Tirta Empul

Ritual purifying bath at Tirta Empul.
Gate at Tirta Empul

Tirta Empul temple (Indonesian: Pura Tirta Empul) is a Hindu Balinese water temple located near the town of Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia. The temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for ritual purification. The temple pond has a spring which gives out fresh water regularly, which Balinese Hindus consider to be holy or amritha.[1] Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in Balinese.

Construction of the temple

Tirta Empul Temple was founded around a large water spring in 962 A.D. during the Warmadewa dynasty (10th-14th centuries). The name of the temple comes from the ground water source named "Tirta Empul". The spring is the source of the Pakerisan river.[2] The temple is divided into three sections: Jaba Pura (front yard), Jaba Tengah (central yard) and Jeroan (inner yard). Jaba Tengah contains 2 pools with 30 showers which are named accordingly: Pengelukatan, Pebersihan and Sudamala dan Pancuran Cetik (poison).[3]

The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, another Hindu god name for the supreme consciousness Narayana.[1] On a hill overlooking the temple, a modern villa was built for President Sukarno's visit in 1954. The villa is currently a rest house for important guests.

Water quality

For most of the time, Tirta Empul is believed as a source of clean water regarded as holy water used for Hindu ritual. However, the water quality began to deteriorate due to contamination from surrounding areas. As of August 2017, visitors are urged not to use the facilities on-site due to E.coli contamination of the water,[4] caused by nearby residents dumping their garbage carelessly onto open water, and sewage channel to the river. The contamination may have resulted in at least one person developing a severe eye infection and nearly losing their eyesight from an aggressive infection.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Pura Tirta Empul". Burari Bali. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Carroll, Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Adam Skolnick, Marian (2009). Bali & Lombok (12th ed.). Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet. p. 202. ISBN 9781742203133. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Pura Tirta Empul, babadbali.com
  4. ↑ "E.coli found in Bali temple water has Gianyar regency focusing on water quality standards". Coconuts Bali. 5 July 2017.
  5. ↑ Laura Baker (2 August 2017). "Infected by Bali holy water, woman endures torturous treatment to save sight".


Coordinates: 8°24′59″S 115°18′53″E / 8.41639°S 115.31472°E / -8.41639; 115.31472

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