TEMPLE TANKS-THE ANCIENT WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS AND THEIR MULTIFARIOUS ROLES

Temple tanks of south India are ancient water bodies that are integral components of temples. These tanks are a manifestation of a cultural sensitivity to water that is given a godly status within Hindu philosophy. Tanks are important for the sustainability of the environment and the economy of the village they serve. Temple tanks are the vital link in the water system and cater to the community scale of use, while the irrigation tanks cater to agriculture and the wells cater to domestic use. They harvest and store rainwater that is used for direct consumption through the year. However, their most important and often unnoticed function is providing percolation points with in the precincts of inhabitation of a town. Designed for recharging groundwater, they maintain the aquifer balance. The loss of this important environmental contribution is how being felt with urban tanks going dry. Temple tanks cater to various cultural, ritual, community and utilitarian functions. The connected temple tank of Chandrachoodeshwarar temple of Hosur exemplify this system. This traditional system gives us clues on how to improve our unsustainable urban water management mechanisms