Konark – Magnificent Sun Temple
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Konark is situated at confortable distance from the famous religious and tourist centre of Puri (35 K.M.) and the capital city of Bhubaneswar (65 K.M.) in the state of Orissa, India.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Orissa unlike many other parts of India has the prized distinction of possessing an uninterrupted series of temples illustrating the history of the well-defined Kalinga (former name of Orissa) from its very inception to decline, and the Sun Temple of Konark marks the highest point of achievement.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Konark, the seat of World famous Sun Temple, located in the District of Puri, forms one of the three points of the "Golden Triangle of Tourism" in the State of Orissa, the other two being Bhubaneswar, the city of Temples and Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath. This Temple chariot of the Sun God on the golden sands of the Bay of Bengal is a 13th Century architectural marvel. Today Konark is not merely a symbol of Orissa's great architectural craftsmanship but also the most sought after centre of attraction for tourists all over the World. Its serene atmosphere coupled with a quiet but majestic sea-shore is today regarded as an ideal place for holidaying by domestic as well as foreign tourists.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
On the east sea coast houses the ruins of a temple, exquisitely built to resemble a gigantic chariot with impeccably carved wheels, columns and panels. It stands as a mute reminder of the times when Orissan architecture has reached its pinnacle.
History
King Narasimha Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty had ordered this temple to be built as a royal proclamation of the political supremacy of his dynasty. A workforce of 12 hundred artisans and architects invested their creative talent, energy and artistic commitment for an exhausting period of 12 years. The king had already spent an amount equivalent to the state's revenue receipts of 12 years. However the completion of the construction was nowhere near sight. Then the king issued a final command that the work be completed by a stipulated date. The team of architects headed by Bisu Maharana was at its wit's end. It was then that Dharmapada the 12 year old 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 temple construction, he was thorough in his study of the theories of temple architecture. He offered to solve the confounding problem of fixing the last copping stone at the top of the temple. He surprised everyone by doing that himself. But soon after this achievement the dead body of this adolescent prodigy was found on the sea beach at the foot of the temple.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Different opinions regarding the fall of Konark Sun 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 way. 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 reign till 1282. Many historians are of the opinion that the construction of the Konark temple was completed between 1253 and 1260 A.D.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- It is stated by some that according to the legend of Dharmapad, due to suicide of Dharmapad on the temple just after placing its crowning stone, the temple lost its sanctity and considered as an unfortunate 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.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- The great poet of Orissa Sri Radhanath Ray in his Poetry 'Chandrabhaga' has narrated a story about the cause of the fall of temple. According to that Poetry, Sumanyu Rishi (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.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- As per 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.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- Some scholars are of the view that due to an earthquake the temple fell down. It is also not impossible an earthquake can demolish such a large structure at a moment. But there is no proof in support of 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 strong earthquake causing the fall of the Sun temple, it could have also created 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.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- There is also an argument that the temple was affected due to Thunderstruck is also not acceptable. Since the temple walls are of 20 to 25 feet in thickness it is not at all possible on the part of any thunderstruck to disturb it in any manner.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- It is also stated that due to weak foundation of such a heavy structure the temple fell down. But as stated earlier the temple was founded on a deep gorge of a river to make it stronger. And also there is no sign of sinking in any part.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- It is said that in the part there was a load stone on the top of the Sun temple and due to its magnetic effects it was drawing vessels passing through the Konark sea resulting in heavy damage. In others view due to the magnetic effects of the load stone placed on the top of the Sun temple the compass fitted in the ships to show the direction, was being disturbed and was not functioning properly and it was a troubling task in the part of the captains to drive their vessels in right direction. So to make the shipping save, the Muslim voyagers took away the load stone from the Sun temple. This load stone on the temple was working as the central stone keeping all the stones of the temple wall in a balance. Due to its displacement the temple walls lost their balance and fell down in course of time.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- Recently some scholars have advanced the opinion that there was a big image of a Lion which is called Flying lion on the upper part of the Sun temple just above the porch. Now the said image is found lying in the broken condition on the ground in three places. Due to placement of such a heavy block of stone on the temple walls, it imbalance the wall and the wall collapsed.
Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India
- It is learnt from the Dharmapad story that the king Narasimha Dev had ordered the sculptors to complete the temple about a fortnight earlier than the scheduled time and also had threatened them if they fail to complete the temple within the stipulated time, all the sculptors will be heavily punished to death. As the Sutradhar (Chief Architect) Sri Sibei Samantaray expressed his inability, the king engaged another person to speed up the work in place of Sri Samantaray. Though the newly appointed Sutradhar completed the work by the stipulated time, he, however, failed in placing the Kalash (the crowning stone) of the temple. As the story goes, finally the Kalash was set up by a boy of 12 years. It is evident that as a result of this impracticable order of the king many things had gone wrong. This resulted in weakening the placement of the crowning stone, which could not be placed properly according to the basic plan of the temple. Due to unusual hasty wish of the king and that to changing the Sutradhar at the last moment, the crowning portion of the temple could not keep pace with its lower parts. As a result the temple walls collapsed being imbalanced within a very short period.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
The most popular cause rests with the Kalapahad as the root of the fall of Konark temple. According to the history of Orissa, Kalapahad invaded Orissa in 1508. Including Konark temple, he had also destroyed a number of Hindu temples in Orissa. It is described in the Madala Panji of Puri Jagannath temple that Kalapahad attacked Orissa in 1568 and it was an evil hour for Orissa. Including Konark temple he broke most of the images in most of the Hindu temples in Orissa. Though it was impossible to break the Sun temple of Konark, the stone walls of which are of 20 to 25 feet thick he somehow managed to displace the Dadhinauti (Arch stone) and thus made a way for the temple to collapse. He also broke most of the images and other side temples of Konark. Due to displacement of the Dadhinauti, the temple gradually collapsed and the roof of the Mukhasala also got damage due to the stroke of the stones falling down from the temple top.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Consequent upon, Orissa came under the Muslim administration in 1568 and there were constant attempts to destroy the Hindu temples. The Pandas of Puri, to save the sanctity of the Puri temple, took away the Lord Jagannath from the Srimandir and kept the image in a secret place. Similarly, it is said that the Pandas of Konark took away the presiding deity of the Sun temple out of the temple and put under sand for some years. Latter on the said image was removed to Puri and kept in the temple of Indra in the compound of the Puri Jagannath temple. According to others, the Puja image of the Konark temple is yet to be discovered. But others hold the view that the Sun image now kept in the National Museum, Delhi was the presiding deity of the Konark Sun temple.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
However, the Sun worship in the Konark temple was stopped consequent upon the removal of the image from the temple. This resulted in stopping of pilgrims to Konark. So also the port at Konark was closed due to attacks of pirates. Konark was as glorious a city for Sun worship as for commercial activities. But after the cessation of these activities, Konark turned to a deserted place and in ravages of time it became a field of pirates and wild animals. As a result Konark left to develop as a dense forest for years together.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
In 1626 the then king of Khurda, Raja Narasimha Dev, son of Purushotham Dev took away the Sun image to Puri along with two other moving deities - Sun and Moon. Now they are found in a temple in the compound of Puri Jagannath temple.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
It is recorded in the Madala Panji of Puri temple that in 1028 Raja Narasimha Dev had ordered for taking measurement of all the temples at Konark and made an account of the temples at Konark goddesses. At the time of measurement the Sun temple was in existence upto its Amalak sila, i.e. about 200 feet in height. Kalapahad had only destroyed its Kalash, the crowning stone and the Padma-Dhwaja, the lotus finial and the upper portions. Due to removal of this crowning stone the temple lost its balance and gradually started to fall down. The stroke of heavy stone pieces caused considerable damage to the porch.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
There was a big block of stone called Navagraha Patta placed in front of the Mukhasala. The then king of Khurda removed the said block to down. The king had taken away many sculptured stones from Konark and constructed some portions of Puri temple with them. Even he had broken its roof. During Marahatta time the outer compound wall of the Puri temple was constructed with the stone of Konark temple.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
It is reported that among all the temples the Nada Mandir or the Dancing hall of Konark was in its original form for a longer period and it was broken intentionally considering it as an unnecessary structure during the time of Marahatta administration.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
In the year 1779 a Marahatta Sadhu had taken away the Arun Pillar from Konark and put it in front of the Lion's Gate of Puri Jagannath temple. Thus by the end of 18th century Konark lost all its glories and had been turned to a dense forest. In course of time, the temple area thus became devoid of people being covered with dense forest and full with sands and filled with terrible animals and abided by pirates. It is said that even the local people feared to go to Konark in the broad day light.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
The measures adopted for the conservation of Konark temple have become a part of the history due to its extensiveness. Though the temple was built in 13th century it drew the attention of Government for its conservation only in the last part of the 19th century.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
At first, in 1806 Marine Board requested the Vice-President in Council to take measures against the removal of the stones and to ascertain the cost for the preservation of the edifice. But the Governor General did not agree to the proposal of conservation due to involvement of heavy expenditure. However he directed the Magistrate of Cuttack to prevent removal of stones. Then in 1838, came the depredation of the Raja of Khurda.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
The Asiatic Society of Bengal requested the Government to take care of this famous Temple. The Deputy Governor of Bengal, however, declined to interfere with the temple, except in case of spoliation and injury by individuals.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
At last due to the silence of Government in 1859 the Asiatic Society of Bengal proposed to remove the Nava-Graha architrave to the Indian Museum in Calcutta. As a first attempt in 1867 the Nava-Graha slab had been carried to a short distance, which was 3 km. far away from the sea by which the stone was to be dispatched but by then all the money exhausted. So the mission failed again.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
In 1881, the Bengal Government instructed Public Works Department to take preservation works. Besides jungle clearance, the only work done in 1882-83 was that the colossal pairs of elephants, horses and lions-on-elephants, which had originally stood in front of the three staircase of the porch were mounted on masonry platforms in front, but some meters away from the respective staircase. Unfortunately, they were set in wrong positions with their faces towards the temple instead of away from it. To make matter still worse, the two lions-on-elephants had been erected on the top of a mound, which on clearance of sand later, revealed a large pillared hall, Bhog Mandap (offering hall).
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
In 1892, the Lieutenant Governor Sir Charles A. Eliot felt the necessity of conservation of temple. So he inclined to grant a moderate sum for the upkeep of the buildings by jungle clearance and for buttressing the hanging parts and also for collection and transportation of the fallen sculptures including the Nava-Graha architrave to the Indian Museum. So a second attempt was made to bring the Nava-Graha architrave to Calcutta but it failed to do so. In 1893 due to the objection of local people, the Bengal Government ordered the Public Works Department not to touch it in future. So the slab had been left there till the second decade of the 19th century. Thirteen sculptured pieces, however, brought to Calcutta in 1894 and are now in the Indian Museum. Lastly the development work of Konark was avoided for a long time in the face of combatable difficulties and huge expenses incurred in course of its recovery.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Impressed with the necessity and urgency of the structural repairs to the shattering fabric of the temple, Sir John Woodburn, in December 1990, issued an order to the effect. In February 1901, T. Block, Archeological Surveyor of the Bengal Circle, submitted a note to the Government of Bengal suggesting the unearthing of the buried portion of the temple compound, the reflecting of the broken mouldings on the walls of the porch and the preservations of the portions standing in a dangerous position. The Government of Bengal accepted the suggestions, and an estimate was prepared almost immediately for clearing the sand around the porch and the compound wall and excavating rubbish and stones from the basement of the porch.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
The clearance of sand and stones on three sides of the porch gradually brought to light the superb berm along with horses and wheels and several structures including the Mukhasala. To save Mukhasala they constructed another wall inside the Mukhasala of 15 feet breadth and closed all the doors of Mukhasala after filling up inside with sand. These measures saved the Mukhasala or whatever remained of it from the ravages of time. It stands still wonderful in the minds of its visitors who remain wonderstruck in its architectural beauty. With much difficulty, finding the broken parts of western and southern sides of Mukhasala, attempts were made to save the ruined Mukhasala from collapse. Repair works of Mukhasala and Nada Mandir was completed in 1905.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
In 1906, the two lion-on-elephants, installed on the top of the Bhoga-mandapa, were gently brought down and planted not in their original position but in front of the eastern staircase of this very structure. The clearance of the mammoth pile of debris to the west of the porch was taken up towards the end of 1905. This brought to light not only the existing portion of the sanctuary with three chlorite images of the Parshva Devatas and the carved platform inside the sanctum sanctorum, but also a large number of chlorite sculptures. The security of the images of the Parshva Devatas was ensured by building niches around them. As the entrance to the sanctum was blocked with the filling of the porch, an access to it was provided by a flight of steps from the extant top of its west wall.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Along with these works was taken up, in 1906, a large-scale plantation of the Casuarina and Poonang trees in the direction of the sea, so as to check the advance of the drifting sand and thereby to minimize the effect of the abrasive action of the sand-laden winds.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
The removal of sand and debris behind the sanctuary exposed, in 1909, the extant portion of a beautiful Maya Devi temple. Thus, by 1910 the initial task of conservation, incorporating the entire items essential for rendering the monument stable, was completed at a cost of nearly a lakh of rupees.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Attention to the monuments continued even afterwards, and by 1922 all the major structural repairs like the rebuilding of the wall-tops of the sanctuary of main temple and Maya Devi temple and the Bhoga-mandapa and making them watertight by laying concrete on the exposed tops. The restoration of missing stones and pointing the open joints were more or less complete. More Casuarina trees were planted. Sand and fallen stones continued to be removed. Lightning-conductors were also fixed, while a sculpture-shed was constructed in 1915 to house the images and important carved pieces.
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| Konark Sun Temple Puri Orissa India |
Since then small-scale repairs, like the clearance of vegetation, re-setting of loose stones, pointing and filling in the crevices were affected annually till 1953. Main temple and Maya Devi temple also received chemical treatment by way of removal of moss and lichen, elimination of injurious salts by the application of paper-pulp and fungicidal treatment for some years beginning with 1938-39. Till 1938 the actual conservation works were the responsibility of the provincial Public Works Department, the Archeological Survey of India working only in an inspecting and advising capacity. Since 1939, the works have been carried out departmentally by the Archeological Survey of India.
The monument was inspected in1949 by the Executive Engineer of the Archeological Survey of India, who observed certain major damages. It was felt, even after the sustained work for half a century. However large-scale repairs and chemical treatment were still needed. In 1950, the Government of India appointed a committee of experts on archaeological conservation, engineering, art, architecture, geology and chemistry to go into the whole question of the preservation of the monuments and to find out appropriate measures for prolonging their life. The principal recommendations of the Committee were: (i) testing of humidity contents inside the sealed porch of main temple; (ii) making of the entire main temple watertight from outside by grouting, filling in of joints, rectification of wrong slopes and concreting the tops of the irregular masonry; (iii) removal of sand from the compound with necessary provision for drainage of water; (iv) rebuilding of the damaged compound-wall to the height of the original coping; (v) chemical treatment of the surface; and (vi) planting of a thick belt of Casuarina and Cashew-nut trees in the direction of the sea so as to produce a screening and shielding effect for the temple both from sand drift and consequent attrition.
Since 1953 the recommendations have been persistently followed up by the Archeological Survey of India. Now both the Central and State Governments are taking vigorous steps for preservation of the temple and improvement of Konark. Government has taken up the management and for development of Konark a Master Plan is being prepared. A marine drive is now under construction from Konark to Puri keeping the blue sea in one side and the Casuarina plantation on the other. A Light House has also been established at Konark. It is hoped that once again Konark would become a prominent township and a center of international tourists and would attract the visitors from all over the world as it was doing in the days of yore.
In the course of time Konark 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 put forth varied views.
The Black Pagoda
The main Temple was called by European sailors "The Black Pagoda" as it formed an important landmark for them in their coastal voyage. Contrasting to this, the white washed Temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri was known as the white pagoda.
Legends
"Konarka”, the place bears a name composed of two World elements: Kona meaning corner and Arka meaning the Sun.
The Sun god worshipped in Ark Kshetra is also called Konark. In 'Brahma Purana' the Sun God in Ark-Kshetra has been described as Konaditya. So it is evident that the place where the Kona Aditya (or Kona-Arka, the Sun god) was worshipped was also popularly called Konark. It is described in Purushotham Mahatmya that Lord Vishnu after killing the demon Gayasur, to commemorate the glory of his victory, placed his Shankha (conch) in Puri, Chakra (disc) in Bhubaneswar, Gada (mace) in Jajapur and Padma (lotus) in Konark and they were later known as Shankha Kshetra, Chakra Kshetra, Gada Kshetra and Padma Kshetra respectively.
Surya (Sun) has been a popular deity in India since Vedic period. In ancient times worship of Sun god was in vogue and the people were accustomed with the worship of two Supreme deities - one mother Earth as Dharitri Maata and the other the Sun, the Dharam Devata. Sun god is regarded as the supreme lord of the universe and the prime object of life giving energy, being the healer of diseases and bestower of desires.
It is described in Puranas that even the Gods like Sun and Siva themselves had performed penance in this Arka Kshetra to get rid of their sins. According to puranic legends a journey to this sacred place removes all sorts of sin and the person becomes cure from diseases. Those who stay overnight in this place, all their desires become fulfilled by the Sun god. Those who die in this land get into the Jyotirloka. A visit to the Sun god on a Sunday makes the person to live in the house of Sun.
In later ages the five supreme Gods worshipped by Hindus were Ganesh (destroyer of obstacles and fulfiller of desires), Vishnu (the cosmic sustainer of the phenomenal universe), Siva (the cosmic destroyer of the universe), Durga (the mother goddess and source of all energies), and the Sun (the life giving energy). They are called Pancha-Devata. In Orissa there are five different Kshetra or religious centers celebrated for these Pancha Devata viz: Vinayak or Ganesh Kshetra at Maha Vinayak hills in the district of Cuttack, Vishnu or Shankha (the attributes in the hands of Lord Vishnu) Kshetra at Puri, Siva or Ekamra Kshetra at Bhubaneswar, Durga or Viraja Kshetra at Jajpur or Yajanapur where Yajati Keshri, worthy king of Keshri dynasty, performed an Asvamedha-Yajna (horse sacrifice) on the bank of the river Vaitarani and Surya or Arka Kshetra at Konark. So, Konark as it appears has sanctity as a Kshetra much earlier than the present temple.
It was dedicated to the Sun-God (Arka) popularly called Biranchi-Narayan, and the tract in which it is situated was known as Arka-Kshetra as well as Padma-kshetra. Among the five great religious zones or Kshetra which were located in Orissa, Konark was considered to be one, the other four being Puri, Bhubaneswar, Maha Vinayak, and Jajpur. There are a number of smaller shrines situated in the neighborhood of the sun temple. In them are found Rameswar, Chitreswara, Tribeniswara and Utpaleswar, all Siva-lingas and Ramachandi Rudrani, Khileswari, Charchika and Chitreswari, various forms of goddess Durga. Legends embodied in the Kapila Samhita, the Madala Panji, and the Prachi-mahatmya; take the sanctity of Konark back to mythical times. The legends of these late texts are an obvious adaptation of a much earlier tradition as recorded in the Bhavisya Purana and the Samba Purana.
According to mythology, Samba, son of Lord Krishna was smitten with leprosy due to the curse of Lord Krishna. Samba for twelve years underwent severe penance at Mitravana near the confluence of Chandrabhaga River with the sea at Konark and ultimately succeeded in pleasing the God Surya, the healer of all skin diseases and was cured of his illness. In gratitude, he decided to erect a temple in the honour of Surya. The day following his cure, while Samba was bathing in the Chandrabhaga he discovered an image of the Sun God, which had been fashioned out of Surya's body by Viswakarma. Samba installed this image in a temple built by him in Mitravana, where he propitiated the God. Since then throughout the ages this place has been regarded as sacred".
A shallow pool of water is known as the Chandrabhaga, where even now crowds of pilgrims take a bath before sun rise on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Magha (January-February).A fair also takes place on this occasion. Once in the year the deserted holy place of Surya thus throbs with religious emotion. This is likely a survival of an ancient practice following the construction of the temple. Magha-Saptami is mentioned in the Madala Panji as one of the festival of this holy centre. It is also referred to the Brahma Purnima in connection with the description of Konark.
