Irrigation (सेचनविधानानि)

Irrigation (Samskrit: सेचनविधिः) has played a vital role in the agricultural history of India from ancient times. Water which is one of the essential requirements for the growth of crops. Atharvaveda (7.18.2) mentions in the Vrsti suktam (वृष्टिसूक्तम्) thus

आपश्चिदस्मै घृतमित्क्षरन्ति यत्र सोमः सदमित्तत्र भद्रम् ॥२॥ (Atha. Veda. 7.18.2)

Meaning: Wherever soma and other medicinal plants are worshipped, there the wintery frost and summer heat does not cause trouble (to people) and it rains appropriately leading to abundance (of crops or prosperity).

Our ancient texts have described various facilities for watering fields and plants both at micro and macro levels like watering after transplanting the plant and water supply on a larger scale with irrigational facilities.

According to Shatapatha Brahmana, water and trees depend upon each other and enrich themselves along with the mankind. It is an interesting fact waters are preserved for the bountiful growth of plants and trees, and those trees prevent water bodies from breaching their banks in the reservoirs; thus showing their interdependability.

Water Resources

Yajurveda alludes to a comprehensive list of water resources namely rivers, lakes, ponds, stagnant water, wells, seas, steams, big streams, canals and so on. Yajurveda, in the Rudra sukta mantras describes the presence of Rudra in many kinds of water bodies as follows

नमः काट्याय च नीप्याय च नमः कुल्याय च सरस्याय च नमो नादेयाय च वैशन्ताय च ॥ (Yaju. Veda

शीभ्याय च - water stream

ऊर्म्याय (सूर्म्याय) - large water bodies like rivers which have waves

अवस्वन्याय - lakes having still water (without sound)

नादेयाय - rivers

द्वीप्याय - water surrounding land mass completely (deltas or islands)

काट्याय - small water steams

नीप्याय - waterfalls and their flow

कूप्याय - wells

तीर्थ्याय - water in tirthas

कूल्याय - banks of rivers

सरस्याय - large lakes

कुल्याय - canals

हृदय्याय - deep water bodies (seas and oceans)