Tirta Empul

Tirta Empul :: Water Spring Temple at Tampak Siring Gianyar Bali

Tirta Empul Emple

The Holy Water

Tirta Empul Holy Spring

It is about 36 km from the city of Denpasar, in Tampak Siring district, Gianyar regency. The roads are good and paved can be reached by any cars. The Tirta Empul Temple bequeathed to the people by ancient Rajadom is perhaps one of the most fascinating spot in the area. On the west side of this temple, high on the hill could be found a Presidential palace the battle and run away to hide in the forest to the north of the village Tampak Siring.

With his magic powers he created a spring of poison. Which coursed the death amongst Indra's troops who drank the water with poison from the poisonous spring. In fury Bhatara Indra drove his spear into the ground at he point where the spring has bubbling up, celebrated every 6 month (210 days) according to the Balinese calendar, on a day known as "Hari Rebo Kliwon Wuku Dungulan" Galungan is a day on which battle between good (Darma) and evil (Adharma) is commemorated. Every year on the day of Galungan all the scared dance masks in Gianyar district are brought to the temple of that was built during Soekarno's time. Which is an unspectacular; single-story structure with several outbuildings designed by Soekarno himself and built in 1954 on a side of the dutch rest house.

The name of Tirta Empul derives from large spring in the centre of he temple. "Tirta" mean holy water and Tirta Empul is Holy Spring water. The Tirta Empul's water flowing down to Pakerisan's river. Along the Pakerisan's river there are some ancient monuments. The temples was built around 960 AD, during the ruled of Raja Candra Bayangsingha from the Warmadewa dynasty. Coforming with the structure of the most Balinese temple, it is divided to three main courtyard such as: the outer yard, the middle yard and the inner yard or the holiest part of the temple where the prayers take place.

Mayadenawa Raja Batu Anyar, of Bedulu, and Bhatara Indra. In the acient tale the Raja Mayadenawa was such a tyrant forbade the people to carry out their religions activity to request blessing of God. The Gods heard about this tyranny, and led by Bhatara Indra they attacked Mayadenawa. In the end he lost rerouting it come out through the centre of Tirta Empul. His Holy Water was used to splash upon the afflicted gods and revive them from the grasps of death. This mythology the expedition of Patih (minister) Gajah Mada from Majapahit courned Bali 1343 is symbolized Bhatara Indra, and the evil raja Mayadenawa as Bhatara Cri Astasura Bhumi Banten. According to folklore this myth is also connected to the Galungan day, which is Tirta Empul to be bathed in holy water.

The holy springs Temple at Tirta Empul are believed to have magical powers where most of the Balinese do the Purification so the temple here is an important one. Despite its antiquity, the temple is glossy and gleaming new - it was totally restored in late 60s. a very wide parking lot, with stared hotel standard toilet facility, souvenir and snack kiosks are also available to fulfill visitor's need.