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| Front view of the temple |
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| The chariot wheel |
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| Rising Sun |
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| Midday Sun |
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| Erotic figures on sides of the chariot |
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| Entrance of the temple |
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| ARUNA STHAMBA IN PURI |
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| Surya's Statue in Delhi Museum |
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| statue near entrance |
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| The left overs of main temple |
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| scuptures of dancers in dancing hall |
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| 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.
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| Dancing hall |
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| Konark Dance Festival |
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| sculptures of dancers |
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| 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.
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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
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28th March, 2015 Somaseshu Gutala
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