Konark Sun Temple
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Sun Temple KonarkSun Temple Konark - The local legends say that
King Narasimha Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty had ordered the temple
to be built as a symbol of political supremacy of his dynasty. Over
1200 of the most capable artisans and architects worked
continuously for 12 years on the construction of the sun temple. It
is said that the king had already spent an amount equal over 12
years of the tax collections. However, the completion of the Sun
temple was still far from over. Enraged the king issued an
ultimatum that the work be completed by a stipulated date with dire
consequences otherwise. The team of architects headed by Bisu
Maharana was unable to produce a solution to their architectural
problem.
It is said that Dharmapada--the young son of the chief architect
Bisu Maharana--arrived there as a visiting
onlooker. He became aware
of the anxiety looming large among the architects. Although he did
not have any practical experience of sun temple construction, he
was careful in his study of the theories of temple architecture. He
offered a solution to the problem of fixing the last stone at the
top of the temple. He surprised everyone by doing that himself. But
soon after his glorious achievement the dead body of this
adolescent prodigy was found on the sea beach at the foot of the
temple. It is often regarded that Dharmapada laid down his life to
save his community.
Sun Temple was dedicated to
the Sun-God (Arka), popularly called Biranchi-Narayan, and the area
in which it is located was known as Arka-Kshetra as well as
padma-kshetra. According to folklore, Samba, son of Lord Krishna,
was struck with leprosy due a curse of Lord Krishna himself. Samba
for 12 years underwent harsh atonement at Mitravana, near the
convergence area of Chandrabhaga River with the sea at Konark. He
was finally successful in pleasing the SUN god (Surya), the healer
of all skin diseases, and was cured of his ailment. In gratitude,
he decided to erect a temple in the honor of Surya. The day
following his cure, while Samba was bathing in the Chandrabhaga, he
discovered an image of the god, which had been fashioned out of
Surya's body by Viswakarma. Samba installed this image in a temple
he built in Mitravana, where he propitiated the god. Since then,
throughout the ages, this place has been regarded as
sacred.
World Heritage Sites -
Konarak - Sun Temple
Built in the thirteenth
century, it was conceived as a gigantic solar chariot with twelve
pairs of exquisitely-ornamented wheels dragged by seven rearing
horses. The temple comprised a sanctum with a lofty (presumably
over 68 m. high) sikhara, a jagamohana (30. m. square and 30. m.
high) and a detached nata-mandira (hall of dance) in the same axis,
besides numerous subsidiary shrines. The sanctum and the
nata-mandira have lost their roof. The nata-mandira exhibits a more
balanced architectural design than that of other Orissan temples.
The sanctum displays superb images of the Sun-god in the three
projections which are treated as miniature shrines. The sanctum and
the jagamohana together stand on a common platform studded with an
intricate wealth of decorative ornaments and sculptures, often of a
highly erotic type.
The roof of the jagamohana,
made of horizontal tiers grouped in three stages with life-size
female sculptures of matchless charm and delicacy adorning each
stage, the whole surmounted by two stupendous crowning members,
produces a picturesque contrast of light and shade and is
unparalleled for its grandeur and structural propriety. Majestic in
conception, this temple is indeed one of the sublimest monuments of
India, notable as much for its imposing dimensions and faultless
proportions as for the harmonious integration of architectural
grandeur with plastic elegance.
Mayadevi Temple :- To the
west of the main temple are the remains of temple no.2 popularly
called the temple of Mayadevi, believed to have been one of the
wives of Lord Surya. But the presence of the sun images as
parsvadevata in-situ indicate its dedication to the sun god, built
earlier than the main Sun temple. The temple facing east, consists
of a sanctum (deul) and a porch (Jagamohana) standing over a raised
platform, façade of which is relieved with ornamentation. The
superstructures of the sanctum and porch are missing. The interior
of the porch is notable for their sculptural treatment while the
sanctum is devoid of any deity. Stylistically, the temple is
assignable to circa late eleventh century
AD.
Vaishnava Temple:- The
small brick temple facing east in south-west corner of the compound
was discovered in 1956 during the sand clearance. Also called
temple no.3 is pancharatha on plan. It consists of a deul and a
Jagamohana but with the superstructure is missing and devoid of any
exterior decoration. Images of Balarama and two parsvadevatas of
Varaha and Trivikrama were unearthed (now displayed in
Archaeological Museum, Konark) proving its Vaishnava affiliation.
The temple is datable to circa eleventh century
A.D.
In the course of time Konak
along with its temples and sacred spots have lost their glories. It
can neither be definitely said as to how long this temple stood in
the fullness of its glory and splendour nor the causes of its
decay. There are however, many speculations on this. The exact date
and reason for the fall of this magnificent monument is still in
mystery. History is almost silent about it. Scholars also differ in
their opinions. In support of their views they putforth varied
views. The various speculations made as to the possible cause of
the fall of this magnificent temple are given
below.
Incomplete Temple
It is opined by some
historian that due to early death of the king Langula Narasimha
Dev, the builder of the Konark temple, the construction of the
temple had been left half-hazardly. As a result of this the
incomplete structure collapsed in course of time. But this view
stands without any basic data. It is rather established from the
records of Madala Panji of Puri Jagannath temple as well as from
some copper plates that the 1278 A.D. and the king Langula
Narasimha Dev reigned till 1282. Many historian are of the opinion
that the construction of the Konark temple was completed between
1253 and 1260 A.D. So the argument that due to non completion of
the construction the temple collapsed is not
tenable.
Insanctity
It is stated by some that
according to the legend of Dharmapad, due to committed suicide of
Dharmapada on the temple just after placing its crowning stone, the
temple lost its sanctity and considered as an unfortunate (Asuva)
element and was thus rejected. But it is recorded in the Madala
Panji and many historians are of opinion that Sun god had been
established in the temple and was being worshipped regularly for
years together. So this argument is also not acceptable, being
unfounded on history.Curse Of Sumanyu
The great poet of Orissa
Sri Radhanath Ray in his Kavya 'Chandrabhaga' has narrated a story
about the cause of the fall of temple. According to that Kavya,
Sumanyu Risi (saint) cursed the Sun god for his ill-behavior
towards his daughter Chandrabhaga, who committed suicide. Hence the
temple of the Sun god fell down. But such an imaginary story cannot
be taken as a historical occurrence.
Engineering Defects
An the opinion of some
Engineers, as usual with the progress of construction of the temple
walls, its outside and inside were being filled with sand. After
completion of the temple when the sands were cleared both from
inside and outside, due to imbalance of pressure of walls the
temple fell down. But many scholars do not agree with this
argument, when they find the existence of a throne of the Sun god
inside the temple. They also do not accept that such a procedure
was followed in constructing the Sun temple. Besides there are
historical documents that the Sun god was being worshipped in the
newly constructed temple for a considerable
period.
Earth Quake
Some scholars
are of the view that due to earthquake the temple fell down. It is
also not impossible on the part of a strong earthquake to demolish
such a large structure at a moment.
But there is
no proof in support of occuring such an earth quake in this area.
There is also no sign of suppression of the foundation of the
temple at any direction. Had there been any such a strong earth
quake causing the fall of the Sun temple, it could have also
created a devastation in Konark area. And such an occurrence could
have been remembered by the people as they have remembered the
story of Dharmapada, Ramachandi and Bisu Maharana. Nowhere there
exists such a devastating
statement.
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