Where do I begin writing about Konark?
When you lay eyes on the current state of the Konark Surya Mandir your heart bursts and aches. You cry for what has been done to it by the plunderers. It was in complete shambles in the 18th century covered by overgrowth and it is the Marathas that rediscovered it and started its clean up.
It is known history that KalaPahad invaded Konark a vibrant port in those times and destroyed this temple. This temple is built in the Kalinga architecture style and what remains today is only the Jagmohan mantapa of the temple which is no less magnificent at of height 100 ft. The vimana and the Nata mantapa have collapsed. The temple was built by NARSIMHADEVA 1 of Ganga dynasty in the 13 th century on the shore of Konark. Since then the sea has receded. This temple is built as the chariot of Sun God Surya. The vimana rose to 200 ft. On top of the vimana was a magnetic stone that kept the ferrogenous sandstone used to construct the temple together. KalaPahad had plundered the temple for its wealth and later the Portuguese and British for its magnet on the shikhar. Later the British stole the beautiful statues from this temple. The magnet built into the temple top kept the main statue suspended in the air. Removing that magnet and destruction of the main support made the entire vimana collapse to rubble. After the collapse of the temple caused by the vandals that statue of surya ๐ was never found.
Inspite of this destruction the Jagmohana and the raised platform of the temple still mesmerises the visitors. Embellished with beautiful carving depicting life of common people and the royals. It has bandhanas from Kamasutra decorated on the wall, foundations and temple top.
The ๐ sun’s first rays would fall on the deity inside the garbh gruha or sanct sanctorium that has been destroyed.
When we observe how technology and science was used in this 13th century temple we definitely know how evolved Bharat was! Industrial revolution happened only in the 18th century in Europe much later.
Social life was open minded and celebrated the pleasures of human life depicted thru these coital depicting sculptures. They served as education for the noobs and seasoned equally.
The splendid sculptures of flora and fauna are arranged such on the lower level and higher levels the humans depicting hierarchy in nature.
The whole temple chariot has seven horses drawing it and 24 wheels. The wheels stand for Kala chakra the wheels of time. They are sundials that tell time perfectly. The twelve months and the Krishna paksh and Shukla paksh can be calculated immaculately.
Surrounding the chariot temple are other temples dedicated to the smaller deities. There is also the pakshala and bhojan mantapa.
The Arun sthamba which was located between the Jagmohan and Nat mandap is now located in front of the lion gate or Simha dwar of Jagannath Puri mandir. It was shifted there by the Marathas for safe keeping.
I spent a lot of time observing the sculptures and architecture and marvelled at the heritage we inherited from our past. In gratitude for whatever remains.
Konark is visited even today by hordes. I can never do justice to this exquisite mandir in words. You must visit and see and experience for yourselves. Such is its magnetic magnificence!
