Available Online at http://www.recentscientific.com International Journal of CODEN: IJRSFP (USA) Recent Scientific
International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Research Vol. 12, Issue, 01 (D), pp. 40690-40692, January, 2021 ISSN: 0976-3031 DOI: 10.24327/IJRSR Research Article
THE KONARK SUN TEMPLE: MATHEMATICS BEHIND THE ARCHITECTURE OF AN ASTRONOMICAL WONDER
Garima Yadav
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2021.1201.5744
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
The Konark Sun Temple is an astronomical wonder which leaves a great impact on its visitors. Built Article History: in 1250 AD, not much remains of this marvelous structure but the remaining portion is a stunning th Received 13 October, 2020 example of the mathematics used in ancient Indian architecture. This paper focuses on the th Received in revised form 11 underlying mathematical concepts used in the construction of this massive structure, such as the November, 2020 golden ratio, geometry, symmetry et cetera, and presents a normative critique of the same. th Accepted 8 December, 2020 th Published online 28 January, 2021
Key Words:
The Konark Sun Temple, The golden ratio, Fibonacci Sequence, Mathematics in Architecture
Copyright © Garima Yadav, 2021, this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.
INTRODUCTION over a span of 12 years and with the help of 12,000 artisans. Numerous texts prove that this temple was an active place of Mathematics forges the foundation of buildings. Each building worship until the mid-sixteenth century. Be that as it may, this we spend time in, be it school, library, houses or any marvelous structure wasn’t able to elude the damage and architectural wonder for that matter, is a mathematical wonder destruction caused with the passage of time. It is not clear as to in which the mathematical principles have been applied to its what caused its large-scale devastation to the degree that the design and construction. main temple was totally destroyed. A few historians believe
Architects use mathematics for several reasons; to express the that the temple was destroyed due to natural disasters and plan on paper that can then be used to construct that model in causes whereas others imply that it was intentionally destroyed real life, to analyse structural problems and formulate solutions by Muslim invaders, primarily Kalapahad who was the general assuring the steadiness of a structure, to define the spatial form of Gour Sultanate. Anyhow, the temple suffered heavy damage of a building, to construct designs which are aesthetically between 1556 and 1800. appealing to the eyes, to build beautiful or harmonious The remaining portion of the temple was partially restored by structures, and to meet the environment goals like minimizing the archeological groups of the British-era. The Konark Sun air currents et cetera. Temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
In this paper, we will discuss the mathematics behind the The Konark Sun Temple Architecture architecture of the Konark Sun Temple, focusing primarily on the Golden Ratio, directions and bearings, geometry, and The Konark Sun Temple shows the conventional Odisha style symmetry. of architecture, also known as Kalinga architecture, on a grand scale. The temple is in the form of a massive chariot mounted The Konark Sun Temple on 12 sets of intricately carved enormous stone wheels that are
The Konark Sun Temple dates back to 1250 AD. King drawn by seven strong stone horses. The temple is built with Narasimhadeva I, a warrior king and the monarch of the such a fine incline towards the east that the first beam of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty is credited with the construction of this rising sun illuminates the main entrance. The temple complex giant temple. The Konark Sun Temple, as the name suggests, covers an area of 26 acres. Three kinds of stones were used in was dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. The temple was built its construction, Chlorite, Laterite, and Khondalite.
*Corresponding author: Garima Yadav International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 12, Issue, 01 (D), pp. 40690-40692, January, 2021
Initially, the temple constituted a main structure, called Bada Deul or Rekha Deul, surrounded by other smaller structures, which had a height of 225 feet, but sadly not much remains of that structure.
Now what remains is just the smaller sanctum, with a height of
100 feet, which is a marvelous structure as well. It is adorned with intricate stone carvings and is celebrated for its exquisite artwork, themes and unique structure. The Konark sun temple is a fine example of the architectural brilliance of a bygone era when our ancestors relied on their understandings of mathematical concepts to create such mathematical wonders without the aid of any modern software or technology. The Konark Sun Temple can be largely divided into two parts: the main temple and the assembly hall. As shown in the figure, The mathematical concepts used in the construction of the only the yellow coloured section or the assembly hall still Konark Sun temple are: The Golden Ratio, Directions and remains standing today while the 229 ft. high shikhara is Bearings, Geometry and Symmetry. nowhere to be found due to its destruction in 1837. The
The Golden Ratio jaganmohan, which is 128 ft. high, still stands and is the principal structure in the surviving ruins. The dimensions of the Leonardo Fibonacci was born some time in the later part of the Jaganmohan are 857 ft. by 540 ft. By using these values, the twelfth century and learned and formalised a lot of arithmetic golden ration of the Konark Sun Temple can be found out to be from Arab merchants whom he met while travelling along the 1.58 which is very close to the ideal golden ratio, 1.618…. Mediterranean coast. He also popularised a sequence noted by Therefore, the Konark Sun Temple is a stunning example of the Indian mathematicians in the sixth century, which now goes by use of the Golden Ratio in architecture to make it more the name of Fibonacci Sequence. aesthetically appealing.
It is a simple sequence obtained by starting with 1 and adding the previous two numbers to get the next number: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,... Fibonacci discussed this sequence in the context of how rabbit populations multiply so rapidly. Fibonacci may not have known that the ratio of successive numbers in the sequence converges (that is, tends to the value) to the golden ratio.
Directions and Bearings
The Konark Sun Temple has a meticulously planned structure Architects believe that a rectangle with sides in the golden ratio such that the first rays of the morning sun fall directly on the looks aesthetically most pleasing to the eye. This ratio is given statue of the Surya Deva, kept in the garbhagriha. The Konark by an irrational number, f = (1+√5)／2 = 1.618.... That is, if Sun Temple is not situated parallel to the east axis but slightly the length and breadth of a rectangle are in this ratio, the deviated with such a precise slant that the first rays of the rectangle will look pleasing to the eye. This mysterious number morning sun fall on the main entrance. The garbhagriha was is the ratio of a rectangle with sides (a+b) and (a) so that positioned in such a way so as to receive direct sun rays at (a+b)/a=a/b=f, the golden ratio. Before calculating the golden sunrise on a particular day and at a precisely determined angle ratio of the Konark Sun Temple, we need to understand the set based on astronomical computations. This was determined by guidelines which almost all hindu temples have to follow. The three factors: height of the temple should be double its width and the height of the foundation, including the steps, should be equal to a third 1. The angular position of the earth rotating around the of the total height. This translates to what we now know as sun is dependent upon the oval-shaped (not circular) ‘The Golden Ratio’. orbit 2. Angular position of the earth's axis which oscillates between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees (a phenomenon called precession) measured by Milankovich cycles 3. The quantum of radiation which enters dependent upon solar activity (flares) cycles emanating carbon in a 2000 year cycle.
40691 | P a g e Garima Yadav., The Konark Sun Temple: Mathematics Behind The Architecture of An Astronomical Wonder
Geometry It’s similar to saying that human faces that follow the golden ratio are generally found to be more beautiful. The Sundial has all kinds of symmetry, be it a point, or line or mirror symmetry. Symmetrically speaking, its beauty is unparalleled.
Not just the chariot wheels, but the whole temple is perfectly symmetrical as well. As shown in the figure, it can be noted that the whole temple is a perfect example of mirror symmetry. The Konark Temple with its wonderful stone carvings and symmetry of design is regarded as one of the best examples of human expertise and skills in the field of architecture. The word ‘Konark’ is a combination of two Sanskrit words, ‘Kona’ meaning corner or an angle and ‘Arka’ meaning the Not just the chariot wheels, but the whole temple is perfectly sun. It signifies that the main deity, to whom the temple is symmetrical as well. As shown in the figure, it can be noted dedicated to, is the Sun God and the temple was built in an that the whole temple is a perfect example of mirror symmetry. angular format. In terms of elevation, there is a huge The Konark Temple with its wonderful stone carvings and curvilinear tower (shikhara), inclining inwards and capped. The symmetry of design is regarded as one of the best examples of human expertise and skills in the field of architecture. main characteristics of the Orissa style are primarily two: the deul and the jaganamohana or the assembly hall. The latter has CONCLUSION a pyramidal roof built up by a secession of receding platforms known as pidhas. Both structures are squares internally and use It was rightly said by William Paul Thurston, “Mathematics is a common platform. not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: It is about understanding.” The same was proven by our ancestors The temple is situated within a large quadrangular court when they built such a mathematical and architectural wonder, enclosed by massive walls and with a massive gate in the east. relying just on their understanding of these mathematical Symmetry concepts, without the aid of any modern software. Sadly, this marvelous structure wasn’t able to elude the damage and destruction caused with the passage of time. Be that as it may, it can only be concluded that though our ancestors lacked modern technology, their understanding of mathematical concepts and its real life applications is worthy of praise. The Konark Sun Temple, is a spectacular example of an ancient astronomical and mathematical wonder.
References
Lal, D. A. (2020, January 07). Konarak Sun Temple. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Konarak_Sun_Temple/ Bharatkalyan97.blogspot.com. 2021. Sun's Rays At Sunrise
The Konark Sun Temple is an intriguing piece in itself. Built in Fell Directly On The Divinity In Konarak Temple On 31 the form of a chariot, this piece of architecture is truly one of a May 2015: An Amazing Pictorial Spectacle. Two Rigveda kind. The first image that would appear in the minds of any Sukta Mantras Texts, Translation Venerating Sun person who knows about the place is the iconic sundial. Divinity.. [online] Available at: Generally speaking in layman’s terms, symmetrical shapes are