Page 3 - Jan-Mar 2015

VOl. 12 No. 1

Read My Story...

Water tanks, wells, baolis, and stepwells in India not only form an integral part of water architecture but are also fascinating
in terms of the stories, myths and legends associated with them. From Gujarat to Odisha to Delhi to Tamil Nadu—these
captivating stories have been told and retold.

PANcHA TIRTHA OF PURI, ODISHA YAGANTI TEMPLE TANk, ANDHRA

Puri is famous for its five sacred PRADESH
tanks. The indradyumna Tank
is said to be the site at which The temple tank or Pushkarni
lord brahma helped King attached to the Yaganti Temple
indradyumna in completing in andhra Pradesh is a famous
the ashwamedha Yagya. The one. according to popular
swetaganga Tank is supposed legend, sage agastya bathed
to have been created from in this tank and worshipped
the nail of lord Vishnu. lord shiva. Following this
The Markandeya Tank is supposed to be at the site where popular legend, devotees who visit this temple site take a dip
god saved sage Markandeya. at this spot, Markandeya is in this holy tank and pay their respects to lord shiva.
supposed to have meditated for a very long time. The rohini
Kund is also an important religious site and is associated with HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN BAOLI, DELHI
miracles associated with lord brahma. The Mahodadhi or the
sea in Puri is also regarded as a sacred spot and ritual bathing The baoli adjacent to the dargah of hazrat Nizamuddin
is a common feature. auliya has an enchanting story. as the story goes, shaikh
Nizamuddin auliya was building this baoli at the same time
GOLDEN LOTUS as sultan ghiyasuddin Tughlaq was building his fortress
at Tughlaqabad. The sultan was angered on hearing that
TANk, MADURAI the masons who work for him during the day also work for
the sufi saint at night. Therefore, he cut off all sources of oil
The Potramarai Kulam is also supply to the city so that the masons could not work at night.
known as the golden lotus On hearing this, shaikh Nizamuddin auliya summoned his
Tank. according to hindu disciple shaikh Nasiruddin Chiraghi-Dehli who is supposed to
tradition, lord indra is supposed have used the water of the baoli to light lamps and complete
to have bathed in this tank in order to achieve spiritual its construction!!
purification. he is also supposed to have worshipped lord
shiva by plucking golden lotus flowers that grew in this tank.
MEDIEVAL KUNDS
AMRIT SAROvAR, GOLDEN TEMPLE, Cities of medieval India, especially in the Deccan
between 14 -17 centuries depended upon the
th
th
AMRITSAR rivers, streams,
wells, and tanks
as the story goes, guru amar popularly known
Das (the third guru of the sikhs) as Kunds. Kunds
found a rare medicinal herb on were filled by
the banks of this spring and he natural springs
used this medicinal herb to treat and were consi-
guru angad (the second sikh dered to be
guru) who was suffering from sacred.
an acute skin ailment. another story relates to a lady whose
husband was suffering from leprosy. One dip in the water of Illustration by: Kritika Alohia, VII-A, DAV Public
this sarovar is supposed to have cured him completely. School, Sector-14, Faridabad

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16