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Home > Temples of Kerala >Well, Kokkarani and Tank Well, Kokkarani and TankAs stated earlier, a well is a must in a temple ie, for the exclusive purpose of drawing water for temple rites. Its position is at the north-east, at Kumbham or Meenam raasi, either within the akatthe-balivattam or at the chuttambalam. However it has to be ensured that any part of well should not lie at corners. Its shape is round but the parapets may be either round or semi-circular in shape with facilities to draw water. In rare cases two wells are seen one at north -east of akatthe-balivattam and one at north-west or even at south-west. In all these cases they should not be on the corners. Further the well at the south-west at Kanni-raasii is considered sacred and its water has to be exclusively used for abhisheka or inside garbha-grha or for preparation of nivedya. In some temples instead of well, kokkarani (a small rectangular or apsidal tank with number of flight - steps) is seen either at north or north-east of baahya-haara and not in akatthe-balivattam. In some cases the kokkarani is located outside the maryaada. In almost all cases, these wells or kokkaranis are found to be perennial. Besides, there will be tanks in the temple. The minimum perimeter of the well and the tank are fixed as 3 koles and 91 koles respectively. The size of kokkarani is not fixed but has to exceed 3 koles.
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