Rajendra Kerkar.
Netravali, a village of Sanguem taluka in South Goa is nestled amidst the Western Ghats mountains at the remotest corner of state has the ancient temple of Gopinath with a sacred tank called Budbudyachi tali, considered to be one of the wonders of nature.
This temple tank is the result of efforts made by the sons of soil over centuries with a beautifully carved sculpture which is now at state museum in Patto indicates that temple with old sculpture of Gopinath and sacred tank was built by the rulers in association with the agriculturists.
Budbudyachi tali, is a wonderful tank since clapping with hands oozes out bubbles and this is responsible for giving it name Budbudyachi tali.
The old idol of Gopinath was a master piece of the Goan sculpture. The old Gopinath idol reveals the Hoyasala architecture style of 12-13 centuries. This tank was built before the temple. Gopinath with a herd of cow represents deity of postural communities. Gopinath temple was built to accord protection to the tank and for better management and utilisation of tank water resources. As the tank was on the ways of Ghats going to Karnataka and Canacona the tank water was quenching the thirst of people.
This tank is known for its uniqueness and hence people call it Budbudyachi tali. This wonder of nature is main source of attraction not only for devotees but also for tourist coming to hinterland of Goa.
It is not easy to tell the reason behind the wonder of nature but most probably lime present in the bed might be reacting with acidic water and Carbon Dioxide gas is evolving out. So when someone claps bubbles comes out in a row.
Though, the temple is dedicated to Gopinath a form of lord Krishna, it is well known for the annual celebration of Mahashivratri. One can see a unique combination of Shaivite and Vaishnavite philosophical traditions. A large crowd flocks to take holy dip inside Budbudyachi tali. Once, this tank was a source of drinking water as well as providing irrigation facilities to horticulture fields which are lying in the vicinity.
Today, the sanctum sanctuary of the temple of Gopinath has the new sculpture. However, the old sculpture taken by Goa State Museum is one of the beautiful specimens of pre-Portuguese archaeological heritage. This stone sculpture has lord Shri Krishna in the company of cattle.
People regarded traditionally such types of tanks as a community asset and maintained them properly. The bed of sacred tank was generally desilted during the dry months by the villagers. The silt was taken and dumped near the fields to be spread as manure at the beginning of the agricultural reason. Water of tank is distributed to the horticulturists. Farmers would keep the irrigation channels clear of weeds and silt.
The society living in the vicinity of Budbudyachi tali had a series of folk beliefs which emphasise the value of water and accord sanctity to its use. Water harvesting, distribution and its use were regulated by the community. It is strongly believed by the villagers that the water is supposed to keep everyone’s life full of light and joy and hence to protect the sacredness of this water, a tank was built with the laterite stones. Earlier, devotees used to take holy bath only during Mahashivratri but now a day’s tourists are taking bath in the tank and thereby polluting potable water with the soap and detergent.
Budbudyachi tali, is the example of wisdom possessed by our ancestors to harvest rainwater and conserve it for using the same for drinking and domestic purposes along with catering needs of irrigation. The new cement, concrete temples structure nearby to the sacred tank, using it for bathing and swimming purposes and negligence to desilt annually have resulted in posing threat to the sacredness and taste of the potable water. This wonder of nature is needed to be protected for posterity.
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