Water is considered to be so important on Bali that it is used in almost all ceremonies and rituals. The Balinese religion is often called Agama Tirta; “The Religion of the Holy Water”. The water in Pura Tirta Empul is especially holy, all water used for cremations on Bali are taken from here and believed to have magical healing powers. Tirta Empul was built under the rule of Sri Candrabhaya Singha Warmadewa in the 10th century. Like other Balinese temples it is divided into three main courtyards: the front, the middle and the inner sanctum. Backing the outer courtyard are two rectangular bathing pools, one for men and one for women. According to tradition, each of the pool’s 15 fountains has its own name and function: spiritual purification, cleansing from evil, antidote to poison.
Temple inscriptions mention that Tirta Empul was constructed in 960 AD, when the king Chandrabhaya Singha Warmadewa ordered its construction. While this place was not of any particular interesting to the ancient Balinese kings, it attracted the attention of President Soekarno, the first Indonesian president, who built his presidential villas just west side of the temple. This villa has made the name of Tampaksiring well known around the world.
Tirta Empul is divided into 3 courtyards. At the first courtyard is also a pool for public bathing place. There is a total of 30 shrines in Tirta Empul, with later ones added by the local people who are responsible for the upkeep of the temple. Like most Balinese temples, an odalan ceremony is performed every 210 days.
There is an old stone sculpture at the last courtyard in the form of buffalo. The buffalo is considered the mount of the god Shiwa and the animal is called Nandi in the Hindu pantheon.
The Site of what is considered Bali’s holiest spring, the peaceful, shady gardens and clear pool of the tirta empul temple were once the bathing places of eastern Bali’s Kings. Tirta Empul is located in Tampaksiring Village in Gianyar Regency, it,s about 36 Km from Denpasar City. the name of tirta empul temple derives from large spring in the center of the Temple. Tirta means Holy Water and tirta empul mean Holy Spring Water. The holy spring water at Tirta Empul temple are relived to have a magical power. The legend has it the God Indra, whose army had been poisoned by the Evil King Mayadenawa, pierced a stone here to produce magical water that would revive his men. The Tirta Empul water flowing down to the Pakerisan Rivers. the Tirta Empul Temple was built around 960AD, during the rules of Candra Bayangsingha King from Warmadewa Dynasty. conforming with the structure or the most Balinese temple, Tirta Empul Temple is divided into three main courtyards, such us : The Outer Yard ( Jaba sisi ), The middle yard ( Jaba Tengah ) and the inner yard ( Jeroan ) or the holiest part of the temple where the prayer take place. despite it’s antiquity, the temple is glossy and gleamingly new, it was totally restored in the late ’60’s. Tirta Empul Temple is one of Balinese Sacred Temple.
