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 a ritual purification called Melukat . 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.
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.
For most of the time, Tirta Empul is believed as a source of clean water for ritual bathing. However, according to a Coconut Bali report in 2017, authorities were investigating reports of water pollution and health risk at Tirta Empul from Gianyar. [4]
The Balinese people are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Bali. The Balinese population of 4.2 million live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the island's population. There are also significant populations on the island of Lombok and in the easternmost regions of Java.
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Balinese architecture is a vernacular architecture tradition of Balinese people that inhabits the volcanic island of Bali, Indonesia. Balinese architecture is a centuries-old architectural tradition influenced by Balinese culture developed from Hindu influences through ancient Javanese intermediary, as well as pre-Hindu elements of native Balinese architecture.
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Pura Goa Lawah is a Balinese Hindu temple or a pura located in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia. Pura Goa Lawah is often included among the Sad Kahyangan Jagad, or the "six sanctuaries of the world", the six holiest places of worship on Bali. Pura Goa Lawah is noted for being built around the opening of a cave which is inhabited by bats, hence its name, the Goa Lawah or "bat cave".
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Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang is a Balinese Hindu temple or pura on Mount Lempuyang in Karangasem Regency, Bali. It is the first and lowest temple of the complex of temples called Pura Lempuyang. The highest of these temples, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, is one of the Sad Kahyangan Jagad or "six sanctuaries of the world", six holiest places of worship on Bali, and one of the nine directional temples of Bali.
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Melukat is a cleansing ritual of the mind, body, and spirit using water practiced in Bali, Indonesia. This ceremony has been passed down through generations among the Hindu community to the present day. Spiritual purification in this context means eliminating impurities within oneself. The term Melukat is derived from the words "su" meaning "good" and "lukat" meaning "purification". The Melukat ceremony is led by a priest and involves offerings such as prascita and bayuan, prepared with accompanying mantras. The individual to be purified is first subjected to mantras by the priest. After the mantra process is completed, the person is bathed with coconut water. Following the coconut water bath, the ritual continues with immersion in a lake, river, sea, or a bathing place believed to bring blessings. This ceremony is typically performed during Hindu religious days, such as Purnama, Tilem, and Kajeng Kliwon. Melukat ceremonies are often conducted collectively, such as by schools, offices, government bodies, or local communities. The ceremonies take place at historical sites, temples, bathing places, beaches, rivers, and the sea in Bali. The ritual can be found in several places such as Tirta Empul Temple, Campuhan Windhu Segara Temple, Sebatu Holy Spring Temple, Tirtha Sudamala Temple, Saraswati Temple in Ubud, and Goa Giri Putri Temple in Nusa Penida. Tirta Empul Temple is arguably considered the most renowned location for the ritual. The ritual has since become a tourist attraction.
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