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This Indian temple has one of the oldest optical illusions of the world

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Which animal would you see first? To know your personality types, read the article below

While surfing the internet every day, you come across various optical illusions. Some people might find it amusing, while for some it could be nothing more than a test.

Optical illusions are not just tricks of the eye, they are tests of your mental perceptions. The more you observe, the more it transforms. Ultimately it all comes down to your attention span.

Inside optical illusions reside a deeper meaning, that reality is more often a matter of perspective. The whole game lies on your attention span, you start looking at it more closely, its appearance changes entirely.


We all have heard and encountered various optical illusion images and videos but have you ever wondered which is one of the oldest optical illusions of the world? One of the oldest optical illusions is believed to be in India’s Airavateshvara Temple in Tamil Nadu.

The history of this piece of marvel dates back to the reign of chola dynasty rulers during the 11th-12th century. Airavatesvara Temple built by King RajaRaja Chola II is located in Darasuram. This is an epic example of mental excellence and artistic talent.


A surviving example of great craftsmanship and skills, this temple is more than 850 years old.You will be astonished to discover the intricate roof and pillar carvings indicating a bull or an elephant?


The breathtaking optical illusion!

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In this temple, you can see the image of an elephant and a bull sharing the same head, perfectly blended together by the Dravidian Architecture, if you observe closely an optical illusion will be created, the legs of both creatures are distinct from each other, no matter which animal is on which side of the image, the placement is such that the eyes are focused forward only.

In Hindu relics, bulls and elephants hold immense spiritual significance. The Airavat is the revered vehicle of Indra, the Hindu god of lighting , thunder and rains. “Nandi” is the worshipped vehicle of Lord Shiva, one among the holy trinity of Hindu gods.

Now, several theories have emerged in connection with this optical illusion. People engage in this optical illusion to decode one's personality based on what they see first. While there is no scientific evidence supporting this, there is definitely a fun element associated with this.


What does it mean if you spot the Elephant first?


The elephant is on the right side of the scripture. According to hindu mythology, elephants are associated with kindness, courage, loyalty and intelligence. Apart from being the revered vehicle of Lord Indra, it is also associated with goddess Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. If you see the elephant first, you are considered to be kind, considerate and introspective.


What does it mean if you spot the Bull first?


Vehicle of Lord Shiva, Nandi, is associated with honesty, fairness, strength, conviction and stubbornness. It is generally linked with these qualities of people who tend to spot the bull first.

The hindu motifs on the pillars of the temple are also depicted by half-male and half-female form of Lord Shiva, a roop generally proclaimed as Ardhanarishvara, it mainly represents unity among the Deities of Hindu faith.

Optical Illusions are astounding visuals manipulating reality, offering fascinating insights into how our brain works. Specific combinations, colors patterns all play some sort of tricks onto our brain.

Which animal did you spot first in this visually artistic 900 year-old temple?

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