Tirta Empul temple (,

Balinese script The Balinese script, natively known as and , (Balinese language, Balinese: ᬅᬓ᭄ᬱᬭᬩᬮᬶ) is an abugida used in the island of Bali, Indonesia, commonly for writing the Austronesian language, Austronesian Balinese language, Kawi la ...

: ᬧᬸᬭᬢᬷᬃᬣᬳᭂᬫ᭄ᬧᬸᬮ᭄) is a Hindu Balinese water temple located near the town of Tampaksiring,

Bali Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. The temple compound consists of a ''petirtaan'' or bathing structure, famous for its

holy Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

spring water A spring is a natural exit point at which groundwater emerges from an aquifer and flows across the ground surface as surface water. It is a component of the hydrosphere, as well as a part of the water cycle. Springs have long been important f ...

, where Balinese Hindus go to for a

ritual purification Ritual purification is a ritual prescribed by a religion through which a person is considered to be freed of ''uncleanliness'', especially prior to the worship of a deity, and ritual purity is a state of ritual cleanliness. 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''. Tirta Empul which means holy spring that arises from the ground.

History

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. 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). The temple is dedicated to

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

, another Hindu god name for the supreme consciousness Narayana. On a hill overlooking the temple, a modern villa was built for President

Sukarno Sukarno (6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967. Sukarno was the leader of the Indonesian struggle for independenc ...

's visit in 1954. The villa is currently a rest house for important guests.

Water quality

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.

Gallery

Bali - Pura Tirta Empul (2025) - img 33.jpg, Inner area of the temple Bali - Pura Tirta Empul (2025) - img 29.jpg, Candi bentar (spilt gateway) and an anltar with

linga A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Upanishads and epic literature, wher ...

and

yoni ''Yoni'' (Sanskrit: योनि, ), sometimes called ''pindika'', is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu goddess Shakti. It is usually shown with ''linga'' – its masculine counterpart. Together, they symbolize the merging ...

Bali - Pura Tirta Empul (2025) - img 22.jpg , The natural spring pond within the temple complex Bali - Pura Tirta Empul (2025) - img 44.jpg , Candi bentar and offering ( canang sari) table at the entry to the bath Bali - bathing (Melukat) at Pura Tirta Empul (2025) - img 01.jpg , Temple bath File:Tirta Empul Gate.png, Gate featuring Bhoma at Tirta Empul

References

{{Coord, 8, 24, 59, S, 115, 18, 53, E, display=title Hindu temples in Indonesia 10th-century Hindu temples Cultural Properties of Indonesia in Bali Gianyar Regency

History

Water quality

Gallery

See also

References