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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Some Unique Step-wells and Tanks of Gujarat and Rajasthan
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Introduction
Water, like air, is fundamentally associated with life. The Sanskrit word 'Jivan' (jīvana) i.e. life, significantly stands for both water and life. From the time immemorial man needs water only for drinking but for cultivating the food-grains. For these purposes he was entirely dependent on rain-fall, which was often either irregular or caused complete drought. Man was therefore, completed to invent the system of irrigation and he dug out the canals to divert some of the waters of rivers and natural lakes. But when he came to know about the subterranean storage of water, he dug up deep wells.
Dr. Ramjibhai Savalia*
In regions like Gujarat and Rajasthan where there are no big rivers, the problem of water supply becomes acute. This deficiency has been made good, to some extent, by the construction of lakes and stepped wells.'
It should be noted that the reservoirs are of two categories. The natural reservoirs like rivers, lakes, etc. are dependent on the rainfall while the artificial reservoirs like lakes, wells, step-wells, etc. are dependent on subtarranean water supply. The chief amont the artificial reservoirs is well which is useful in all seasons and found in everywhere in the regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan.2
The step-well is an unique construction of a well with steps either on one side, two, three or on all the four sides leading to the water surface. Such stepped construction of the well is known in sanskrit Vāpī.3
Water is one of the essential elements associated with human life. From time immemorial mankind needs water not only for drinking but for the purpose of cultivating food-grains.
In the region of Gujarat in the medieval period the problem of water supply became acute, as it is today. This deficiency has been recouped to some extent, by the construction of various types of artificial reservoirs similar to lakes (sara), ponds (tadaga, kundas), wells (küpa, väva) and stepwells (vāpi and kunda).
A kunda, is a kind of reservoir, a construction of a well with flights of steps leading to the water source from either a single shaft or from up to four directions dependent upon the design.*
* Director-in-charge, B. J. Institute, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad-9
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There are at least fifteen different names for Stepwells. In Gujarat they are most commonly known as Vävs where as in Rajasthan they are usually known as Bäoris or
For Private and Personal Use Only
સામીપ્ય : પુ. ૨૫, અંક ૩-૪, ઓક્ટો. ૨૦૦૮ માર્ચ, ૨૦૦૯
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