Spiritual reawakening : the sacred revival of water
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2019Citation:
Padmanabhan, M. (2019). Spiritual reawakening: The sacred revival of water (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional)). Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10652/4627Permanent link to Research Bank record:
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/4627Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION:
How can a temple contribute to the cleanliness of the water in Bellandur Lake in India, create awareness around water issues and educate the public about water purification and its significance in the local context?
ABSTRACT:
Bangalore, a city that is constantly facing economic growth and development at a fast pace, is currently facing a water crisis that is growing at an equally fast rate. The city’s natural groundwater levels are depleting, however, these resources are not being replenished at the same rate as they are being extracted. Meanwhile other potential sources of water such as lakes are heavily polluted to the point where they are unsafe to come into contact with.One such lake – Bellandur lake – is the study area in this project. Due to the amount of toxic wastes and sewage content in the lake, the lake water caught fire, spreading hazardous fumes into the atmosphere. These chemicals have also resulted in a toxic foam that has infiltrated the streets in the Bellandur suburb as well as into the limited groundwater resources. This has created a negative attitude towards water bodies in the city wherein people do not go near them. Since these water bodies have been neglected, they are viewed as waste disposal pits. The aim of this project is to change this attitude and revive the connection between people and water.
With the water shortage crisis in the city and the polluted state of existing water resources, it is critical that these water bodies be cared for to provide water in the near future. One of the most influential factors in Indian culture is religion. The Indian society has been shaped over centuries of religious beliefs. Among many, Hinduism accounts for the majority of the population, specifically in Bangalore. With water being the foundation of purity in the religion, an intervention that combines the spiritual aspect of water through Hinduism with the science of purification to create awareness around the importance of water conservation could bring about a shift in attitude towards water bodies in the city, and encourage recycling and reusing water.