Temple tank

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Temple tanks are wells or reservoirs built as part of the temple complex in Indian temples. Bathing in the sacred waters of these tanks is thought to cure disease and maladies.^[1]

Contents 1 Tank design 2 Stepwell 3 See also 4 Notes

[edit] Tank design

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.^[2] An example of the art of tank design is the large, geometically spectacular Stepped Tank at the Royal Center at the ruins of Vijayanagara, the capital of the the Vijayanagara Empire, surrounding the modern town of Hampi. It is lined with green diorite and has no drain. It was fill by aqueduct.^[3]

Additionally an Indian Hindu temple usually has a tank known as a kund built within the temple compound and used for ritual cleansing and during rites of consecration. The water in the tank is deemed to be sacred water from the Ganga River.^[4]

[edit] Stepwell

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.^[5] They often were built by nobility, some being for secular use from which anyone could obtain water.^[6]

Stepped temple tank, Belur

Badami Cave temple tank

Well at Trikuteshwara temple

temple pond and waterfall

[edit] See also

• Irrigation tank

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Sun Temples in India. Retrieved on 2007-02-24.
2. ^ Architecture - Stepwells. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
3. ^ Great Tank. art-and-archaeology. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
4. ^ Thapar, Binda (2004). Introduction to Indian Architecture. Singapore: Periplus Editions, p 43. ISBN 0794600115. 
5. ^ Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent - glossary. Retrieved on 2006-12-18.
6. ^ Vav / vavdi / Baoli / Bavadi - Traditional stepwells. Retrieved on 2006-12-19.