The Wheels of Konark Sun Temple, Odisha.
The most attractive architectural significance of Sun Temple, Konark is it looks like a moving Chariot that contains 24 wheels. Each of the 12 pairs of wheels has eight spokes with a central medallion and protruding central axle,
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The most attractive architectural significance of Sun Temple, Konark is it looks like a moving Chariot that contains 24 wheels. Each of the 12 pairs of wheels has eight spokes with a central medallion and protruding central axle,
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often with an axle pin still depicted.
The medallions on the wheel spokes are carved with manifold deities, erotic and amorous figures in various poses.
Similar medallions occur on the face of most of the axles, with images such as Krishna playing on a flute amidst cowherds,
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The medallions on the wheel spokes are carved with manifold deities, erotic and amorous figures in various poses.
Similar medallions occur on the face of most of the axles, with images such as Krishna playing on a flute amidst cowherds,
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people seeking mercy, and a king seated on an elephant facing a group etc.
The preservation of the intricate carvings on the temple platform and wheels is partly due to them having all been buried under sand brought in by the coastal winds over the centuries.
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The preservation of the intricate carvings on the temple platform and wheels is partly due to them having all been buried under sand brought in by the coastal winds over the centuries.
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It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the platform and the famous chariot wheels were ‘rediscovered’ during archaeological excavations.
There are a lot of theories regarding the significance of the frequency of chariot wheels, elements within the wheels, and of the
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There are a lot of theories regarding the significance of the frequency of chariot wheels, elements within the wheels, and of the
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stone horses pulling the chariot.
According to some guides, the 7 horses represent the days of the week and the 12 pairs of wheels represent the 12 months of the year. The 24 wheels signifies 24 hours of a day, and the 8 major spokes signifies three hour periods of a day.
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According to some guides, the 7 horses represent the days of the week and the 12 pairs of wheels represent the 12 months of the year. The 24 wheels signifies 24 hours of a day, and the 8 major spokes signifies three hour periods of a day.
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In other hands the wheels of the chariot have been interpreted as the ‘Wheel of Life’, and portray the cycle of creation. Another theory is that the 12 pairs of wheels may also represent the 12 signs of the zodiac.
Again these wheels acted as sundials.
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Again these wheels acted as sundials.
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The wheels each have 8 wider spokes and 8 thinner spokes. The distance between two wider spokes represents 3 hours, the thinner spoke between two wider spokes is represents 1.5 hours. There are 30 carved beads between one wider spoke to the next thinner spoke,
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so each bead represents 3 minutes. The sun dial would show the time in an anti-clockwise direction, with the top center wider spoke representing midnight.
For this sun dial theory to be true, one needs to have a stick placed right in the middle of the center of the
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For this sun dial theory to be true, one needs to have a stick placed right in the middle of the center of the
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wheel ‘hub’, and observe where the shadow falls on the wheel rim. None of the wheels have any hole at the center where a stick could have been fitted, and neither do any of them show signs of unexpected wear at the center, so I remain unconvinced by this.
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Any circular carving on the facade of a south-facing wall could act as a sundial.
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