The Konark Sun temple is dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya, and, conceived as a giant stone chariot with 12 wheels, it is the most famous of the few sun temples built in India. It is located about 35 km northeast of the city of Puri on the coastline in the state of Odisha (earlier Orissa). It was built c. 1250 CE by King Narasimhadeva I (r. 1238-1264 CE) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty (8th century CE - 15th century CE). The temple in its present state was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1984 CE. Although many portions are now in ruins, what remains of the temple complex continues to draw not only tourists but also Hindu pilgrims. Konarak stands as a classic example of Hindu temple architecture, complete with a colossal structure, sculptures and artwork on myriad themes.
The Eastern Gangas established their kingdom in the Kalinga region in eastern India (present-day Odisha state) at “the beginning of the eighth century CE” (Tripathi, 368), though their fortunes rose from the eleventh century CE onwards. The greatest king of this dynasty was Anantavarman Chodaganga (1077 - 1147 CE), who ruled for about 70 years. He was not only a formidable warrior but also a patron of arts, and greatly favoured temple building. The great temple of the god Jagannatha at Puri, begun by him, 'stands as a brilliant monument to the artistic vigour and prosperity of Orissa during his reign' (Majumdar, 377). His successors continued the tradition, with the most notable being Narasimhadeva I who not only completed the construction of the Jagannatha temple but also the temple at Konarak.
Konarak is mentioned in ancient Hindu texts having mythological significance like the Puranas. Konaditya (Konarak) was believed to be the most sacred place for the worship of Surya in the entire Odisha region. In gratitude for healing his skin ailment, Samba, one of the god Krishna’s many sons, erected a temple in the honour of Surya. He even brought some Magi (sun-worshippers) from Persia, as the local Brahmanas (the priestly class among the Hindus) refused to worship Surya’s image. This story was associated with a sun temple in north-western India, but was shifted to Konarak in order 'to enhance the sanctity of the new centre by making it the site of Samba’s original temple' (Mitra, 10). Konarak, over time, had emerged as an important site for sun worship and hence, a mythological background was considered necessary to increase its importance for devotees.
#KonarkTemple #SunTemple #TemplesOfIndia #Documentary
Connect with Prasar Bharati Archives:
Visit PB Archives WEBSITE: archives.prasa...
Like PB Archives on FACEBOOK: / ddarchives
Follow PB Archives on TWITTER: / centralarchives
Follow PB Archives on INSTAGRAM: / pbarchives
You can watch our Archivals footage also at android platform on NewsOnAir PrasarBharati Official app AIR News+Live from the Google play store: play.google.co...
Subscribe our channel for more updates.
21 авг 2024
