Integrating Science and Spirituality to understand the Cultural and Limnological Importance of Selected Temple Ponds of Karnataka

Temple ponds are integrated water storage structure found inside and outside the temple. In the view of traditional and cultural aspect, temple ponds are the auspicious place of worship from the Puranas, Vedic era to till date. The temple ponds are not a simple construction, it has been the source of divinity, purity, beliefs, holiness and sacredness of our rich cultural heritage. Usually, temple ponds constructed for various purposes like rain water harvesting, control the surface runoff, water shed management, act as a Sanjeevini during drought etc., Some of the ponds are the birth place of many prominent rivers and became the life line for particular region. Certain ponds are having capability to cure the various kinds of skin diseases, inflammation etc., even can cure mental illness and depression. Karnataka hides such a mysterious places in its womb. In those such ponds, the present investigation carried out on physico-chemical parameters, biological parameters and Medicinal properties of the water in selected ponds. The five ponds which were selected for the study are having their history and own Mythology. Selected ponds like ‘Ambu Tirta’- origin of River ‘Sharavathi’, ‘Shankara Honda’- origin of River ‘Aghanashini’. The ‘Shreedhara Tirta’, Miracle Pond- ‘Guli Guli Shankara’, ‘Varada Moola’ have evident to be having medicinal value in it. The study elucidated that the presence of trace amount of minerals like Ca, Mg, Si, Ag, Cu, Zn etc., along with the organisms like diatoms, cyanobacteria, algae etc., are providing more potential to the study of medicinal value of water. Scientific study proved that cyanobacteria contain phytochemicals and act as a bio remedial source for curing diseases. Above factors incorporates the medicinal properties into the water and has been curing the multi disorders.