3 ms·

Looking For Nothing In Gwalior (2019)

smitty1e 7y ago
Is it a fair analogy to say that zero is to numbers as vowels are to alphabets? My understanding is the consonants came first, vowels later, as (Western writing anyway) transitioned from pictograms to alphabets.
- throwanem 7y ago
  Not really. In the case of vowels, spoken language always had sounds in those places; the innovation lay only in writing them down, rather than leaving them implicit. In the case of zero, the innovation lay in the concept itself.
newyankee 7y ago
Sidenote: There are many , many more interesting temples, monuments in India. India is not just Taj Mahal. A lot of the historical temples were destroyed though so you will only see the ruins which are poorly maintained. My recommendations: 1. Any temples in South India like the ones in the city of Mahabalipuram 2. Ajanta & Ellora caves in Maharashtra 3. Ruins of Hampi in state of Karnataka If you are feeling adventurous post Covid-19 in the future, check the crowds at a Temple like Tirupati (rumors has it that it has one of the largest Gold vaults in the world, cannot attest to it personally but i know it is the richest temple in India)
- unmole 7y ago
  > check the crowds at a Temple like Tirupati Why? Unless one is a devotee, the hours of queing up and jostling with crowds really don't payoff. Also, non-Hindus are required to sign an affadavit declaring their faith in the presiding deity before entering the temple. I second your other recomendations.
  - sudhirkhanger 7y ago
    >Why? Unless one is a devotee, the hours of queing up and jostling with crowds really don't payoff. Also, non-Hindus are required to sign an affadavit declaring their faith in the presiding deity before entering the temple. I am not a particularly religious person but I went to Tirupati anyways. I enjoyed my visit there. I found the temple to be magnificent. I would recommend people visit it.
- puranjay 7y ago
  In my home state of Rajasthan, you can practically drive into every small town and find some old fort or mini palace. Some of these, when maintained, are absolutely stunning. The good news is that Indian tourists are increasingly willing to look beyond the big holiday spots and discover these hitherto unexplored places. This, in turn, helps the old royal families that still own these palaces and forts to invest in maintaining them.
- twic 7y ago
  At some point, i would love to go and visit some stepwells: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/discover-indias-stepwells https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/discover-indias-... https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/review-vanishing-stepwells-india-180962637/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/review-vanishing-stepw...
MirzaBeil 7y ago
I saw something related at http://bigpoppaeats.thedailymeal.com/2016/07/quick-hits-check-ins-classical-theater.html?showComment=1584091230028#c8537694116032559027 http://bigpoppaeats.thedailymeal.com/2016/07/quick-hits-chec...
ultrasounder 7y ago
Couldn't restrain myself about bragging about my own hometown temple, Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple in Vishnu Kanchi(Little Kanchipuram). One of the engineering marvels that has always captivated me is this chain carved out of Granite!. https://www.flickr.com/photos/anupartha/12611096324 https://www.flickr.com/photos/anupartha/12611096324 And this temple is a treasure trove of such sculptures and other architectural/engineering marvels.
- twic 7y ago
  That chain is stunning. It seems this is a way for craftsmen to show off across cultures. Here it is in Chinese jade: https://www.jncohen.net/Chinese-Jade/Chain-vases.htm https://www.jncohen.net/Chinese-Jade/Chain-vases.htm And American timber: https://www.instructables.com/id/Three-Ways-to-Make-a-Wooden-Chain/ https://www.instructables.com/id/Three-Ways-to-Make-a-Wooden...
haltingproblem 7y ago
The observation that the author made about the philosophical development of the idea of nothingness (shunyata) leading to the development of the zero (shunya) is very key. You can't have the latter without the former. In Indic thought, it is common to talk about a set of items and then the null set - 1 pen, 2 pens, 3 pens and then no-pens or the absence of pens. This notion of the absence of something can be roughly translated as shunyata. Symbolically and cardinally that idea got translated to zero.

Is it a fair analogy to say that zero is to numbers as vowels are to alphabets? My understanding is the consonants came first, vowels later, as (Western writing anyway) transitioned from pictograms to alphabets.

throwanem 7y ago
Not really. In the case of vowels, spoken language always had sounds in those places; the innovation lay only in writing them down, rather than leaving them implicit. In the case of zero, the innovation lay in the concept itself.

newyankee 7y ago

Sidenote: There are many , many more interesting temples, monuments in India. India is not just Taj Mahal. A lot of the historical temples were destroyed though so you will only see the ruins which are poorly maintained. My recommendations: 1. Any temples in South India like the ones in the city of Mahabalipuram 2. Ajanta & Ellora caves in Maharashtra 3. Ruins of Hampi in state of Karnataka If you are feeling adventurous post Covid-19 in the future, check the crowds at a Temple like Tirupati (rumors has it that it has one of the largest Gold vaults in the world, cannot attest to it personally but i know it is the richest temple in India)

unmole 7y ago
> check the crowds at a Temple like Tirupati Why? Unless one is a devotee, the hours of queing up and jostling with crowds really don't payoff. Also, non-Hindus are required to sign an affadavit declaring their faith in the presiding deity before entering the temple. I second your other recomendations.
- sudhirkhanger 7y ago
  >Why? Unless one is a devotee, the hours of queing up and jostling with crowds really don't payoff. Also, non-Hindus are required to sign an affadavit declaring their faith in the presiding deity before entering the temple. I am not a particularly religious person but I went to Tirupati anyways. I enjoyed my visit there. I found the temple to be magnificent. I would recommend people visit it.
puranjay 7y ago
In my home state of Rajasthan, you can practically drive into every small town and find some old fort or mini palace. Some of these, when maintained, are absolutely stunning. The good news is that Indian tourists are increasingly willing to look beyond the big holiday spots and discover these hitherto unexplored places. This, in turn, helps the old royal families that still own these palaces and forts to invest in maintaining them.
twic 7y ago
At some point, i would love to go and visit some stepwells: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/discover-indias-stepwells https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/discover-indias-... https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/review-vanishing-stepwells-india-180962637/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/review-vanishing-stepw...

MirzaBeil 7y ago

I saw something related at http://bigpoppaeats.thedailymeal.com/2016/07/quick-hits-check-ins-classical-theater.html?showComment=1584091230028#c8537694116032559027 http://bigpoppaeats.thedailymeal.com/2016/07/quick-hits-chec...

ultrasounder 7y ago

Couldn't restrain myself about bragging about my own hometown temple, Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple in Vishnu Kanchi(Little Kanchipuram). One of the engineering marvels that has always captivated me is this chain carved out of Granite!. https://www.flickr.com/photos/anupartha/12611096324 https://www.flickr.com/photos/anupartha/12611096324 And this temple is a treasure trove of such sculptures and other architectural/engineering marvels.

twic 7y ago
That chain is stunning. It seems this is a way for craftsmen to show off across cultures. Here it is in Chinese jade: https://www.jncohen.net/Chinese-Jade/Chain-vases.htm https://www.jncohen.net/Chinese-Jade/Chain-vases.htm And American timber: https://www.instructables.com/id/Three-Ways-to-Make-a-Wooden-Chain/ https://www.instructables.com/id/Three-Ways-to-Make-a-Wooden...

haltingproblem 7y ago

The observation that the author made about the philosophical development of the idea of nothingness (shunyata) leading to the development of the zero (shunya) is very key. You can't have the latter without the former. In Indic thought, it is common to talk about a set of items and then the null set - 1 pen, 2 pens, 3 pens and then no-pens or the absence of pens. This notion of the absence of something can be roughly translated as shunyata. Symbolically and cardinally that idea got translated to zero.