KAMAŅDALU WATER CONTAINER

The kamaņḍalu is a bronze container for holy water. It's egg shaped body has a pseudo spout, in the form of a naga (dragon), which is not used for pouring it's contents, while the long, multi tiered neck at the top, is designed to fulfill this function. This neck has many embellishments and represents Meru Mountain which, in the Hindu religion, is considered holy and the domain of the gods. In Javanese mythology, the kamaņḍalu is often associated with the story of Garudeya, in which the Garuda, a mythological bird, succeeds in retrieving ameŗţa (holy water) which had been taken by the Naga. The story of Garudeya is displayed in the reliefs of the Kidal Temple in East Java.