 Konark Sun Temple is located , in the state of Orissa close to the sacred town of Puri. The sun Temple of Konark is devoted to the sun God or Surya. It's a masterpiece of Orissa's medieval architecture. Sun temple continues to be declared a globe heritage web site by UNESCO.
The Konark temple is widely identified not just for its architectural grandeur but additionally for that intricacy and profusion of sculptural function. The whole temple continues to be conceived as being a chariot in the sun god with 24 wheels, each and every about 10 feet in diameter, using a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. 7 horses drag the temple. Two lions guard the entrance, crushing elephants. A flight of actions lead to the main entrance.
The Nata Mandir in front from the Jagamohana can also be intricately carved. About the base in the temple, and up the partitions and roof, are carvings in the erotic type. You'll find images of animals, foliage, males, warriors on horses along with other interesting patterns. You can find 3 pictures from the Sun God, positioned to catch the rays with the sun at dawn, noon and sunset.
Place
The temple city of Konark is situated inside the eastern state of Orissa at a distance of about 65 km from Bhubaneswar and 35 km from Puri. The town extends between longitude 86.08°E and latitude 19.53°N.
History
Konark derives its name from Konarka, the presiding deity from the Sun Temple. Konarka is actually a mixture of two words, Kona (corner) and Arka (sun), which, when blended, indicates the sun with the corner. Konark was one from the earliest centres of Sun worshipping in India. The location finds mention in the Puranas as Mundira or Mundirasvamin, a title which was subsequently changed by Konaditya or Konarka. Other than the Puranas, other spiritual texts also position towards the existence of a sun temple at Konark lengthy just before the present temple.
Konark was once a bustling port of Kalinga and had excellent maritime trade relations with Southeast Asian countries. The present Sun Temple was almost certainly developed King Narashimhadev I (Ad 1238-64) with the Ganga dynasty to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. The temple fell into disuse in the early seventeenth century after it had been desecrated by an envoy from the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
Nonetheless, legend has it which the temple was built by Samba, the son of Lord Krishna. It truly is stated that Samba was afflicted by leprosy, introduced about by his father's curse on him. After 12 a long time of penance, he was cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built this temple.
Architecture in the Temple
The massive structure from the temple, now in ruins, sits in solitary splendor surrounded through the drifting sands. The entire temple has become created within the form of a chariot carrying the Sun God across the heavens. The large intricate wheels in the chariot, that are carved about the foundation with the temple, will be the major sights with the temple. The spokes of those wheels serve as sundials, along with the shadows formed by these can give the exact time with the day. The pyramidal roof from the temple, made of sandstone, soars over thirty m in peak. Such as the temples at Khajuraho, the Sun Temple at Konark is also covered with erotic sculptures.
The Temple Chariot with the Sun God
Standing imperiously in its compound of lawns and casuarina trees, 35km north of Puri around the coast street, this majestic pile of oxidizing sandstone is considered to be the apogee of Orissan architecture and one in the finest religious structures anywhere in the world. The temple is all the a lot more impressive for having languished below a huge mound of sand considering that it fell into neglect 3 hundred or so many years ago. A group of seven galloping horses and twenty-four exquisitely carved wheels located lining the flanks of the raised platform showed the temple had been conceived inside the form of a colossal chariot to the sun god Surya, its presiding deity.
Woman drummer of Sun Temple
The temple is really a brilliant chronicle in stone, with a large number of pictures which includes deities, the Surasundaris, heavenly damsels, and human musicians, lovers, dancers, and different scenes from courtly daily life.
Maituna - Sun Temple
Equally as sensational was the re-discovery amongst the ruins of some extraordinary erotic sculpture. Konark is plastered with loving partners locked in ingenious amatory postures drawn from your Kama Sutra - a feature that may possibly nicely explain the remark made by one of excellent poet of Mughal Dynasty,Abdul Fazl, within the sixteenth century: "Even those who are challenging to make sure you," he enthused, "stand astonished at its sight."
Sacred Pond
A stone's throw away from Konark seashore lies the sacred pond exactly where Samba was cured of leprosy - the miracle that allegedly inspired the founding of the sun temple. For a few of days every yr in the course of the complete or "white" moon phase of Magha (Jan/Feb), chandrabhaga can also be the internet site of the big spiritual festival, the Magha Saptami Mela.
Festivals
Magha Saptami
The Chandrabhaga Mela or Magha Saptami mela within the month of February, is really a grand religious festival. A large number of pilgrims converge on the pool, on this day to just take a holy dip in its curative waters, and then shuffle off for the beach exactly where, in accordance with an age-old custom talked about within the puranas, they look at the sun rise more than the sea. The event is followed by the puja in the Navagraha.
Those considering attending the Konark Dance Festival, held inside the Open air Auditorium north of the Sun Temple, really should visit during the very first week of December.
Konark Dance Festival
A dance festival is held in an open-air theatre constructed near the Sun Temple each year within the month of December. Identified because the Konark dance festival, the event brings collectively eminent classical dancers of India who carry out various dance types like Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chhow. The classical extravaganza can be a journey through ecstasy, and a visit to Konark in the course of this time gives you using a mixture of artwork, craft, enjoyable and frolic.
Magha Saptami (Sun Festival) is held at Konark around the seventh day (saptami) in the vivid 50 % in the month of Magha (January/February). In the course of this festival, the pilgrims bathe within the sea ahead of sunrise after which move forward to the temple to worship.
The way to Get There Air
There's no immediate link from Konark by air. Nearest air heads are Bhubaneswar and Puri. Indian Airways, Jet Air, and Sahara hook up Bhubaneswar to Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Hyderabad, and Nagpur.
Rail
The nearest railheads are Puri and Bhubaneswar. These two stations are linked to all the significant metropolitan areas in India via long-distance trains.
Street
Orissa State Street Transportation Corporation and personal buses supply links with all components from the state. Deluxe coach services from Calcutta, Bijapur, and Vishakhapatnam are accessible.
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