How can I not be a part of this thread when it talks about Belur where I have lived since birth till I graduated. Sorry guys if this is going to be too much of information but just makes me nostalgic about this wonderful place.
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Originally Posted by ArunV The pillar in the second pic is not plastered or fixed on the base. The pillar is 42 feet tall, made of single stone and standing on its own weight.
Info from guide at the temple. |
You are right and talk about the application of COG in objects then, the Pillar at the base has 4 Sides and gradually as you move up, it increases to 6, 8 and finally 16. One of the reasons that the pillar still stands erect without any support.
The Row of 400 elephants are unique against each other if looked in detail. At least, they will differ in the position of their legs, trunk, tail and the design ornaments over their body.
Inside the temple you have cleaner and more precise workmanship. The sculpted
Shilabaalikas have bangles which move through the hands and ear-rings that shake. Amazing work on stones, isn't it?
The Water tank being talked about had one of the best species of fishes untill one of the summers in the 90s when the bamboo lofts were dumped as a practice to make them stronger which later get used for the annual Rathotsava. The consignment of Bamboos were infected and in turn killed all the fishes making the water turn into slush completely.
When the tank was emptied to clean this mess, we could see millions of coins thrown into by devotees and also the design of the tank where the steps from all the 4 sides would converge (almost like an inverted pyramid) and again there was a well in the center from here which was 3-4 Ft in diameter running further deep.
Just to share this piece of info, construction of more than 2 floors (till 1st floor) is not allowed around 300 meters radius around to temple so that the visibility of the Gopura is not affected. This is one reason why you wouldn't find taller buildings surrounding the temple's complex. Belur is also now a World Heritage site and land acquisition surrounding the tenmple is in progress to convert this to one as per the standards.
Even today, there is every chance that whenever the ground is dug up for some reason, finding carved sculptures wont be a surprise. My house is exactly opposite to northen side wall of the temple and when BSNL dug up to lay underground cables once, accidentally my dad hit his leg to a small stone while walking over the debris and when it turned over, It was a 70% unfinished Ganesha Idol carved out of stone (can fit one's palm) which we still consider as lucky!!
Belur's Chennakeshava temple is also known as a
Jeevantha Devaalaya for the reason that even today every morning and evening there is a
mangalaarati as opposed to the Halebidu Temple. (I am not referring to the
mangalaarati offered whenever devotees stand by but a regular ritual everyday apart from it)
Halebidu was a victim of attacks by sultans of Delhi and this is the reason why the sculptures here are broken/damaged. Old timers say that the moment it was learnt that Halebidu was under attack, Belur temple was covered with sand completely and thus it remains in shape even today. (Note that there was no rectangular complex surrounding the temple when it was built). I still wonder what was the mode of communication and how soon was the temple covered.