Kotitirtha Tank

It is believed that the tank is a sacred bathing place for cleansing a person's sins. It is used by the locals for various ritual practices and offerings such as Pinda. "The temple tank is one of the Panchatirthas, the other four being Ganga-Yamuna Kunda, Bindu Sagar, Devi Padahara, and Papanasini. The deity in the adjoining temple on the western embankment is named "Kotitirthesvara" after the sacred tank Kotitirtha".{{cite web |title=Kotitirtha Tank |url=https://www.guroute.com/Tours/Index/48642#box=DetailsBox:id=poi_129974 |website=GuRoute |accessdate=6 October 2020}}

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The public temple is owned by multiple persons, maintained by the Kotitirthesvara Thakura Development Committee, and is located on Kotithirthesvara lane, Oldtown, Bhubaneswar.

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The precise age is not known and the approximate age could not be ascertained. However, the tank may be older than the temple assigned to the 11th century AD.

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i) Precinct/ Building/ Structure/Landscape/Site/Tank: Tank

ii) Subtype: Spring

iii) Typology: Embankments

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i) Abandoned/ in use: In-use

ii) Present use: Ritual as well as normal bathing

iii) Past use: Could not be ascertained

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i) Historical significance: Somavamsi 260

ii) Cultural significance: —

Sivaratri, Jalasayii, Kartika Purnima, Sankranti are observed. The tank is considered sacred as one of the Panchatheertha, the other four being Ganga-Yamuna Kunda, Bindu Sagar, Devi Padahara, and Papanasini. Pinda is also offered.

iv) Associational significance: Kotitirthesvara Thakura Development Committee.

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i) Surroundings: The tank has embankments on all four sides. The temples of Kotitirthesvara and Visvanatha stand on the western embankment. On the southern embankment, through a channel in a southern wall, the excess water of the spring and wastewater is discharged into the Lingaraja Temple West Canal, as a result, the water level of the tank remains constant throughout the year. The northeastern corner has a clubhouse, whereas, the northwestern corner houses a recently built Siva temple that partly encroaches on the ancient tank.

ii) Orientation: Bathing ghats are provided with steps in the western embankment.

iii) Architectural features: Rectangular on plan measuring 19.75 meters length, 9.75 meters breadth and 1.56 meters depth

vi) Building material: Dressed in the Laterite blocks

vii) Construction techniques: Dry masonry

ix) Special features: It is fed by an underground natural spring. The water is fresh and clean, and used for ritual bathing as well as a community bath by the locality.

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i) Good/Fair/ Showing Signs of Deterioration/Advanced: Good

ii) State of Decay/Danger of Disappearance: Is not in any sort of decaying condition.

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i) Signs of distress: Growth of vegetation in the embankments.

ii) Structural problems: It has to be refurbished.

iii) Repairs and Maintenance: Looked after, with repairs and maintenance made annually by the authority.

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i) Architecture: B

ii) Historical: B

iii) Associational: A

iv) Social/Cultural: A

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Conservation Problem and Remedies: The ancient tank needs renovation to clear the sludge, accumulation of silt, and clay.

{{Reflist}}

Lesser-Known Monuments of Bhubaneswar by Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan ({{ISBN|81-7375-164-1}}) 03 / 08 / 2006

Category:Hindu temples in Bhubaneswar

Category:Temple tanks in Odisha

Category:Temple tanks in India