This paper discusses the water management systems found in temples in coastal Konkan, based on a study of 5 temples in the district of Ratnagiri. The study area is a rocky and rugged country, with elevated plateau and intersecting creeks.

The temples studied are:

• Someshwar temple at  Someshwar,
• Bhairavdev temple at Ratnagiri,
• Kanakaditya temple at Kasheli,
• Ganesh temple at Shirgaon and,
• Rameshwar temple at Kalbadevi.

Construction details of the tanks in these temples are provided. Except for the Rameshwar temple which is octagonal in shape, all other tanks are rectangular and all have stairs to the water. Interspersed between stairs at intervals are platforms going down to the water. In the case of the Kanakaditya temple at Kasheli, there are two circular wells. The tank at Rameshwar also is not partitioned like in the case of the other temple tanks mentioned.

The author discusses the links between temples and water tanks. Since purification is part of Hindu rituals, therefore the need for a water tank in close proximity to the temple. The partition in the tanks could be for different castes, or to differentiate between animal and human use.

In conclusion, the author states that there is need for further study of the water management systems in the region.

This paper was presented at the National Seminar on Water and Culture organised by Kannada University and Sahayoga in 2007.

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