One of my foremost adventures of traveling solo with a physical map and a reliance phone was to tour across Gujarat in 2008 to visit the MS University and other heritage sites.
The Surya Mandir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the finest examples of Hindu temple architecture. This temple of Modhera village of the Mahesana district is art, math, astronomy, engineering, architecture, and an encyclopedia – a functional personification of knowledge.
This temple is geographically located at the Tropic of Cancer. There are 52 carved pillars that symbolize 52 weeks of the year and contain detailed narratives of scriptures, medicinal plants, the human lifecycle, our universe, and more. Exquisite carvings portray elements of fire, air, water, and earth signifying their unity with the Sun.
The most impressive feature of the temple is the way the sun lights up the inner sanctum on the day of the equinox. This is due to the precise alignment of the Mandir with the sun.
I was incredibly impressed by the Surya Mandir and its blend of art, science, and engineering. I hope to visit again one day, this time on the day of the equinox to experience its magnificent glory to the fullest.
0 Comments