“Baan Stambh”

 

There is a fascinating mystery called “Baan Stambh” in the ancient Somnath Temple of Gujarat. On the south side of the temple, overlooking the sea, is a pillar called “Baan sthamb”. An arrow is built on the top of the pillar which points towards the sea. The existence of this pillar is mentioned in some ancient books from the 6th century.  There is an inscription carved on the pillar in Sanskrit -   “आसमुद्रांत दक्षिण ध्रुव,पर्यंत अबाधित ज्योर्तिमार्ग'”.  (“there is no earth terrain from this point  of the sea to the South Pole).  Now the fun fact. If you start travelling from Somnath Mandir towards South, you will indeed not find any mountain or piece of land until you reach the South Pole (Antarctica). The nearest land towards South Pole is nearly 10,000 KM away. So the mystery is - how did our ancestors know this fact in 6th century?  Did they have aerial map of the earth? What degree of knowledge of Astronomy, Geography,Mathematics and indeed Maritime Sciences they must have had!  Our ancient Indian heritage is indeed a marvel!