All about the Konark Sun Temple.

Fact file

Built : Around 1250 CE.

Patron : Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

Chief Architect : Bishu Maharana.

Dedicated to : Sun God, Surya.

Known for : Intricate artwork, iconography and themes.

Style : Kalinga architecture.

Location : 35 km from Puri in Orissa.

UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

Konark's Time-Telling Temple Tale

The Orissa government plans to make its already world famous temples a major draw for tourists through a slew of beautification projects in the next few years. The Sun Temple at Konark, too, figures in the list. The buzz surrounding its renovation is a throwback to its halcyon days when it was the fulcrum of the town's social ans spiritual life, with its resplendent jagamohana (open-air theatre). Here's a bird eye view of what the majestic architectural marvel on the east coast meant for people of the temple town and beyond.

* The name Konark comes from the combination of two Sanskrit words : Kona (Angle) and Ark (Sun).

* Shikhara : The structure above the inner sanctum in north Indian temples.

* Vimana : Comprises the sanctum and the structure above it in the south Indian and Orissa style of temples.

* Konark Sun Temple is an example of Rekha Deula - what remains of the temple complex has the appearance of a 100-foot-high chariot with immense wheels and horses, all carved from stone. Once over 200 feet high, much of the temple is now in ruins, in particular the large shikara tower over the sanctuary.......the present status.

Kalinga Architecture

* The style consists of three distinct types of temples : Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula.

* Rekha Deula and Pidha Deula are associated with Vishnu, Surya and Shiva temples.

* Khakhara Deula is mainly associated with Chamunda and Durga temples.

* The Rekha Deula and Khakhara Deula houses are the sanctum sanctorum while the Pidha Deula constitutes outer dancing and offering halls.

What does it represent?

* 12 pairs of wheels drawn by seven horses marshaled by Aruna, evoking the movement of Sun God across the heavens.

* 24 carved wheels on the north and south sides refer to the cycle of the seasons and months.

* 7 horses named after the seven meters of Sanskrit prosody : Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnih, Jagati, Trishtubha, Anushtubha and Pankti represent days of the week.

* 2 goddesses flanking Surya : Usha and Pratyusha. The goddesses are shown shooting arrows, which represent a symbolic act of challenging the darkness.

* 8 spokes each wheel has. Each spoke represents a prahar, which is a 3-hour period, adding up to 24 hours of a day.

Legend

Twelve years into the project, architect Bishu Maharana was running behind schedule, with the god's crown not yet complete. Angered, King Narasingha Deva I threatened to execute all 1,200 craftsmen. Bishu's young son Dharmapada completed the crown. But worried that the king - incensed over a child having done the task - would kill the craftsmen anyway, Dharmapada took his own life.

View to remember

When viewed from inland during the dawn and sunrise, the chariot-shaped temple appears to emerge from the depths of the blue sea carrying the sun. 

And did you know?

* It was so built that the first ray of the sun fell on the gigantic sun idol kept inside the main complex.

* Even today you can tell the time by the rays of the sun falling on the wheels, which also act as sundials.

* It is believed that the sun idol here was suspended in the air as magnets were used in the construction.

* The stones used for making this temple were brought from other countries.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Spoke to Charlie Mike, at Madras, after what has been a long time and wasn't he thrilled!

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam : "Technical Education and Start ups" by Dr MS Rajashri, VC, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University from 1600- 1715 hrs. It was a nice interaction.