Abstract
Tirtha amerta,
or the water of life, is a natural element that is inseparable from the existence of sacred temples from the Hindu-Buddhist period. It is not uncommon to find certain symbols related to water in Hindu-Buddhist temples. Such as a symbol is the
jaladwara
, which typically functions as a rainwater drainage channel in temple structures and bathing pools. This includes several temples within the Prambanan temple complex, such as Prambanan Temple, Bubrah Temple, and Sewu Temple. The presence of
jaladwara
in the Prambanan temple complex underscores that water—or
tirtha amerta—
played a vital role in the social structure of classical-era society. The discovery of
jaladwara
and the importance of water in the Prambanan Temple complex form the basis for research on the implementation of hydrological knowledge within it. To reconstruct water management practices of the past, this study employs historical archaeological methods specifically landscape archaeology while incorporating a hydrological approach. This study is expected to represent a novel contribution amid the prevailing trend in previous temple architecture research, which has been dominated by purely archaeological studies. Consequently, it will shed light on how local knowledge regarding irrigation was implemented in ancient architecture from a new perspective— specifically regarding the hydrological management, form, and function of the
jaladwara
.