Secrets Of Konark Temple
Anyone who has taken a first look at the Konark Sun Temple, taking a look at the rest of it, must have thought that it is a completely rebuilt temple, the artisans who built it would be the Kon who made this magnificent building. Beautiful chariot chariots and intricately cut chariot wheels, shiny-looking ponies, and snow rock corners. It is believed that the real significance of this Sun temple was discovered when the time was traced using one of the stone wheels of the chariot.
It is a fact that you can track time using the cut wheels found in the Konark temple, and that too with a moment’s accuracy! Before going into the subtleties of this mystery, let us take a look at the structural subtleties of this temple.
What was the reason for naming Konark temple?
The name Konark is derived from two Sanskrit words Kona and Arka which mean point and sun. As an article by Dr. Avantika Lal suggests, the original deity was the Sun God, and the temple was contained in a precise configuration. According to many sacred texts of Hinduism, the Sun God ‘Surya’ is usually depicted as a deity who rides on a magnificent chariot pulled by 7 ponies. Overall the question is, how did the Sun Temple of Konark develop? Dated to the end of the thirteenth century, the Konark temple is an unmatched specimen of Kalinga-style engineering.
There are seven extraordinarily well-equipped horses cut out of stone that pull the wonderful chariot of Goliath wheels unexpectedly cut on two sides. As researched by archaeologists, it is only a small piece of the entire temple complex. Researchers who know about the Konark temple accept that 7 horses 7 days a week and 24 wheels are addressed as 24 fortnights or 24 ‘paksha’ in a year. (The Hindu schedule uses the Sanskrit word “paksha”, meaning a part of the lunar month, somewhere in the range of 14 and 15 sunlight-based days.)Clearly, it can be said that Konark Sun Temple addresses the progress of time through its engineering
Old Clock At Konark
Using the shadow of the sun to measure the accuracy of time is not a new thing. Hundreds of years ago, even before Christ, the Egyptians and Babylonians used solariums. Additionally, the world’s largest sundial known as the mid-eighteenth century working clock can be found at Jantar Mantar Jaipur in India.
It is therefore not surprising that the construction of the Konark temple during the thirteenth century can measure the time. The shocking truth about Konark’s Sun Temple does not end here. Countless fascinating things are hidden behind its immaculate design. Before we go there, let’s see how to find time using the cut, stone wheels of the Konark Sun Temple.
Tracking Time with the Wheels of the Konark Chariot
Each of the 24 wheels of the Konark temple has 8 important spokes and 8 minor sticks. Vital spokes are thicker, more intricately cut, and much wider than other spokes.
We know that the Sun moves from east to west, yet for the sake of ease let’s assume that the Sun moves from right to left concerning this image. So when the sun rises in the first part of the day, the sun will be on the right and cast a shadow on the spot designated as 06.
As the sun moves from east to west and comes to the top in the early afternoon, the sun casts 12 shadows as distinct. Before nightfall, when the sun is about to set, the shadow will be 18 in that place. The wheel shows just like a clock, with the only difference being that the hour hand goes in the ‘Counter Clock’ heading!
Precision to the Minute
In case you’re wondering, this is actually a particularly incredible design that shows the time by using shadows on one side. The most surprising thing is that what we see at 6 in the morning, then the complete opposite side is visible at 6 in the evening. In fact, it gets more perplexing than that!
The wheel of this is divided into 8 sections using key spokes indicating time 3, 6, 9, etc. This means that each part addresses the current parity for 3 hours. These 8 sections are again divided into equal parts to make a 1.5-hour segment. If you look carefully, you’ll discover dubs, one of the many finer subtleties cut on wheels.
There are 30 globules between each major and minor spoke, meaning that 1.5 hours (90 minutes) are additionally divided into 30 segments. So each segment addresses 3 minutes. At that point when you look more carefully, you can see that the dabs are not rounded, but somewhat longer along the edges. This figure makes 3 regions. The shadow may fall on or on either side of the focal point of the globules. This notation helps us to further divide the 3-minute dubs into one minute! Thus we can calculate the time accurately!
Does it actually work?
The importance of this temple was not understood for a long time. And because of the destruction of the intruders and the British, one can doubt whether it still shows the exact time. Yes, it still tells the correct time! You will see many local field experts using a pen or a long stick to see how the time is set. You need to place a thin object like a stick at the center point of the wheel’s center. Till then the shadow of this thin object will fall on the outer edge to show the time.
In any case, what happens at Night?
If you’re thinking about what would happen if the wheel was completely covered by shadow while the sun went from one side to the opposite, know that there are 2 solariums. One reads the clock properly which are situated on the east and west side of the temple.
About a century ago, everyone thought the Konark temple was a beautiful temple and each of its 24 wheels were exquisite structural pieces and that’s it. As indicated by a legend, when someone using the Konark wheel tracked down an old spiritualist computing time, the world began to wonder about the lurking mystery of Konark’s remains.
Till now the world has understood the usefulness of only two wheels. Exactly the reason for the different wheels remains a mystery. Anyway, some people believe that when night falls, some of the wheels deal with the movement of the moon and keep reading the clock even in the evening! This could be valid.
Surprise is in the Konark
We know that the day is divided into 8 sections using 8 important spokes. These parts are known as ‘prayers’. A closer look at the carvings on the emblems on these matchsticks will see different postures of a woman, and the actions depicted depend on the timing.
You will find him expanding after a good night’s rest. Doing her hair and looking in the mirror to prepare for the afternoon. Managing family belongings, dealing with workers. Preparing for bed, hanging out with her partner, etc., all depend on timing! So in addition to giving an exact time. The carvings on wheels give us a distinctive relief to the daily lives of individuals during that time.
These carvings on the spokes are opposite from one wheel to another. We do not yet understand the importance of all etchings. There are also carvings containing leaves, birds, and animals. A portion of the cut plants on these stones are visible during specific seasons. Part of the mating of organisms occurs only during certain seasons. So this load of subtleties reveals to us a certain thing. All this has a secret significance.
Winter and summer are caused by the position of the Sun and the distance from the Earth. Consider the possibility that those advancements have also been made on the carving of these wheels. The other 22 secret wheels give information about the seasons, the behavior of beings. It accurately describes the fleeting bird, the product of the seasons.
The secret of Kona Arka
Earth rotates at its center. and revolves around the Sun. The Sun continues to move at its center in the same way. So creating a perfect solarium requires a cosmic measurement of information in astronomy.
Since we can accurately expect every day of the year. Maybe the sun’s rays are falling at a specific point in a specific place. We can also accept that it is possible to find and stamp those points at a specific place by understanding the directions of that place and many other things.
The old masters unraveled every one of those ‘heavenly’ subtleties and consolidated his insights into the way of life of the earth. The life of flora and fauna was understood from different things. And used that information to create these wonderful structural components of the temple and mix them with beautiful craftsmanship. From this temple, we can understand the ideas of seasons, nature, lifestyle, culture, and even those old occasions.
Conclusion
Sun was worshiped in the Konark temple. The port of Konark was closed due to the attacks. Known for his love of the sun, Konark coordinated with his notoriety in business practices. It was lost in the thickly wooded plains for a long time. It was a ruin before the reconstruction. To some degree, the sanctuary was re-established. It was recognized as a “Konark Sun Temple UNESCO World Heritage Site” in 1984. It is the most popular tourist destination in Orissa. The best depiction of craftsmanship, seen in the form of its fine latticework and scrollwork. Like the amazing and normal cut of creatures and human figures. You can visit Konark Temple and experience some of the best structures here.
A popular theory is that the temple was destroyed by Kalapahad. Kalapahar was the surname given to Sultan Suleiman Karani, the governor of Bengal. He is said to have destroyed many other Hindu temples in Orissa along with Konark Surya.