Temple Astronomy 4
This part is a continuation of the Temple Astronomy series. Temple Astronomy 1 Temple Astronomy 2 Temple Astronomy 3
Beneath the bustling streets of Bengaluru, a monolithic secret waits in the
dark. For centuries, pilgrims have gathered on January 14th to watch the sun’s
rays pierce the shadows—but what if they’ve been looking at the incomplete miracle?
Gavi Gaṅgādhareśvara Temple
This temple is located in Bengaluru city. In fact, its location is in Gavipura village, which has now merged with the city. It is a cave temple. Gavi means cave, hence the village name Gavipura. The temple is built out of Monolithic rock and is an architectural wonder. The temple is a Shiva temple and is presumed to have been built during the Vedic period and later renovated by Kempe Gowda I in the 14th century.
The temple is known for a yearly event called ‘Surya Majjana’ on 14 Jan, Makar Sankranti.
It is a Shiva temple; the deity is called Gandhareshwar.
Pic 1
Astronomical and Architectural Peculiarities
During the sunset on January 14th, Makar Sankranti day, the sun’s rays enter through the arch windows, then through the Nandi bull's horns and shine on the idol inside the cave.
The courtyard of the temple has four large pillars, two of them supporting large granite discs. The discs are identical in size and are parallel to each other, with cross-hairs-like engravings. Quite a remarkable feat of architecture and alignment. There is a characteristic bronze pillar as ध्वजस्तम्भ. Seems to be a later addition during renovation.
Why should the Sun shine on the deity only once a year on 14 Jan?
Dr S Shylaja, along with P. Jayanth Vyasanakere and K. Sudeesh, who carried out an actual observation of the phenomena, opined that, with the annual and diurnal motion of the Sun, there should be two occasions in a year when the Sun will have the same values of altitude and azimuth, for a given latitude. Hence, the same values should be observable during 30 Nov to 02 Dec also!
They observed that the Sun shines on the deity from 30 Nov to 02 Dec as well.
See the figure explaining the diurnal and annual motion of the Sun.
The team conducted an on-site observation of the phenomenon and studied historical documents. They wanted to ascertain the purpose of the two discs and other architectural elements. Two paintings by the Daniell brothers were studied. The paintings are dated 1792 CE.
When compared with the present day, a lot of changes have been made to the original structure. The compound wall and window, the Nandi bull, and the bronze pillarध्वजस्तम्भ are not seen in the paintings. See Pic 1 above
The team found that
1. The sun shines on the idol from 13th to 15th January and from 30th November to 02nd December. A fact not commonly known.
2. The shadow of the
western disc nearly touches the Eastern disc during the summer solstice.
Pic 2
3. The shadow of the bronze
pillar coincides with the vertical marking on the disc (see pic 2) on the summer
solstice.
4. The shadow of one disc does not cover or touch the other disc during the equinox. That means the discs are not aligned with the cardinal points, but are aligned with the Summer and winter solstices.
5. Historical analysis of 1792 paintings by the Daniell brothers also suggests the original temple was intended to mark the winter solstice.
6. The discs marked Sunrise of Winter Solstice and Sunset of Summer Solstice. This shows that the discs were clearly the solstice markers.
7. Their extensive research and observations concluded that the Sun’s rays were intended to illuminate the deity during the winter solstice, not on 14 January.
8. The later renovation (addition of mandapam, arch windows, Nandi bull and bronze pillar ध्वजस्तम्भ) modified the passage of the sun’s rays to coincide with 14 January. A remarkable feat of architecture
It is a common belief that मकर संक्रांती and उत्तरायण are the same. It is not so उत्तरायण starts in the winter Solstice. मकर संक्रांती is on 14th January and the Winter Solstice on 22nd December.
This modification may have been carried out to coincide with the Solar calendars, which were in vogue during that time.
It is a unique architecture which encompasses all phenomena in one place.
Marking days of the Solstice for calendar makers
Sunrise of the Winter Solstice
Sunset of Summer Solstice
Makar (Capricon) and Karka (Cancer) sankraman
Unanswered Questions
The main deity is in a
cave. The antiquity of the temple appears earlier than the 14th century.
The temple was made
as a Solstice marker. Did it act as an astronomical observatory?
Was it an instrument for accounting for the calculation of the length of the year?
Why are the discs called Surya and Chandra panna, when they are not connected with the Sun or the Moon? Maybe a folklore-generated legend.
Trivia
There are stone
arrangements in Hanamsagar near Gulbarga, which are solstice markers and can be seen even today.
Chariot of the Dying Sun Temple, in Mpumalanga,
South Africa, near Suikerboschfontein hiking trail. The chariot wheels are
Solstice markers. It is believed that the names of various rituals and events are of
Kannada origin, which are still relevant and in use today
The cave temple at
Shravaṇabelagola, located on Chandragiri Hill in Hassan district,
Karnataka, is oriented to the winter Solstice.
Udayagiri near Vidisha, MP has about 16 rock-cut caves with Vishnu idols in various poses. Anantshayan, a sleeping posture of Vishnu’s feet, is illuminated during the Sumer Solstice,
indicating the caves were also Solstice markers.
See video
Note: All research papers are accessible online; two are designated as documents 1 and 2. Interested individuals can read the complete reports. Excerpts from the mentioned research papers are used with permission from Dr BS Shylaja.
.........more miracles coming up
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References
- Two solstices, a temple and a painting by P.Jayanth Vyasanakere, K. Sudeesh, and B.S.Shylaja.https://bhavana.org.in/two-solstices-a-temple-and-a-painting/
- Astronomical aspects associated with temples by Dr BS Shylaja
- Ancient Indian Religious Astronomy in the Stone Ruins of Komatiland, South Africa by Cyril A Hromnik
- The Archaeology of Hindu Ritual – Temples and the Establishment of the Gods by Michael Willies
- Udayagiri: Sacred Hill, its Art, Architecture and Landscape by Mera Dass
- Technology of Hindu Temples by Dr Uday Dokras.
- The Hindu Temple, Stella Krimisch
Amazing knowledge and skill of that period which we are still struggling to decipher. Petty politicians and self serving bureaucrats / administration are least interested in deciphering and propagating thousands of such marvels in India. Thanks for sharing .
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