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built down to a depth of a bout 10 cubits below the spring. They are also provided with bathing gbats on all the four sides suitable for sporting in water. On one side of the tank shall be built a water-listing device.
TATAKA (big tanks) Big tanks are next dealt with. They are dug and built generally in the middle of the village, or by the side of roads. Care is always taken that in the site chosen there are springs of good drinkable water. A well is usually dug in the middle of the tank with its length North to South. The tank shall also have an inlet and an outlet for filling and emptying it. Canopied halls shall adorn the sides as also trees along the bank. 1 In big tanks attached to temples a central mandapa is to be constructed which is known in Tamil as நீராழி மண்ட பம் [Nirazhi Mandapa). Such tanks are generally enclosed by walls provided with steps, a covered verandah or platform all round and ornamented gateways.
The next chapter deals with the temple within the palace and the portico in front of the palace. The temple is to be adorned with extra devices and the door frames plated with silver and gold. Next is described the park for the deer, peacock, calves and, pet birds and other pet animals. They are to be enclosed by fences of iron and provided with reservoirs of water and grounds for ladies of the palace and nobility to sport themselves with the pets. Elephant stables and stables for horses are next dealt with. Special attention is directed towards the reverential care of horses and elephants. These stalls are of two kinds permanent and temporary. They shall adjoin gardens. The central space shall not be less than 100 dandas in dimension and the stalls shall be built all round in width not less than 2 dandas for
1. The trees that are generally planted on the sides of tanks aro Karanja - Pungu (4 ) Indian Beech -Ponga nia Glabra, and Aswattha.Arasu (ar) Peepul. The former is a gormioide.
