The Significance of the Konark Wheel Konark Wheel consists of 8 wider spokes and 8 inner spokes and it is 9 feet in diameter. The temple features 24 (12 pairs) wheels representing the wheels of Lord Surya's sun chariot. The 12 wheels signify the 12 months of the year and the 8 spokes represent the 8 prahars or time divisions of the day. According to legend, it is said that the Konark sundial was used to calculate the precise time of day based on the position of the sun.
The wheel was crafted with incredible precision, and its intricate design allowed sunlight to pass through it and cast shadows that could be used to determine the exact time. Besides that, the carvings on the wheels depict scenes from Hindu mythology, including images of gods and goddesses, animals, and humans. The wheel is also said to symbolize the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Astronomical Significance The Sundial at Konark Sun Temple has great astronomical significance. It is said that the temple's architects used their knowledge of astronomy to create the sundial, and its design is based on complex mathematical calculations that took into account the earth's rotation and the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. It can track the movement of the sun throughout the day and throughout the year. The wheel was designed to align with the sun's rays at different times of the year, indicating the changing seasons and the solstices. It is believed to have been used to calculate the precise time for various religious ceremonies and rituals. While you are visiting Konark Sun Temple, you can also visit other iconic spots in this coastal town. Take a stroll along the nearby Chandrabhaga Beach as you soak in the picturesque view. It is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. You can even catch a glimpse of the temple in the distance while you sunbathe on the beach. Another must-visit attraction in the area is the nearby Puri Jagannath Temple. This centuries-old temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and is considered one of the holiest sites in the Hindu religion. The architecture and intricate carvings on the temple's walls will certainly leave you in awe. The Scientific Architecture of Konark The name Konark itself is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘kona’ and ‘ark’ which mean ‘angle’ and ‘the Sun’ respectively, and the temple is dedicated to Sun God Surya. The Spokes of Each Wheel Each structure in the Konark Sun Temple represents the passage of time. Each wheel here has 8 spokes, each representing a ‘prahar’ which is a 3-hour period, adding up to 24 hours (1 day). Seven Horses The temple is shaped in the form of a huge sun chariot. This chariot is drawn by 7 horses, which represent the seven days of a week. Depiction of Wealth and Power At the entrance of the Sun Temple, you can find two lions at either side of the entrance, that are seen crushing an elephant each. Beneath each elephant is a human being. Here, the lion represents power and the elephant portrays wealth. The whole statue symbolizes the major problems faced by man in his life — money and power. By looking at them, it becomes clear how both these vices can crush a human being. As per the Brahma Purana, Bhubaneshwar is designed as Ekamra Kshetra, a Hindu sacred city based upon the principles of Mandala are still evident. The temples of Ekamarakshetra have been built as per the principles of Silpa Sastras. The Konark Sun Temple is also an outstanding and unique proof of this. The Sun God Surya was worshiped at the centre of the Mandala. The position of the main temple and the Sun God have been aligned in such a way that the first ray of the sun from the coast would cross the Nata Mandir (Dancing Hall) and would fall and reflect from the diamond placed at the crown of the Sun God. According to legend, the statue of the Sun God inside the temple was built of a material with iron content and was believed to be floating in air, without any physical support, due to the unique arrangements of the top magnet, the bottom magnet and the reinforced magnets around the temple walls. The temple is a perfect example of magnetic vibrations and contains pure vibrations of magnetic and electric fields with positive energy. The main idol is placed in the center of the temple, known as Garbhagriha. It is believed that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the main idol. The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting the temple and walking around the main idol receives the magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life. In olden days, temples were built in such a way that the floor at the center of the temple acted as good conductors of these positive vibrations allowing them to pass through our feet to the body. Hence it is necessary to walk barefoot while entering the temple. It has always been a fact that the construction of temples is based on both art and science, on the basis of thousands of years of research and development. The knowledge and skills of the construction techniques were passed from generation to generation among the temple architects. Although the elements of Indian temples may differ across regions, the real motive was derived from a single philosophy of design. All small and large Hindu temples built since historic times have been following the same philosophy. The Ship shastra along with other general perspectives on Hindu architecture are still religiously followed for the construction of the sacred Hindu temples and The Sun Temple in Konark is not different. KR IRS 9923 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZorD8CSVEX9rtiPG3WxDUTe6xGdm7u6pUHGZ05U8sT6c_w%40mail.gmail.com.
