Tirta Empul - Tampak Siring Temple

Tirta Empul Temple or Tampak Siring Temple is a holy spring water temple located in Tampak Siring Village, Gianyar regency and it is about 39 km eastwards from Denpasar town. It is set in the dale and encircled by the hill. In the west side of this temple, there is an Indonesian President palace which has been found by the first president. The name of Tirta Empul is loaded in a inscription which is kept at Sakenan Temple, Manukaya village, Sub district of Tampak Siring, about 3 km from Tirta Empul Temple. In this inscription, the Tirta Empul is named by the Tirta Ri Air Hampul and then the name has changed into Tirta Hampul and finally become the Tirta Empul. Tirta Ri air hampul is meaning the water emerge or the holy pool (Petirthan) which is the water emerge from the land.

Based on a legend, when Bali was ruled by Mayadenawa (a very powerful giant), people suffered and they were afraid. Mayadenawa ran the empire as a dictator; he was "absolute" and no one could stop whatever he desired. He became very arrogant because of his power and even prohibited the Balinese to pray to the God as he claimed to be their god.

At that time many people prayed to God and asked for help which would not be given if they were stopped from giving offerings to their gods. Of course, this ceremony this ceremony was held without Mayadewa's knowledge. Had he found out, his people would have received severe punishment.

God came to earth as a knight and challenged Mayadenawa. After a great fight, Mayadenawa felt that he would loose this fight, so he ran and tried to hide. As he made his escape, he was really angry with Balinese, so with his magic he made river water to became so poisonous that anyone who drank it, would die.

When the Knight (God manifested) found out, he took his arrow and shot it to the earth. And as the arrow pierced the earth, suddenly water appeared and flowed into the contaminated rivers to replace the poisonous water, and from that day, the water is medicine for people who get sick. And has since been called Tirta Empul or sacred spring. To honor the knight and miracle, the Balinese built a temple there.

And when there is a festival or ceremony in this temple you can see many people bathing in the ponds that has seven pancuran. The source of the water is from the sacred spring in the middle area. Not only can the water cure sickness but can also purify sins.

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