Many cultures celebrate various combinations of the winter and summer solstices, the equinoxes, and the midpoints between them, leading to various holidays arising around these events.
In most cultures the solstices and equinoxes also determine the midpoint of the seasons, which can be seen in the celebrations called midsummer and midwinter.
temples of angkor - man has built structures keeping the solistices in mind...
machu peechu
A number of features distributed throughout the site are aligned with the June solstice azimuth of 65-245 degrees. The Sacred Plaza is enclosed on three sides but is open to the west with an alignment of 245 degrees. The Temple of the Three Windows forming the easterly side of the plaza, opens to the plaza and faces the solstice sunset. The Intihuatana platform is oriented to 65-245 degrees with a shaped replica stone of Huayna Picchu in its center. The solstice alignment, and the importance of solstice ritual to the Inca, suggest that this was a primary ceremonial consideration of this shrine. The Torreon is popularly called the Temple of the Sun. A stone enclosed within the Torreon is reported to receive a ray of sun light through the east facing window during the June solstice.
New grange - ireland
The passage and chamber of Newgrange are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December.
Even our great epic bharatham talks of the solistice
Solar eclipse on Jyeshtha amavasya Oct. 14, 3067 BCE ?? Krittika full moon (lunar eclipse) September 29, 3067 BCE ?? War starts on November 22, 3067 BCE (Saturn in Rohini, Jupiter in Revati) ?? Winter solstice, January 13, 3066 BCE?? Bhishma's expiry, January 17, 3066 BCE Magha shukla ashtami ??
In the Swargarohanika Parva of the Mahabharata, we are told that Yudhishthira having observed that the sun ceasing to go southwards had begun to proceed in his northward course set out to where Bhishma lay on his bed of arrows. After telling Yudhishthira that the winter solstice had set in ...meaning his chosen time had come
the panel in angkor showing bheesma on his bed of arrows ..The setting sun falls on the image of Bhishma close to the winter solistice day. Bhishma had decided to die when the Uttarayana Punya Kala ...shukla astami (winter solstice) began.
eager to know if there is any study on the big temple with regard to solistices
The rays of the sun pass straight through the door-ways of Prasat Phanom Rung 4 times a year (2 sunrises and 2 sunsets). The sunrise events are in April and September, the sunset events are in March and October. Each solar event last 3 days, on the 2nd of which the sun is visible aligned straight with the structure of the ancient Khmer Hindu temple. On the 1st and 3rd day the sun is observable passing one of the corners of the door-ways. If the temple was oriented straight east (90 degrees from true north) the solar events would happen on the 2 equinox days, but the orientation of Prasat Phanom Rung is 84.5 degrees. This difference in orientation results in that the solar events as a rule of thumb fall 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after equinox. The calculation of the solar events at Prasat Phanom Rung is therefore rather simple: Determine the equinox days and add/subtract 14 days. It must be emphasised that this rule of thumb must be followed by more exact calculations for the year in question
The pyramids
The pyramids, however, are set out with the greatest accuracy. Mr Petrie's careful survey shows that the Great Pyramid deviated only 5´, and he says that it is the world that has shifted rather than the structureâ"no fault to its builders! The group of three, moreover, stand en echelon, so that each has its four sides clear to the four quarters to which Mariette says they were dedicated. On the east side of each was a small isolated temple with its door eastward. One of these is the so-called temple of the Sphinx. 'It is to be noticed,' Mr Proctor says, 'that the peculiar figure and position of the pyramids will bring about the following relations. Between the autumn and the spring equinoxes the rays of the rising and setting sun illuminated the southern face of the pyramids; whereas during the rest of the year, that is, the six months between the spring and autumn equinoxes, the rays of the rising and setting sun illuminated the northern face.' The slanting passage appears to have pointed directly to the pole star.
Examples in india:
Statue of Surya at Konarak Temple in India
The temple was designed so that the rays of the rising and setting sun at the time of the equinoxes illuminated the image of Surya.
Vidyashankara Temple
The temple architecture is also an exhibition of the astronomical expertise of medieval south Indian temple builders. The main temple hall features 12 pillars designated for the 12 signs of the zodiac. Windows and doors along the temple walls are arranged such that at the start of each solar month in the Indian calendar, the sun's rays fall on the pillar designated for the zodiac sign of that month.
Thiru Vattaaru - Sri Aadhikesava Perumal Temple
Another speciality of this sthalam is the way in which the perumal is positioned. He is found in such a way that everyday he gives his seva to Chandiran, the moon god. During the setting of sun, the rays of the sun is falling on the Moolavar's face as though it says that it will leave today and come tomorrow. After the sun sets, the moon appears (or) rises from the same direction where the sun sets and first sees the Moolavar and get his dharshan. This is one of the speciality of this sthalam (ie) the perumal's position.
Belur - Chennakeshavaswamy Temple
Hassan - "Rashmi Utsava", for next three days at the sun's rays will pass through the main entrance of the temple in three different directions and illuminate the feet of Channakeshavaswamy idol, - sun- rays will enter the sanctum sanctorum through the main entrance from the right corner on the first day and from the left corner on second day. the third day - is an important day as the rays will pass through the central point of the main entrance and touch the feet of the idol. This day will be the ninth day of Mesha month in the Hindu almanac, the line connecting the east and west will be at 180 degrees.
THE TIRUPPALTHURAI Mahadeva temple 14 km. from Tiruchi, on the Srirangam-Grand Anicut road, belongs to the 9th century
On the third day of the Tamil month of Purattasi and Panguni the rays of the rising sun used to fall on the Adimuleswarar Lingam in the sanctum sanctorum.
The ancient temple was cut out of the rock probably in the 9th century. It is a natural monolith rock formation with the cave temple carved out of it. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has four monolithic pillars and a rare idol of Agni, the God of fire.
Thousands of devotees come in January every year on Makar sankranti Day to this cave temple. This is a special day when the sunrays fall on the Sivalinga for one hour as it passes between the horns of the Nandi. Such was the knowledge of architecture and astronomy that the ancient sculptors could craft the horns of the stone bull outside the temple so that the sun's rays would pass through its horns and light up the deity Shiva Linga inside the cave
look forward to expert comments - how about the settings in the shore temple of mamallapuram or the big temple. eager to know
Nageswaran Temple, is dedicated to Shiva in the guise of Nagaraja, the serpent king. Also known as "Koothandavar Kovil", it is located near the Kumbakonam old bus stand. Aditya Chola constructed this temple during the 12th century. It stands as a great marvel of Chola architecture, building technology and astronomy. The design and orientation are structured in such a way that it allows sunlight inside the temple only during the Tamil month of Chithirai (April/May), therefore, it bears another name called Surya Kottam or Keel Kottam. ...vj