Tirta Empul Temple

Tirta Empul – Tampaksiring Holy 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 hampul is meaning the water emerge or the holy pool (Petirthan) which is the water emerge from the land.

Tampak Siring is a name of traditional Balinese Village located at Gianyar Regency or just 20 minutes away from Ubud. It is one of the famous tourist destinations in Bali where we can discover the beautiful Hindu Temple with big water resources. It is a unique place to visit in the island of Bali where we can locate the local Balinese doing the ritual in this temple and washing their hand and body event taking bath in the freeze water. There are many water douches found in this temple where the Balinese use this water as purification their body from bad influences or diseases. Each of water douche own the specific function to eliminate the disease.
Tampak Siring which is also called by Tirta Empul Temple many visited by the Hindu people for praying and purification. It is also many visited by tourist every day since it is appointed as tourist destination in Bali. You can visit this temple on the day trip to Kintamani or do Kintamani Tour with well establish travel agency and friendly tour guide. This place is situated in the valley and flanked by two hills where on the left side there is the old Indonesian First President Palace which is being kept by the government as the local asset and use by the president to welcome the government’s guests.

History of Tampak Siring or Tirta Empul

The wellspring emerges from the land is believed that it is the infinite creation. According to the history, that, that this water source is arranged and sanctified by king Indrajayasinghawarmadewa in the year 882 Saka (960 M). He has given the name with Tirta ri air hampul.

The data is loaded in the inscription that is located at Sakenan Temple. Besides of the above epigraphy data, in Tirta Empul Temple is also found the archaeology omission like Colossus Yoni, Arca Lion, Tepasana and Tirta Empul Pool.

According to papyrus of Usana Bali narrated that Tirta Empul is created by Bhatara Indra (Sun Deity) when bearing arms against the king where his palace is located in Bedahulu Countryside. He is known as a very miraculous king, which he can lose or show suddenly, therefore he is named by Mayadenawa.

Because of its miracle, he becomes the arrogance and expressing himself as a god. The Mayadenawa King owns the assistant (Patih) which is called Kalawong. They prohibit the people to do the Yadnya (praying to the god) so that is often happened the natural disaster, disease epidemic, agriculture fail and finally miserable life society.

Finally Betara Indra (one of Hindu God) gives battle against the kings that happened in Tampak Siring and then the Mayadenawa is gone to the wall and disappear. King Mayadenawa has also created poisonous pools which can the team of Bathara Indra die and faint after drinking this water.

Then Bathara Indra stick the weapon of Umbul-umbul and finally the water is emerging so that called by Tirta Empul and then it is passed to the dead and faint soldier that made them back to live.

Therefore at the moment this pool water is sanctified by the Hindu society in Bali and they believe that this water source can heal various of diseases, hence every day this place is a lot of visited by Hindu people to do the ritual and sanctify them self . This place has been opened for public and as a famous tourist destination in Bali.