The engineering design of the chariots of Lord Jagannath is a technical marvel by any standard. The Chariots exhibit remarkable static and dynamic stability as would be evident from the following discussions.
STATIC STABILITY
The deities are to be worshipped in temples. Therefore, it is necessary to provide adequatestatic stability to the chariots to enable the devotees and priests to climb up via suitable flight of stairs to the sanctum sanctorum' of the chariots. The dead load of the upper portion of the chariots and the devotees has been taken into account in the design of the foundation which in this case is the chain of wheels mounted on suitable axles. The configuration of load points in respect of the three chariots is as under:
(A) DEVADALANA RATHA :
There are 12 load bearing points equally spaced from the central line (1 -2) and (3-4) in the 'x' and 'y' directions in the plan shown in Fig.I. These load points are in six pairs. Each pair of wheels mounted on one axle is perfectly parallel to the other. Distance between two axles is four feet on both sides of the central line (1 -2). Similarly the distance between the load points on both the sides of the central line (3-4) is 4'3/2". The gaps between the load points on both sides of the two orthogonal central lines are naturally 8' & 8'3" respectively for the axles at the centre. Such an arrangement confirms equal distribution of vertical loads and bending moments about the load points at the hub centre. Needless to elaborate that the static load has been perfectly balanced over the four quadrangles conforming to the four segments namely (103), (302), (204) and (401) as shown in the plan. (Fig 1) The arrangement is perfectly stable when static.
(B) TALADHVAJA RATHA
There are 14 load bearing points equally spaced from the central line (1 -2) and (3-4) in the 'X' and 'Y' directions in the plan shown in Fig. 7. These load points are in seven pairs. Each pair is perfectly parallel to the other. The distance between two pairs representing adjoining axles is six feet from the central line (1-2). Similarly the distance between the load points on both the sides of the central line (3-4) is 4'6" in respect of the two adjoining pairs. The distance between the wheel planes beyond these two pairs of wheels in the Y direction is 3'9". In respect of the remaining two planes of wheels on both sides of the central line (3-4), the distance is 2'9". The planes containing the two wheels at the extreme end of the central line (1-2) are similarly spaced at a distance of 2'9" from the nearest wheel planes. The axle on the central line (1-2) has two load points at the respective hub positions. Such an arrangement confirms uniform distribution of vertical loads and bending moments on the load points. Needless to elaborate that the static load has been perfectly balanced in four quadrangles namely (103), (302), (204) and (401) as shown in the plan in Fig 7. The arrangement is perfectly stable when static.
NANDIGHOSA RATHA :
There are 16 load bearing points equally spaced from the central line (1-2) and (3-4) in the 'X' and T directions respectively in the plan shown in Fig. 8. These load points are in eight pairs. Each pair is perfectly parallel to the other. The distance between the adjoining pairs representing two inner axles is 3'9" from the central line (1 -2). The next pair of load points on both sides of the central line (1 -2) is situated at a distance of 3'9" from the two inner hub centres. Thereafter, the distance between the eight pairs of load points measured from the nearest pair of the inner load points is 3'10". The front and back pair of wheels are fixed on the front and rear axles and are separated at a distance of 9'3" (centre to centre) on the same axle. The planes containing the front wheel and the next pair of wheels in Y direction are situated at a distance of 4'9" from each other on both sides of the central line (3-4). The distance between the planes containing four pairs of wheels (2 on each side) of the central line (3-4) in Y direction is spaced successively at equal distances of 3'9" from the plane containing the nearest inner two pairs of wheels. The centre points of hub of all the wheels are load points taking vertical load of the Ratha. Such an arrangement confirms equal distribution of vertical loads and bending moment about the load points. Needless to elaborate that the static load has been perfectly balanced in four quadrangles namely (103), (302), (204) and (401) as shown in the plan. The arrangement is perfectly stable when static.
|
| |
