Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has opened up on the remarkable craftsmanship of the Kailasa Temple at the Ellora Caves in Maharashtra. He focused on the precision involved in creating the massive structure. Kapur also connected its geometry with ancient Indian mathematics, music, art and philosophy.The filmmaker shared his thoughts on X. His post centred on the challenges faced by the artisans who carved the temple from a single expanse of basalt. He also wondered how they managed to avoid major errors while working with such limited tools.
Shekhar Kapur questions the precision of Kailasa Temple
The Kailasa Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and represents Mount Kailash, regarded as the deity’s celestial abode. It forms part of the Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The temple was created by cutting into a single piece of rock. The work progressed from the top downwards. Artisans relied on tools such as hammers and chisels while creating the structure and its intricate sculptures.Shekhar Kapur wondered what would have happened if an artist had made a mistake while carving one of the sculptures.He Tweeted, “What happened if someone chiselled a nose on just one of the sculptures wrong ? Did the whole temple need to be carved out again? Yet, they did not get it wrong .. how? Carved downwards out of a single piece of rock , with no tools other than hammers and chisels …. detail of carvings and sculptures within the temple are not just exquisite , but absolutely precise and accurate in form and in geometry.. from top to bottom.. that’s a mystery greater than the mystery of the Pyramids of Giza…”
Shekhar Kapur connects architecture with ancient mathematics
Kapur then moved from the temple’s physical construction to the mathematical principles he believes were reflected in its design. He linked geometry with India’s traditions in music, art and philosophy.“The system of mathematics in ancient India came down from our scriptures and formed the basis of a lot of our music ( Taal ) , art and architecture, .. our Philosophy was not linear .. but circular .. where the finite met the infinite again and again in concentric circles .. like how the Universe is ..”Shekhar Kapur mentions quantum computingThe filmmaker referred to quantum computing and quantum entanglement while discussing the relationship between ancient ideas and contemporary science.“The closest modern science now comes to it is what we call Quantum computing , Quantum entanglement . The theories on which Google has built the ‘Willow’ .. the words fastest Quantum Computer.”Shekhar Kapur’s post then turned towards education and colonialism. He expressed his view that India’s traditional systems of knowledge underwent significant changes during colonial rule.“The British changed our education system and made it linear. The colonizers did not have any understanding or knowledge of Quantum .. we did .. but over time of colonisation.. we lost the knowledge and Wisdom ..”
Shekhar Kapur explains his idea of wisdom
Shekhar Kapur also distinguished between knowledge and wisdom. He suggested that information without a broader understanding can lose part of its meaning.“.. yes, Wisdom too .. for knowledge without Wisdom is dry , with the true and wider meaning squeezed out of it .” The filmmaker used this idea to transition into a discussion about Srinivasa Ramanujan. The celebrated mathematician is known for his extraordinary contributions to mathematics and his unconventional approach to mathematical insight.
Shekhar Kapur recalls Srinivasa Ramanujan
Shekhar Kapur referred to the well-known account of Srinivasa Ramanujan attributing some of his mathematical insights to a divine source. He used the story to connect intuition, knowledge and wisdom.“No wonder that when the greatest Indian Mathematician of all time was asked how he solved some of the most perplexing questions that all the greatest physicists and mathematicians in world were unable to solve ..Ramanujan replied ….’My Devi comes to me.. ‘”Through his post, Shekhar Kapur brought together the Kailasa Temple, ancient Indian mathematics, architecture, philosophy and Srinivasa Ramanujan’s legacy.On the work front, Shekhar Kapur’s last directed feature film is the cross-cultural romantic comedy ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It?’.
