Why do temples have tanks and step-wells? Know answer and see their pictures across India.

All through my India travels found temples to have a water-tank or step-well. Tanks found more in the South whilst step-wells in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Some of them are architectural wonders like Rani-Ki-Vav Patan, Gujarat.

In this piece, we share pictures of select water-tanks and step-wells across India and importantly explore why these were made and benefits.

Water represents one of the five Panch Mahabhoot or the Five elements of nature of which everything is made, the other four being Fire, Air, Space and Earth or Prithvi, Akash, Agni and  Vayu. The Prana is connected to be these five elements.

Also read Purifying the Five Elements of our being , The 5 Elements of Nature and their relationship with the human body 

In earlier times when water tanks etc. were well-maintained, devotees would take a dip in the tank before going for darshan. Highlight of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is that devotees can have a dip in the Holy Ganga and directly go for darshan to Kashi Vishwanath Mandir. Note that even today there are 22 stone wells inside the Rameshwaram Temple.

“In traditional societies water was sacred and, concurrently, rivers were deified. This has many implications for the protection and management of water supplies," says late Dr. R Nagaswamy, former Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India.” Source

Here is what Anuradha Goyal wrote in Hinduism Today, “Each temple in ancient India had at least one temple tank.  Skanda Purana, in its “Ayodhya Mahatmay,” describes a map of Ayodhya defined by a series of interconnected ponds, despite the city being located on the banks of a sarayu, a perennial river. In the South, the ancient temple town of Kanchipuram is full of tanks inside and outside the temples. In the heart of the city is Sarv Teertham Kulam, a huge tank surrounded by small temples on three sides.” 

Anuradha adds, “Anupam Mishra, a pioneer in rainwater harvesting and water conservation, is credited with reviving many traditional water conservation techniques. In his copyright-free book Ponds Are Still Relevant, he takes us through the ecosystem of water bodies in different parts of India. He talks about how people chose the right spot and time to build the pond and how they maintained it over years, involving each segment of the society that benefited from it. Every rooftop was connected to a water collection mechanism leading to individual wells in desert cities, including Jaisalmer, even though it has a wealth of 52 scenic ponds.”

Now coming to the practical aspects.

The Kund or water-tanks were used to store water i.e. also required for temple rituals. Water thus stored, increased the ground water level and replenished community water supplies. In water-deficient places like Rajasthan and Gujarat, step-wells had an actual well for e.g. in Rani-ki-vav depth of well is 100 feet.

According to this article on Art of Living site, “Every temple had one or more natural spring-based water tanks attached to it called pushkarni for harnessing water. Pushkaram means to make fertile. Other than helping people cleanse themselves before congregating, these tanks were harbingers of fertility to the land as they helped increase the water table in the village.”

In case you know of any more reasons email me and shall incorporate.

Temple tanks are called in Tamil Nadu- Theerthem or Teppakkulam or Kalyani, in Kerala- Kshetrakkulam or Ambalakkulam, Karnataka- Kalyani or Pushkarani, Andhra & Telangana- Theertham or Sarovaram. In Gujarat and Rajasthan it is called Vav, Baori etc. In the Braj region are number of kunds, most of them in disuse. Braj Foundation has undertaken the job of restoring kunds in the region. In Goa water tank is called Tali. To see pictures of temple tank in Shantidurga Temple Album, Goa 

Today there are virtually no ancient temples in North India, hence most of the pictures that you see are from west and south India.

We now present pictures of water-tanks/step-wells across India. Below that are links to various albums and articles/TED talk.

Anuradha Goyal wrote in Hinduism Today, “It is time India realizes its sacred relationship with water, revives and re-establishes it, values it, cherishes it, and lives with abundant water, just like our ancestors did.”

P K Narayanan has contributed to this article.

Also see albums of step-wells across India

1. Chand Baori Jaipur     

2. Hampi Water system, Karnataka

3. Baoris Bundi, Rajasthan

4. Rani-ka-vav Patan, Gujarat 

5. Adalaj-vav Amdavad, Gujarat

6. Kannur, Kerala

7. Panna Meena-ka-kund Jaipur

8. Step-well Penukonda Fort, Andhra Pradesh

9. Water tank or Kalyani at Melukote, Karnataka  

Also read

1. Rise and Fall of Traditional Forms of Water Harvesting in India

2. Eris, a system of cascading tanks

3. How ancient India preserved the heritage of water resources – Good read. 

4. India’s profound kinship with water

5. TED talk by Anupam Mishra – the ingenuity of water harvesting 18 minutes VG.

6. Naul and Dhar – A Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas

7. Traditional Forms of Water Harvesting and applicability