Shadows keep changing positions and sizes, if the distance between the source of light and the object changes! But at Chaya Someswara Temple at Panagal, near Nalgonda, the shadow (Chaya, hence the name of the temple) of pillars stays constant on the lingam at any time, despite changes in the above said distance. The pillars of ardhamandapa and open spaces near the central shrine were designed and placed in such a way by the then architects as to produce this effect of stable shadow on the lingam all through the day. A miracle one must see to believe! Believed to have been built in the 11 century AD, the construction credits go to Kanduru Chodas. This thrikutalayam has three shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. A common hall, mandapam, keeps these three shrines as one complex. Many intricately carved pillars around this mandapam depict scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha and the Puranas!
1) Describe the nature of shadows.
2) Give an example of exception to this nature of shadows.
3) Why is the temple called Chaya Someswara Temple?
4) What makes the temple also known as thrikutalayam?
5) Who is believed to have built this unique temple?
6) Where does the shadow fall all through the day?
7) Is it the shadow fall all through the day? Support your answer with a sentence from the passage.
8) What do the pillars depict?
ANSWERS
1) Shadows keep changing positions and sizes if the distance between the source of light and the object changes.
2) the shadow of pillars at Chaya Someswara Temple at Panagal, near Nalgonda.
3) Because the shadow of pillars stays constant on the lingam at any time, despite changes in the distance.
4) There are three shrines of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya.
5) Kanduru Chodas
6) on the Lingam
7) No. The pillars of ardhamandapa’ and open spaces near the central shrine were designed and placed in such a the then architects as to produce this effect stable shadow on the lingam all through the day.
8) scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha and the Puranas.