A collaborative study between architects and astronomers published in the International Journal of Historical Archaeology has uncovered a profound link between temple geometry and celestial mechanics. By using LiDAR to create a high-precision 3D model of the Kandariya Mahadeva temple in Khajuraho, the team found that the ratios of its spires (Shikharas) correspond exactly to the durations of the 27 Nakshatras (lunar mansions).
The research suggests that the temple's base layout was designed to track the precession of the equinoxes over long periods. This provides empirical evidence that 10th-century Indian architects integrated the most advanced astronomical data of their time into the physical fabric of their buildings, effectively creating 'stone observatories' that functioned through shadow-casting and seasonal solar alignments.