THE WONDER--TEMPLE AT KONARK

               
 

Front view of the temple

The chariot wheel

             

         

Rising Sun

Midday Sun

                                     

Erotic figures on sides  of the chariot

Entrance of the temple

                                     

ARUNA STHAMBA IN PURI

Surya's Statue in Delhi Museum

         

statue near entrance

The left overs of main temple

                 






             

scuptures of dancers in dancing hall

dancing damsels

                           












                               1)      Aloof away from the bustle of crowded towns
                                   And  Once a busy port for all in ancient days
                                   Not far from sea this sun-temple well-known;
                                   And where saints did penance and obtained grace
                                   Though ruined now, still shines with glorious past
                                   Beyond our fancy her heavenly art 
                                   Filled with wondrous beauty and skill in every part.

                            2)     This chariot-shaped shrine built in black granite
                                    With its massive pagoda of imposing height
                                    Fitted with iron beams to strengthen its might
                                    With powerful magnets atop to hold its weight
                                    An unparallelled technical marvel we find
                                    Where arts and sciences blend unique in kind
                                    A grandiose construction amazing every mind.

                           3)      The magnetic pull deflected the ships aground
                                    The enemies envious of royal power
                                    Bombarded the peak with a thundering sound
                                    Like melting clouds down crased the weighty tower
                                    Desecrated by foes the sanctum at last
                                    Her lofty pillars and sculptures lost
                                    Still seen a huge pile of fragmented wonders vast.

                          4)       Lord Surya made of finest chlorite stone
                                    In dark green glossy hue with majestic face
                                    Girdled in gold and decked with diamond crown
                                    Facing east adored by heavenly fays
                                    A stalwart standing figure with brilliant hue
                                    From ravages of foes some one did rescue
                                    By whom or where -- beyond our guess or view.

                         5)       The rising sun in His fresh splendor shone 
                                   Holding in His hands two lotus-blooms upright
                                   In His golden chariot by seven steeds drawn
                                   In southern niche chiselled in glossy chlorite
                                   As angels kneel with reverence and devoutly greet
                                   While divinities danced with rhythmic beat
                                   Like Brahma, shone Haridashwa, a visual treat.

                        6)        Blazing His way towards the western hill
                                   The mid-day sun rode on His running steed
                                   Sitting erect, like Rudra, with mighty will
                                   While angels praised His dazzling dynamic speed
                                   With invigorating strength burst forth His rays
                                   Destroyer Of Evil, chasing darkness away!
                                   Energise us, Vivaswan! Guide us in righteous ways!

                        7)        The setting sun in northern niche is found
                                   Seated on His weary stallion that bent
                                   Its legs tired with its long diurnal round
                                   The Lord like Vishnu seemed as he slowly went
                                   Exhausted after His day's arduous ride
                                   Flanked by His consorts and guards standing beside
                                   Infusing hope with His crimson countenance espied.

                       8)        Twelve pairs of stony wheels support the shrine
                                  On the paneled sides of the chariot do we find
                                  Carved miniature figures with gestures fine
                                  With sensual appeal as if to test our mind
                                  Lovers engaged in impassioned amorous play
                                  Unashamed with bare limbs in sexual postures lay
                                  A treasure of sensual pleasures in tempting ways.

                      9)         Indulging in free sex with many a maid
                                  The lover gave no scope for any complaint;
                                  Young couples interlocked under the serpent-shade
                                  The passionate maid raged without restraint
                                  With her many lovers in frenzy played;
                                  A horde of animals and birds in wooded glade
                                  A candid celebration of life displayed.

                  

Dancing hall

Konark Dance Festival

                                              

sculptures of dancers

Sculptures on the walls

                                                                    






                    10)         The dancing hall, the crest jewel of art
                                  On lofty plinth with massive pillars in sand-stone
                                  With sculptured designs engraved on every part;
                                  In graceful postures dancing damsels shown;
                                  Though roofless now, once beamed with glittering lights
                                  Where royal dancers whirled with musical delight
                                  Worshipping Aditya, lord of life-giving light.

                    11)         Here son of Krishna did penance intense
                                  Bathing in holy river which merged with the sea
                                  For twelve long years in the forest dense
                                  Praying to Sun to get cured of his leprosy;
                                  Blessed by Lord he found an idol on the strand
                                  Installed it with joy in the temple grand
                                  And many more temples rose on this sacred land.

                    12)         Lord Vishnu left his Lotus near the river side
                                  And in Sri Kshestra, His white conch divine
                                  After slaying the demon with victorious pride
                                  This place attained fame as the Lotus-Shrine;
                                  Resisting mighty foes and Time's devouring sway;
                                  Let us protect this heritage in every possible way
                                  This marvelous epic in stone for ever to stay.

                                                  XX****************************XX


        Note:

            1)     Konark temple, built in black granite, (often called 'The Black
                    pagoda") was built during the reign of Narasimhadeva in 13 th
                    century near the shore of the sea to commemorate his victory
                    on his enemies.Even before this temple, there was evidence that 
                    a temple had been constructed in 7th century by Pundara Kesari,
                    or Puranjaya of Somavamshi dynasty. There used to be another 
                    temple dating back to 9th century. In ancient times in Mitravana
                    near the shores of the sacred river Chandrabhaga, Samba, son of
                    Sri Krishna, did penance here for 12 years to get cured of leprosy,
                    as a result of a curse from his father. While bathing in the river he
                    saw a beautiful statue of sun-God made by Viswakarma out of Lord
                    Surya's body.He installed it in the temple. Now no trace of these old 
                    temples remain. In course of time the river was dried up and the
                    sea moved back nearly  two miles away from this site. Once konark
                    was a busy port and the kings  had trade connections with south
                    eastern countries.
           
          2)      In 1243 King Narasimhadeva defeated Tughan Khan, Governor of 
                   Bengal appointed by Nasiruddin Mahummad, sultan of Delhi. He
                   built this temple to commemorate his victory. In 1568  the temple
                   was damaged by the army of Kalapahad, Muslim General of the
                   Mughal Governor during the reign of Mukunda Gajapathi. In 17th
                   century the foreigners dismantled the  huge tower containing
                   powerful magnets on its top as their ships were diverted from right
                   direction. The huge 229-feet tall tower fell and the main idol in
                   the sanctum was rescued from damage by the king of Khurda who
                   took it to Puri and installed it within the temple premises. But some
                   are of the opinion that it was in Delhi Museum or it might have been
                   carried away by the foreigners. The Aruna Stambha, a lofty pillar
                   measuring about 33 feet and 8 inches,at the entrance of the temple
                   was taken away to Puri temple by the Maratha Guru, Sri Brahmachari
                   Gosain during the reign of Divyasinghadev. 

           3)    The main sanctum of the temple is filled with sand and rocks and is
                   no more accessible. The 229-feet audience hall (Jagamohan) and
                  129-feet high dining hall (Bhog Mandir) survive. One can see the 
                  sculptures of gods and goddesses along with beautiful designs on
                  walls and pillars of these two halls.Though the main idol was missing
                  one can see three Surya images carved in chlorite stone outside on
                  three walls of the temple showing the morning sun, midday sun and
                  setting sun carved in a befitting style with gods and angels escorting
                  the Lord of light. The Prashantha Surya (creator) in the morning seems
                  calm and peacful with fresh vigour and energy. The mid-day sun or
                  Madhyanha Surya, like Rudra, appears powerful destroying dark forces.
                  The Astachala Surya or setting sun seems tired with his long journey 
                  and like Lord Vishnu, the protector, seems peaceful and gentle. Once
                  there had been 22 subsidiary temples of various gods and goddesses
                  around this huge shrine. Most of them were destroyed by the enemies
                 and now only the ruined shrine of Maya Devi (spouse of Surya) is seen
                 on the south western side of the main temple. There is another ruined
                 temple of Vishnu with sculptures of trivikrama, Balaram and Varaha

                 found on the site.

4) The main attraction of the temple is the huge chariot which formed the foundation for the temple.The chariot has 12 pairs of wheels (each measuring about nine feet and nine inches in diameter) beautifully decorated with carved designs on its axis and borders and the chariot drawn by seven horses, four on the right and three on the left. Now only six horses are seen.The wheels,like sun dials, show time accurately to a minute by the shadow of the sun's rays that fall on their rims.On the sides of the chariot one can see an astounding variety of life styles, characters and fashions of various times.Various animals,birds,royal persons,common people,gods,mythical animals,demon,yakshas (demi-gods),and serpent-couples are carved with minute details.Especially the erotic poses of loving couples sculptured as per rules of Kama Sutra make one remember the Khajuraho sculptures  which are well-known for their sexual and amorous appeal.The reason behind this type of sculptures is to show the importance of sensual enjoyments in the lives and also to show that sensual pleasures should not be looked down with ascetic attitude. Some say that these sexual sculptures were meant to ward off evil spirits.Anyhow these sculptures show the intense emotional life led by the people of those times.

     5)       The Dancing hall erected just in front of the temple is a marvellous
               piece of architecture showing the poses of various dancers dressed
               and ornamented in various styles. The Odissi dance evolved from this
               picturesque demonstration of these sculptures.Even now Konark Dance
               Festival is celebrated in the open air auditorium in the backdrop of the
               majestic sun temple in the month of December, a tradition instituted by
               the late Odissi Padma Shree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan since 1989. 
  
               References :

                       1)    Haridashwa  =One whose chariot is drawn by green-colored
                               horses or who wins the hearts of others by his handsome 
                               personality.

                       2)      Vivaswan  = Master of the rays who shines brightly.

                       3)      Aditya     =   Son of Aditi (Mother of gods) or one
                                                   who removes sorrow or suffering.


                      4)     Twelve forms of Surya in twelve months of the year :
                              Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivaswan, Tvastha,
                              Vishnu, Anshuman, Bhaga, Pusha and Parjanya. 

              5)  After slaying the demon = Vishnu after slaying Gayasur left His                                       conch in Puri, His Discus in Bhuvaneshwar, His mace in Jajapur                                   and His lotus in Konark of his victory. Hence Konark is called                                        Lotus shrine or "Padma Kshetra". 

                  This temple was declared as world heritage site by UNESCO in 1984.

                          

                 "Konark was a superhuman work and an archaeological marvel."

                "Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man."-- Tagore
         
                                  ******************************************* 


                          28th March, 2015                          Somaseshu Gutala