 |
| Gravity pillar, Chennakesava temple, Belur. numerical.co.in/ |
ooThe state of Karnataka has the largest number of historical monuments next to Uttar Pradesh in India and it includes many Hindu temples built by many dynasties. The Chennakeshava Temple or Vijayanarayana Temple of Belur, a 12th-century Hindu temple in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, is a popular for its fine architecture, beautiful sculptures and fine ornate pillars, besides, it has remarkable reliefs, friezes as well excellent iconography. It was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE, on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, but it took 103 years for the rulers to complete the temple. The temple is dedicated to God Vishnu.
 |
| Gravity pillar, Chennakesava temple, Belur. istockphoto.com/ |
Visitors to this temple will never miss an architectural wonder that is highly incredible. It is about the 42-feet-tall anti -Gravity pillar, also called Mahasthambha or Kartika Deepotsava Stambha, This monolithic stampha (pillar) made of soap stone has neither a base nor proper foundation and it is just set on a star-shaped platform made of granite and has no structural support to make it stand firmly. Nor is it firmly fixed with the platform with
 |
| Location map. Belur, Karnataka tapioca.co.in |
 |
| Anti-granite pillar, Belur. trawell.in |
some kind of mortar. Literally, the pillar is standing on three sides on its own weight and the fourth side has an unfilled gap and this pillar has been around for centuries since 1414 - the reign of King Devaraaya and has no sign of its falling on the ground. A heavy tall stone pillar standing up right for hundreds of years without adequate support is some thing staggering This feat shows the architectural excellence of Vijayanagara rulers and amazing knowledge of the architects. The puzzle is how come this tall heavy stone pillar has been standing firmly in the place for several centuries where it was set without showing any minor shift in its position. Equally incomprehensible is the fact that the platform on which the pillar stands does not show any sign of any structural weakness in the form of cracks despite the time factor and seasonal climatic changes these centuries. Mind you , centuries before Newton's (Newton published a comprehensive theory of gravity in 1687) Gravitational theory, the Indian builders of temples, etc., in South India had a good knowledge of Earth's gravity and its forces.
Read more at: https://www.nativeplanet.com/belur/attractions/the-gravity-pillar/#photos