SA 2023-03-24

This is truly Amaaazzzinggg....😲😲

We are starting a limited series of Heritage Fridays where I will be your host and guide to take you to the 6 phenomenal heritage sites which are declared as "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.

From generation to generation, Humanity builds on the discoveries of its ancestors. In this tradition, Dassault Systèmes focuses on improving the future and has driven 6 student-led teams from 6 different institutions across different Geos who participated in Living Heritage Challenge. A challenge which is the need of the hour to pass the message of the campaign - “The Only Progress is Human” and its know-how to future generations.

Through the Living Heritage Challenge, these student-driven teams have reconstructed the design, rendered and created virtual twin experiences of our 6 World UNESCO Heritage sites such as Konark Sun Temple by Team India, Porta Nigra by Team Germany, Shuri Castle by Team Japan, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon Team Mexico, Pompeii by Team Netherlands and The Colosseum of Rome by Team USA. The students used their knowledge & know-how to rediscover, and to learn from our shared past by creating 3D virtual experiences of ancient sites.

With the help of this noble act, everyone can now embark on virtual travel experiences through time and around the globe.

This Tuesday, I am presenting you our first Living Heritage Project:

KONARK SUN TEMPLE - INDIA

Story behind its Existence & Creation:

The main temple represents a chariot of Sungod with 12 pair of wheels drawn by seven horses evoking its movement to across the heavens. The main temple has been completely lapsed living its broken walls of 229 feet high. But this is how it looked in its full glory with its full structure intact. The artistry and the execution are regarded as the best specimen of Konark’s sculptures.

Various theories have been advocated regarding the significance of Konark wheel. According to some, the 7 horses represent the days of the week and the 12 pairs of wheels represent the 12 months of the year and the 24 wheels signifies 24 hours of a day and the 8 major spokes signifies three hour period ( prahars ) of a day. According to others, the wheels of the chariot have been interpreted as the 'Wheel of Life'. They portray the cycle of creation, preservation and achievement of realisation. These 12 pairs of wheels may also possibly represent the 12 zodiac signs. Some also believe that the Wheel of Konark is the same as the Dharma chakra of the Buddhists - The Wheel of Karma, The Wheel of the Law.

Floating Idol:

The main pratima (idol) was believed to be floating in the air because of the unique arrangements of the main magnets and other series of magnets. The placement of the temple had been aligned in a way that the first rays of the Sun falling on the coast would pass through the Nata Mandir and would reflect from the diamond placed at the center of this idol in the Main Sanctum. These phenomena would last for a couple of minutes during the early morning. These magnets were later removed by the Britishers for acquiring the magnetic stone.