Konark Sun Temple

As the Bay of Bengal glistens with the sun’s rays, the Konark Sun Temple stands as a colossal representation of Surya’s chariot, complete with 24 figuratively-decorated wheels and a team of six horses pulling it. In the 13th century, it was one of India’s best-known Brahman temples. Structures that have been preserved, their location within the complex structures, and the important relationship between sculpture and architecture all help to preserve the Sun Temple’s original shape and design. In keeping with the original design and materials, the Sun Temple’s many features and traits are preserved.

Konark Sun Temple

Konark Sun Temple, also known as Konark Surya Temple, is located in the eponymous village of Konark, 35 km from Puri. Konark Sun Temple was constructed in the 13th century. The Konark Sun Temple is attributed to the king Narasimhadeva l of the East Ganga dynasty about 1250 CE. Konark Sun Temple is dedicated to the God of Sun, which is Surya. The Konark sun temple has a manifestation of a 100-foot chariot with enormous wheels and horses, which are all carved from stones.

The Konark name is derived from a combination of two Sanskrit words, Kona which means angle and Arka refers to the Sun. The Sun temple of Konark, the Jagannath temple in Puri and the Lingaraj temple form a triangle. Konark temple forms one corner, which means Kona.

Location 

The temple is located in Konark village, which is about 35km from northeast of Puri and 65 km from Bhubaneswar on the coastline of the Bay of Bengal in the state of Odisha.

Archaeological significance

The Konark Sun Temple is dedicated to Narasimhadeva 1 of the East Ganga dynasty. It is one of the few Hindu temples whose planning of construction was written in Sanskrit in the Odia script, which has been preserved in the form of a palm-leaf manuscript. The sun temple at Konark was financed by the king, and the construction was looked at by Siva Samantarua Mahapatra. This significant construction is supported by many copper plate inscriptions of the era where the Konark sun temple was referred to as the great cottage. The Konark sun temple consists of two main structures, the dance mandapa and the temple itself.

The wheels of the chariot, which represent the 12 months of the Hindu calendar, are shown in pairs, Shukla and Krishna, with each month paired twice. As a part of the sun temple at Konark, there are 24 intricately carved stone wheels, each almost 12 ft in diameter and driven by seven horses. Konark’s sun temple appears to emerge out of the sea at sunrise and daybreak when viewed from the interiors. Square and circular geometry is used in the ground and in the sculptures, according to Kapila Vatsyayan.

The Konark Sun Temple is made up of three types of stones. Chlorite was used in the door lintel and the frames. It was also used in some of the sculptures. Laterite was used for making the core of the platform. Khondalite was also used in the making of the temple. None of these stones is found naturally nearby. The stones were procured and moved from distant places by using river channels near the temple. The workers then created an ashlar where the stones were polished, and the joints of the stones were hardly seen.

Histological significance

The name of the Sun temple at Konark is made of two Sanskrit words, Kona meaning corner and Arka meaning Sun. The town is named Konark, and it’s got its name because of its geographical location, which makes it look like the Sun is rising at a certain angle.

The history of the Sun temple at Konark and worshipping the Sun goes back to the 19th century BC. The Konark Sun temple was built in the 13th century. In the 13th century, Konark came under the historical region of the Kalinga dynasty, which comprised major parts of modern-day Odisha and parts of Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. This region was ruled by the rulers of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty from the 5th century AD to the 15th Century AD. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in India, which gave validity to the magnificent Sun Temple of Konark.

Many Hindu manuscripts mention the Konark Sun temple as an important place for worshipping the Sun. It is said that the sun temple at Konark was the first-ever Sun temple built. Konark is also referred to in Indian texts by the name of Kainapara, and it was an important trading port in the early centuries of the common era. 

Conclusion

The Sun temple of Konark was constructed in the 13th century, and it is one of India’s most famous Brahman sanctuaries. The Sun Temple’s genuineness of form and design is held in full through the surviving structures. Temple is located in Konark village, which is about 35km from northeast of Puri and 65 km from Bhubaneswar on the coastline of the Bay of Bengal in the state of Odisha. It is one of the few Hindu temples whose planning of construction was written in Sanskrit in the Odia script, which has been preserved in the form of a palm-leaf manuscript.