Category: Miscellaneous

08 Mar 2023 10:00

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Yesteryear techniques followed in temples

It is heard and seen that there were efforts made by then Governments to have oil lamps on streets for lighting in public places during the night. Further to that it has been seen in Temples there was a follow-up to have oil lamps in circular carvings on the floor. They put an oil lamp in the center and around the lamp they pour some water and it was told that the brightness of the lamp was got increased in that area well. Such Circler engravings were called 'Vallaavi'.

This technique followed in those days. By following the technique, I tried one day in my house, when there was a power cut. I put a small stand in the middle of a hollow plate with water and lit a candle on the small stand, I realized the good effect of that old technique.

Yesterday I went to a temple in Madurai, called Koodal Azhagar Temple. When I did the round of the prakaar (outer part of the Sanctum), I saw similar engravements on the ground. I then, realized what I have read earlier about the Pallavi.

#770244

08 Mar 2023 11:54

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The speed of light is 3×108 ms-1 in vacuum or air. The speed of light is 2.25×108 ms-1 in water and 2×108 ms-1 in the glass. So light travels slower in water than in air. So the shining of water will be seen for a longer time. At the same light will be refracted from the water back into the air. So when there is water around the light the light will pass through the air and reflect back into the air. The light will be directly travelling the air and also back from the water as well. This effect will make that area more bright.
That is why when we leave an oil lamp in water and make it float we will see increased lighting around that lamp and shining will be more in water than in the air. Probably the arrangement that is made in the temples is based on the above concept only and to make the area inside the temple more bright they might have designed in that way.

drrao
always confident

#770253

08 Mar 2023 15:09

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This is an interesting observation followed by the scientific explanation provided by Dr Rao. In ancient times many such techniques were used in the temples and public places for making the available light or fire enhanced to better forms. There were no modern gadgets or modern electric systems but within the available means the expert artisans and other knowledgeable people produced magnificent results. The decoration of fort walls using lamps of various types and decoration of temples using lights of earthen diyas is well documented in our ancient religious books.
The glittering depiction of city of Lanka in Ramayan is one such presentation where the lights were shown to be produced and accompanied with jewels and gold plated materials.

Knowledge is power.

#770349

11 Mar 2023 23:55

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I had done this trick in my house during my school days(when my house was not electrified and I used to do trial and error experiments to have more light). I used to keep lamp on water inside a stainless steel plate. But today only I knew the technical word 'Vallaavi'.
(Though I searched in the net, I did not find the meaning referred in the thread there. It showed the meaning as related to the context of laundry of clothes- steaming clothes with water steam)

I am happy to have got a scientific explanation on this aspect from DR.N.V. Srinivasa Rao.

I can say that today is an 'enlightening' day for me.

#770357

12 Mar 2023 11:16

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Yes @Venkiteswaran this is what i said in my thread disturbances in browsing that too particularly in translation from Tamil to English. And ha ha in your example yes it might have taken it as vellavi and that too available because that song is from Dhanush film aadukalam.

While coming to original thread thanks to the author and i wanted to know exactly at which place it is there in the temple so that i can see in my next trip. this temple i liked very much that archaeological structure is unique and we can similar in uthira merur near Kancheepuram on the way to thennangur. This structure is followed in the Besant Nagar mahalakshmi temple.

shasthranaam Ganitham moordhanisthitham

#770380

12 Mar 2023 17:47

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Yesteryear techniques followed in temples

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