TIRTA EMPUL

Tirta Empul Temple is a Hindu temple in the middle of the island of Bali, Indonesia, in Manukaya Village, Tampaksiring District, Gianyar Regency, which is famous for its holy water where Balinese Hindus seek purification.

It is said that King Mayadenawa was arbitrary and did not allow the people to carry out religious ceremonies to ask for safety from the gods. After the deed was discovered by the gods, the gods headed by Bhatara Indra attacked Mayadenawa. Mayadenawa lost and fled to the north of Tampaksiring Village. With his supernatural powers he created a poisoned spring causing the army of Bhatara Indra who was chasing him to die from drinking the water. Seeing this, Bhatara Indra immediately stuck his spear and "water came out of the ground" (Tirta Empul). This Holy Water is used to sprinkle the Gods so that soon they can live again as before.

Tirta Empul Temple was built around a large spring in 962 AD during the Warmadewa dynasty by king Sri Candrabhayasingha Warmadewa (from 10th to 14th century). The name of the temple comes from the spring which is called "Tirta Empul". The spring comes from the Pakerisan river. The temple is divided into 3 parts; Jaba Pura (front page), Jaba Tengah (middle page) and Jeroan (inside page). Jaba Tengah consists of 2 pools with 30 showers which are named as follows: Scrubbing, Cleansing, and Sudamala and Cetik (poison) Showers.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god name for the supreme consciousness of Narayana. To the left of the temple is a modern villa building on a hill named Istana Tampaksiring, built for President Sukarno's visit to Bali in 1954, which is now used as a resting place for important state guests.