Labyrinths are mazes that one can walk across, following a path. You start from outside, walk all the way inside, and then trace a path back to where you began. Usually, once you have stepped in, there is only one path that you can follow to come out.
Explore these Labyrinths in India
Labyrinths are as old as human settlements. We have found them carved in all kinds of places – on altars, on riverbeds, in nature. They were probably the earliest observatories to observe the motion of celestial bodies in the sky. They may have been used to pray and meditate. Even today, they are used for walking meditation in many parts of the world.
A serpentine path takes you inside and brings you out with a flow, alternatively going closer and further from the center.
Labyrinths are pretty global. Ancient labyrinths have been found around the world. India is the oldest civilization, how can we not have some of it? I have found labyrinths during my travels in the country. Come with me for a virtual tour of ancient labyrinths in India:
Pansaimol Labyrinth in Goa
On the rocky bed of river Sharavati in South Goa is a wonderful archaeological site. There are ancient petroglyphs with carvings of various animals and depictions of human birth. However, the most fascinating carving is that of a labyrinth. It is clearly etched in the red laterite stone. At the entrance of it, are a carved pair of feet, as if a devotee would stand and pray here.
I have not seen but I was told that some local communities still visit and worship this labyrinth. People sit in the middle and meditate. Mind you, this is visible only before the monsoon season and remains hidden in the waters most of the year.
This may be the oldest surviving labyrinth in India and maybe the world.
Read our detailed post on the Rock Art of Goa.
Do read: Best Places to visit in South Goa during your holidays
Bhadrakali or DeviKoop at Kurukshetra
Let me take you to the Mahabharat war that took place in Kurukshetra. Remember Abhimanyu, the young son of Arjuna was killed in a Chakravyuha – a formation that he knew how to enter but not how to get out of. So, he entered it, fought bravely, and was killed. It is believed that this Chakravyuha is nothing but a labyrinth that has only one way to get in and get out.
This is carved at the ancient Bhadrakali temple here, also known as Devikoop. I still remember the bright yellow color of this labyrinth which is a memory of an event from a distant past.
The labyrinth is new or probably renewed periodically but memory is ancient.
Gokarna
Gokarna is an ancient Tirtha located on the west coast of India. It is associated with many sages, saints, and Puranic stories.
Here there are many cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea. Near the Jatayu Tirtha cliff, there is a huge labyrinth. At first glance it looks pretty new, made by placing small stones in the shape of a maze. No one could really say when it came up. It is surrounded by caves hidden inside the red laterite rock.
It is big enough to walk in and through it. I walked through it once and then a few more times. With the sound of sea waves hitting the rocky surface, it had an impact of moving inwards. The focus shifted from the outside world to my inner peaceful self.
Do read: Places to visit in Gokarna – For devotees and leisure travelers
Bangalore
Arun Bharadwaj in my podcast Detours spoke about the ancient temples of Bangalore. He mentions a stone circle or a Chakravyuha made of stones near Bannerghatta National Park that is at least 2000 years old. This is almost inside the city limits now and can be located as you enter Suvarnmukhi hills after the Bannerghatta forest range.
As per Arun, people consider it a wish-fulfilling circle. They walk around asking for their wish and they indeed get fulfilled.
I am yet to visit it but hopefully soon.
Vijayapura or Bijapur
On the ceiling of the Ibramin Roza in Vijayapura, you can see a complex labyrinth made in the shape of a Swastika. You can count up to 24 swastikas that make this complex labyrinth.
Since this is on the ceiling you cannot walk it. But I hope it can be recreated on the floor somewhere. It would be interesting to experience walking in the shape of intertwined Swastikas.
This one is at least 17th CE but I would not be surprised if it was much older.
Then, there are many new structures that are building labyrinths around the country. Some of them are regularly used by people to walk.
Halebidu Temple, Karnataka
This labyrinth is in the form of a depiction of Abhimanyu’s battle in the Mahabharata war. Here you see the labyrinth as a war formation.
If you know of any more ancient labyrinths in India, do let me know.
Or, where would you like to walk a big labyrinth?
