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.[1] It is possible that these are cultural remnants of structures such as the Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro or Dholavira,[2] which was part of the Indus Valley civilization. Some are stepwells with many steps at the sides.
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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5]
Stepwelledit
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.[6] They often were built by nobility, some being for secular use from which anyone could obtain water.[7]
The area of the temple tank is 23 acres (93,000 m2). It is also called Daughter of Kaveri river.[citation needed]
Kalyaniedit
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.
Sarovaredit
In Sikhism, temple tanks are called sarovar (Punjabi: ਸਰੋਵਰ sarōvara).[8]
^Shuichi Takezawa (August 2002). "Stepwells – Cosmology of Subterranean Architecture as seen in Adalaj" (PDF). Journal of Architecture and Building Science. 117 (1492): 24. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
^. Archived from the original on October 6, 1999. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
^Harban Singh (1998). Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University. p. 71. ISBN978-81-7380-530-1.
Further readingedit
C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre (2002). Sacred tanks of South India. pp. 328.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalyani (temple tank).
ENVIS Centre for Conservation of Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India: Sacred Waterbodies of India 2016-08-06 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
temple, tank, this, article, about, other, uses, tank, disambiguation, wells, reservoirs, built, part, temple, complex, near, indian, temples, they, called, pushkarini, kalyani, kunda, sarovara, tirtha, talab, pukhuri, ambalakkuḷam, different, languages, regio. This article is about a Temple tank For other uses see Tank disambiguation 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 1 It is possible that these are cultural remnants of structures such as the Great Bath of Mohenjo daro or Dholavira 2 which was part of the Indus Valley civilization Some are stepwells with many steps at the sides Temple tank in Hampi Karnataka Temple tank in Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple at Chikkaballapur district Karnataka Contents 1 Tank design 2 Stepwell 3 Haridra Nadhi 4 Kalyani 5 Sarovar 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 Notes 9 Further reading 10 External linksTank design editSince 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 3 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 4 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 5 Stepwell editIn 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 6 They often were built by nobility some being for secular use from which anyone could obtain water 7 Haridra Nadhi editHaridra Nadhi nbsp Haridra Nadhi Mannargudi nbsp Haridra Nadhi Mannargudi Haridra Nadhi tank of the Rajagopalaswamy Temple Mannargudi is one of the largest temple tanks in India It is located 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 citation needed Kalyani editKalyani 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 editIn Sikhism temple tanks are called sarovar Punjabi ਸਰ ਵਰ sarōvara 8 Gallery edit nbsp Sarovar at the Sikh Harmandir Sahib the Golden Temple at Amritsar Punjab nbsp A temple tank at Chennakesava Temple in Belur Karnataka nbsp Kusuma Sarovar Ghat in Mathura district Uttar Pradesh nbsp Hoysala stepped temple tank at Hulikere Karnataka nbsp Tank at Shravanabelagola Karnataka nbsp Large kalyani at Mahanandi Andhra Pradesh nbsp Well at Trikuteshwara temple Gadag Karnataka nbsp Pond at Shiva temple near Kottakkal Kerala nbsp Temple pond on way to Thiruvalllur Tamil Nadu nbsp Tank at Thillai Nataraja Temple Chidambaram Tamil Nadu nbsp Pushkarini at Simhachalam nbsp Yaganti Tank in Andhra Pradesh nbsp Temple tank Andhra Pradesh nbsp Example of a Shiva temple in a tank Baroli Temples nbsp Garuda Kunda in Bhaktapur Nepal nbsp Godawari Kunda Godawari NepalSee also editBrahma Sarovar Ghat Baray Tank cascade system Sri Lanka Sacred waters StepwellNotes edit Sun Temples in India Retrieved 2007 02 24 Shuichi Takezawa August 2002 Stepwells Cosmology of Subterranean Architecture as seen in Adalaj PDF Journal of Architecture and Building Science 117 1492 24 Retrieved 2009 11 18 Architecture Stepwells Archived from the original on October 6 1999 Retrieved 2007 01 09 Great Tank art and archaeology Retrieved 2007 01 13 Thapar Binda 2004 Introduction to Indian Architecture Singapore Periplus Editions p 43 ISBN 0 7946 0011 5 Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent glossary Retrieved 2006 12 18 Vav vavdi Baoli Bavadi Traditional stepwells Retrieved 2006 12 19 Harban Singh 1998 Encyclopedia of Sikhism Punjabi University p 71 ISBN 978 81 7380 530 1 Further reading editC P R Environmental Education Centre 2002 Sacred tanks of South India pp 328 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalyani temple tank ENVIS Centre for Conservation of Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India Sacred Waterbodies of India Archived 2016 08 06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Temple tank amp oldid 1215707467, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
