Temple Tanks

Temple tanks are wells or reservoirs built as part of the temple complex near Indian temples. They are called pushkarini, kalyani, kunda, sarovara, tirtha, talab, pukhuri, ambalakkuḷam, etc. in different languages and regions of India. Some tanks are said to cure various diseases and maladies when bathed in. It is possible that these are cultural remnants of structures such as the Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro or Dholavira, which was part of the Indus Valley civilization. Some are stepwells with many steps at the sides.

Tank design

Since ancient times, the design of water storage has been important in India's temple architecture, especially in western India where dry and monsoon seasons alternate. Temple tank design became an art form in itself. An example of the art of tank design is the large, geometrically spectacular Stepped Tank at the Royal Center at the ruins of Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, surrounding the modern town of Hampi. It is lined with green diorite and has no drain. It was filled by aqueduct.

The tanks are used for ritual cleansing and during rites of consecration. The water in the tank is deemed to be sacred water from the Ganges River.

Stepwell

In India, a stepwell is a deep masonry well with steps going down to the water level in the well. It is called a ''vav'' in west India and a ''baoli'' in north India. Some were built by kings and were richly ornamented. They often were built by nobility, some being for secular use from which anyone could obtain water.

Haridra Nadhi

Haridra Nadhi, tank of the Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi, is one of the largest temple tanks in India. It's in Mannargudi, Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu.

The area of the temple tank is 23 acres (93,000 m²). It is also called Daughter of Kaveri river.

Kalyani

Kalyani, also called ''pushkarni'', are ancient Hindu stepped bathing wells.

These wells were typically built near Hindu temples to accommodate bathing and cleansing activities before prayer. They are also used for immersion of Ganesha idols during Ganesha Chaturthi.

Sarovar

In Sikhism temple tanks are called "Sarovar".

Gallery

File:Sarovar and the Golden Temple.jpg, Sarovar at the Sikh Harmandir Sahib, the "Golden Temple" at Amritsar, Punjab
File:Temple tank (kalyani) at the Chennakeshava temple in Belur.jpg, A temple tank at Chennakesava Temple in Belur, Karnataka.
File:Kusuma Sarovar Ghat.jpg, Kusuma Sarovar Ghat in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh
File:Hoysala Stepped Well (Pushkarni) at Hulikere.jpg, Hoysala stepped temple tank at Hulikere, Karnataka
File:Shravanabelagola2007 - 05.jpg, Tank at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka
File:Mahanandi-pushkarini4.JPG, Large kalyani at Mahanandi, Andhra Pradesh
File:Trikuteshwara well.JPG, Well at Trikuteshwara temple, Gadag, Karnataka
File:Pond Siva temple Kottakkal.jpg, Pond at Shiva temple near Kottakkal, Kerala
File:Temple pond on way to Thiruvalllur.jpg, Temple pond on way to Thiruvalllur, Tamil Nadu
File:Chidambaram Nataraja temple tank.JPG, Tank at Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
File:Pushkarini at Simhachalam.jpg, Pushkarini at Simhachalam
File:Yaganti.jpg, Yaganti Tank in Andhra Pradesh
File:Kalyani-upper-ahobilam.jpg, Temple tank, Andhra Pradesh
File:Boroli Temple Complex7.jpg, Example of a Shiva temple in a tank (Baroli Temples)
File:Bhaktapur Garudh Kundal 18.jpg, Garuda Kunda in Bhaktapur, Nepal
File:Godawari Temple, Godawari Mela1.jpg, Godawari Kunda, Godawari, Nepal

See also

* Brahma Sarovar
* Ghat
* Baray
* Tank cascade system (Sri Lanka)

Notes

Further reading

* C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre (2002). ''Sacred tanks of South India''. pp. 328.

External links

* ENVIS Centre for Conservation of Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India:
Sacred Waterbodies of India
'

{{Worship in Hinduism

Hindu temple architecture

Water and Hinduism