In 2018 an intriguing photos and videos depicting a carving of a man riding a bicycle at the ancient Panchavarna Swamy temple located in Woraiyur, Tamil Nadu, India have ignited widespread curiosity, accompanied by claims that this vehicle was somehow present in India over 2,000 years ago, long before its documented invention in the 19th century.
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| Engraving of a Man Riding a Bicycle. Image credit: The Quint |
According to Wikipedia, Panchavarnaswamy Temple also known as Panjavarnaswamy Temple is a Tamil temple dedicated to Shiva. Shiva is believed to portray five different colours, giving the name of the presiding deity, Panchavarnaswamy.
The initial revelation came from Praveen Mohan, a history enthusiast who uploaded a video of the temple's remarkable carving. In this footage, Mohan suggests that this bicycle carving is a testament to India's early knowledge of such technology, contrasting with the commonly accepted notion that bicycles were invented by the Germans a mere 200 years ago.
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| Panchavarnaswamy Temple. Image credit: Wikipedia |
The carving was located within the Panchavarna Swamy Temple in Uraiyur, Trichy, a temple that supposedly dates back to the 7th century. According to this account, the bicycle engraving has been present for approximately 1,300 years, raising questions about the timeline of bicycle invention.
The story quickly gained traction on numerous news websites, both in India and beyond. However, as is often the case with extraordinary claims, skepticism and further investigation followed. Neither historians nor temple authorities could provide a convincing explanation for the carving's origins.
Dr. Kalaikovan, an ophthalmologist with a deep interest in history, delved into this mystery. His research led him to speculate that the carving might have been created during the 1920s, coinciding with a period when bicycles had become commonplace. He suggested that the sculptor might have been inspired by witnessing individuals riding bicycles during the temple's renovation.
This theory found support from SMHoaxSlayer, a debunking source, and the head of the Centre of History Research, who indicated that the carving was likely a new relief created from the British colonial era. While this explanation adds a layer of plausibility, it remains challenging to conclusively determine the true origins of this enigmatic carving.
In conclusion, the discovery of a bicycle carving in an ancient Indian temple has sparked widespread fascination and debate until now. While some have entertained the idea of ancient civilizations foreseeing modern technology, the prevailing evidence points toward a more recent origin tied to the temple's renovation in the 1920s. Nevertheless, the exact circumstances surrounding this intriguing carving remain a topic of ongoing inquiry.
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