoombu in the lakes to release the water during floods and for irrigation. Madaiyars were appointed to open and close these.

8. Kumuzhipallars

Kumuzhipallars were there to know how much water each field needed and provide it. They had a 'muraipanai' to calculate how much water was needed for how much land.

Muraipanai

This pot made of copper has a capacity of 10 litres of water. There was a small hole at the bottom of this pot. This pot was placed near the fields to be watered with three stones. It was filled with water by placing the pot on the top of the stones. When they were to about to supply water to the field, the hole under the pot was opened. Water would continue to flow from the hole. If all the water in the pot was drained, it meant that the required amount of water for one acre of land had flowed.