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| Temple Ratha Yatra cartoondealer.com |
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| Hampi stone chariot, Karnataka . origin of wooded chariot artstation.com |
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| Airavatesvara temple, Kumbakonam, TN.depositphotos.com |
Above image: Airavatesvara temple, near Kumbakonam. Built by Chola King Rajaraja II between 1146 and 1172 . Sone wheels near the entrance to the temple.................
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| Konark Suntemple,Odisha. stylerug.net |
Above Konark Sun temple of Odisha (a UNESCO World heritage Site). Note the stone wheels. The temple is built in the form of a vast sun chariot drawn by seven horses built in 1250 during the Ganga Dynasty. presenting the seven days of a week. The horses’ names are Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnih, Jagati, Trishtubha, Anushtubha, and Pankti...........
The Rigvedic rátha differs from war chariots of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, originating from the root √ṛ, meaning "to go," signifying a vehicle rather than a war apparatus. Descriptions in the Rigveda emphasize its grandeur, such as pṛthu (broad) and bṛhat (tall), with space for up to eight people, unlike typical two-person war chariots. Chariots held mythological importance, with deities like Ushas and Agni depicted riding them. Crafted from Salmali, Khadira, and Simsapa woods, these vehicles were integral to rituals, with specifications noted in later texts like the Shulba Sutras.
Evidence of wheeled vehicles in the Harappan civilization, including terracotta models with spoked wheels, predates the Vedic era. The earliest confirmed chariot remains in India date to 350–50 BCE at Atranjikhera. Globally, spoke-wheeled chariots are linked to the Proto-Indo-Iranians, emerging around 2000 BCE in the Sintashta-Petrovka culture.
Indian artifacts, such as Vindhya petroglyphs and Sanchi carvings, reflect evolving designs and uses. The Rigvedic chariot symbolizes technological, mythological, and cultural significance in ancient India.
Chariots and Hindu Festivals
Chariots, or rathas, hold a significant place in Hindu festivals and temple rituals, symbolizing divine vehicles that carry deities during processions. These chariots, made of intricately carved wood with wheels, are often pulled by devotees using specially made strong ropes or, in some traditions, by animals like horses or elephants. Festivals featuring chariots are celebrated with grandeur, involving hymns, chants, and music as part of the procession.
The Rathoutsava (Car Festival) is an essential event in many temples particularly in Tamil Nadu where deities are taken out with reverence in a religious procession through streets, allowing devotees to receive blessings. Such procession is accompanied by devotional hymns in native language Vedic chants, etc to retain divinity.
Prominent examples include the Ther Thiruvizha in Tamil Nadu and the iconic Ratha Yatra in Puri, Odisha. The Thiruvarur Azhi Ther, one of the largest temple cars, stands 96 feet tall, weighs over 300 tons, and inspires awe during its annual procession. Tamil Nadu alone is home to over 500 such temple cars, with notable ones at Tiruvannamalai and Chidambaram. The Natarajar Temple in Chidambaram celebrates two chariot festivals annually—one in summer and another in winter. Equally famous are the rathothshavam of Srivilliputhr Andal temple, Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple and Kumbakonam Chakrapani temple. These rathas are heavy and known for their intricate wooden carvings in the base of the chariot. The themes include episodes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, etc.
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| Mahabalipuram stone carved Rathas, TN themysteriousindia.net |
Chariots are not only used in festivals but also reflected in temple architecture. Structures like the Pancha Rathas in Mahabalipuram, Airavatesvara temple, Kumbakonam and the Sun Temple at Konark Odisha are inspired by chariot designs, symbolizing divine movement and cosmic order. Additionally, the term ratha is used in temple towers (shikaras) to denote vertical offsets or projections, further emphasizing their sacred symbolism.
Through these traditions, chariots continue to embody devotion and spiritual significance in Hindu culture.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienman/2234131760
.https://www.navrangindia.in/2016/07/ratha-yatra-famous-annual-hindu-temple.html
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