Konark
Temple 
The
crowning glory of Oriya temple architecture, the 13th century Sun temple also
known as ' the Black Pagoda', comes with a baggage of centuries - old myths and
legends. Legends say that Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, was afflicted by leprosy,
brought about by his father's curse on him. After 12 years of penance, he was
cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built this temple.
The
Sun Temple Built by Raja Narsimhadeva of the Ganga dynasty, in the
13th century AD, the temple is a pageant of human grandeur, in its perception,
and in the execution of even the finest details. It resembles a colossal chariot,
with 24 wheels, pulled by seven straining horses, and has a three-tiered pyramidal
roof topped off by a fine spire. The Sun - God's chariot, also represents the
seven days of the week, and the 24 hours of the day, in its concept. The temple
is a brilliant chronicle in stone, with impressive sculptures. Every aspect of
life is represented here, and the erotic imagery, depicts the sublimation of human
love manifested in countless forms. Scenes from court, civic life and war are
also done with great precision.
Unlike the other temples of the Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri
region, the Konark temple had two smaller outer halls, completely separate from
the main structure. The assembly-hall and the tower were built on an imposing
platform, which were carved into meticulously crafted twelve pairs of decorated
wheels, each 10 feet in diameter. The entrance is reached by a broad flight of
steps, flanked on either side by prancing horses, the whole representing the chariot,
in which the Sun-God rides across the heavens. The court of the temple, was decorated
with large free-standing sculptures of great strength and beauty. Now protected
under the World Heritage List, the temple's interior was filled - up in 1903 A.D.,
by the then British Lt. Governor of Bengal, to save it from deterioration.
Festivals The Chandrabhaga Mela or Magha Saptami mela in
the month of February, is a grand religious festival. Thousands of pilgrims converge
on the pool, on this day to take a holy dip in its curative waters, and then shuffle
off to the beach where, in accordance with an age-old custom mentioned in the
puranas, they watch the sun rise over the sea. The event is followed by
the
puja of the Navagraha.
Those interested in attending the Konark
Dance Festival, held in the Open air Auditorium north of the Sun Temple, should
visit during the first week of December.
··»
Monuments in India
—› Humayun's Tomb,
Delhi —› India
Gate, Delhi —› Khajuraho
Temples —› Konark
Temple —› Lake
Palace, Udaipur —›
Qutub Minar, Delhi
—› Taj Mahal, Agra
—› Umaid
Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur —›
Ajanta Ellora
—› Charminar, Hyderabad
—› Fatehpur
Sikri, Agra —› Gateway
of India, Mumbai
