Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

4 Optical illusions carved by our ancestors

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Dec 28, 2022, 02:00 IST
Comments
Share
1/6

​Viral Twitter post on optical illusions seen in Hindu temples

Dr Mamata R. Singh, a travel enthusiast has shared amazing pictures of optical illusions seens in Hindu temples.

"Creating objects of 3D optical illusion was just a game for our ancestors..!!," Dr Singh writes and urges everyone to visit our temples and witness the rich legacy our ancestors have left behind.

2/6

​Airavateshvara Temple, Tamil Nadu

One of the most amazing optical illusions is seen in the Airavateshvara Temple, in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. The temple is built using Dravidian architecture.

Often said as one of the oldest optical illusions to have existed, in this an elephant and a bull have been carved in such a manner that the head of both the animals is the same.

(Image credit: https://twitter.com/temple_of_India/)

3/6

​Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi Karnataka

A beautiful shrine situated in Hampi, Karnataka the Hazara Rama temple is home to one of the most beautiful optical illusions. The temple is dedicated to Hindu God Rama.

(Image credit: https://twitter.com/mamatarsingh)

4/6

​Harihareshwara Temple, Karnataka

Another marvellous work of optical illusion is seen at Harihareshwara Temple, Karnataka.

This stone carving is believed to be of Lord Krishna with 2 hands and 5 bodies. From whichever body you see, it would seem that the head has been exactly positioned.

(Image credit: https://twitter.com/temple_of_India)

5/6

​Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh

A brilliant proof of the optical illusions carved by our ancestors is seen at Shri Veerabhadra Temple Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh.

In the carving, three animals have been carved in such a way that all of them have a common body and three different heads. One can see the head of one animal looking ahead, the head of another one looking down, and the head of a third one licking the calf that is feeding from the mother.

(Image credit: https://twitter.com/hjsdrpingale)

6/6

​Indian temples are cradle of knowledge

Optical illusions have always attracted people due to the mind bending effect it has. The illusions play trick with the vision and the mind.

The illusion carved in the Airavateshvara Temple, Tamil Nadu is considered to be 900 years old. Such artistic brilliance carved by our ancestors are massively circulated on social media.

"Indian Hindu temple architecture are not only the abode/place of God and place of worship, but they are also the cradle of knowledge, art, architecture and culture," says one Twitter user.

Chinese couple covers themselves innovatively with a big plastic sheet to avoid COVID; video goes viral

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • His father was an IIT graduate; Shaurya Shikhar couldn't crack IIT-JEE – at 26, he surprised him with a ₹55 lakh BMW
  • Motivational quote of the day by Narayana Murthy: "Progress is often equal to..."
  • Quote of the day by Michelangelo: "Beauty is the purgation of superfluities"
  • Quote of the day by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: "Money cannot buy you happiness. It’s knowledge or wisdom that brings you happiness"
  • Kuldhara Village Legends: Author explores eerie ruins and local tales; gadgets fail inside site
  • Are you shutting down your child’s curiosity? 4 ways parents unknowingly do so and better ways to respond
  • Ordering at a restaurant, helping with directions, and more: 7 simple ways to build a child’s confidence
  • A plant that calls for defense when it's being eaten? Study finds common bean plant secretly calls wasps to kill caterpillars on it
  • Does nobody want a relationship anymore? Why dating feels so commitment-phobic in 2026
Photostories
  • Walk-in vs modular closets: Which closet design makes busy workday mornings less chaotic?
  • Sadhguru’s Quick Peanut Breakfast: Soaked groundnuts make a complete diet; shake keeps you full for hours
  • 5 succulents that can make even the smallest rental apartment look stylish
  • From humidity control to airflow: Top 6 expert tips to keep your home fresh during travel
  • From heatwave in Delhi to heavy rainfall in south India: India’s weather is changing fast, and what travellers need to know
  • From plain to premium: 7 Stunning boundary wall designs that transform homes
  • 10 exotic bird-inspired baby names that feel rare and beautiful
  • Which fast should you observe to attract prosperity; based on your birth date?
  • How often should you really wash your hair this summer?
Explore more Stories
  • 6
    5 iconic Bollywood bedrooms that still live rent-free in our minds and were every teenager’s dream
  • 10
    9 iconic snakes of India's Western and Eastern Ghats
  • 6
    5 snake parks in India where travellers can spot rare and venomous species and how to reach them
  • 11
    10 unique sea snakes and places they can be found on beach by travellers
  • 8
    Walk-in vs modular closets: Which closet design makes busy workday mornings less chaotic?
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Health & Fitness
  • /
  • De-stress
  • /
  • 4 Optical illusions carved by our ancestors
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © Jun 8, 2026, 12.10PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service