Heritage: 162 years old sundial in Gaya, Bihar

 It wasn't shocking to me when I read about this sundial in an article. Whenever I feel that I have known Bihar very well I happen to find something I haven't heard of before. It isn't to do with my ambit. It's just we the people of Bihar who are proud of our culture and history failed to maintain it. That's why we are not aware of the sumptuous heritage. which is leading to their destruction. Recently, a case came to light when the gnomon of a 150-year-old sundial was stolen from Dehri. Luckily Rohtas police found it within a week. It is time for us to be aware of our heritage and protect them before it gets destruct because of our apathy. 

This sundial is situated in Vishnupad Temple, Gaya, Bihar. It is believed that it was established around the 1860s by Gayapal Babu to see the time and used it to offer Bhog to Lord Vishnu.

As the Sun changes relative positions in the sky over the day, the position of the shadow cast by the gnomon changes to align with the different times around the outside of the circular plate. 

Now people have watches, mobile phones, or other gadgets to see the time. Therefore, This clock is no longer used to see the time. But due to a lack of information, the pilgrims and devotees who come here, consider the clock to be a deity and offer it flowers, vermilion, and other worship materials which is leading this artifact to impairment. Due to this, some texts of the clock have started getting faded.

Vishnupad Prabandhakarini Committee considers it a heritage. But the maintenance of this sundial is not even a bit, today the clock looks far away from its original form.