Tirta Empul Temple or Tampak Siring Temple is a holy spring water temple located in Tampak Siring Village, Gianyar regency & it is about 39 km eastwards from Denpasar town. It is set in the dale & 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 three km from Tirta Empul Temple. In this inscription, the Tirta Empul is named by the Tirta Ri Air Hampul & then the name has changed in to Tirta Hampul & 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.
The wellspring emerges from the land is believed that it is the boundless creation. According to the history, that, that this water source is arranged & sanctified by king Indrajayasinghawarmadewa in the year 882 Saka (960 M). They has given the name with Tirta ri air hampul. The information is loaded in the inscription that is located at Sakenan Temple. Besides of the above epigraphy information, in Tirta Empul Temple is also found the archaeology omission like Colossus Yoni, Arca Lion, Tepasana & 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. They is named a miraculous king, which they can lose or show suddenly, therefore they is named by Mayadenawa. Because of its miracle, they becomes the conceitedness & expressing himself as a god. The Mayadenawa King owns the assistant (Patih) which is called Kalawong. They forbid the people to do the Yadnya (praying to the god) so that is often happened the natural catastrophe, disease epidemic, agriculture fail & finally miserable life society. Finally Betara Indra of Hindu God) gives battle against the kings that happened in Tampak Siring & then the Mayadenawa is gone to the wall & disappear. King Mayadenawa has also created poisonous pools which can the team of Bathara Indra die & faint after drinking this water. Then Bathara Indra stick the weapon of Umbul-umbul & finally the water is emerging so that called by Tirta Empul & then it is passed to the dead & faint soldier that made them back to live. Therefore at the moment this pool water is sanctified by the Hindu society in Bali & they think 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 & sanctify them self . This place has been opened for public & as a famous tourist location in Bali.
Image source: balitourtravel, balinews9