Konark Chakra
Recently, the 18th G20 Summit was held in New Delhi on September 9-10, 2023 under the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. The summit was held at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Center in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
A wall depicting the historic Konark Chakra from the Sun Temple of Odisha was installed at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre.
Konark Sun Temple
- Konark Sun Temple was built in 1250 BC. It was built by King Narasimhadev I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. It is in Konark, located on the sea coast in Puri district of Odisha state of India.
- This temple dedicated to Lord Surya looks like a 100 feet high chariot with huge wheels and horses.
- This temple is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Konark Sun Temple is depicted on the reverse side of the Indian 10 rupee note. The Sun Temple is the pinnacle of Kalinga temple architecture.
- It was also called the “Black Pagoda” by European sailors because it appeared black due to its construction of huge black stones. The Jagannath Temple of Puri was called the “White Pagoda”.
Key Features:
- This temple represents the chariot of the Sun God, with twelve pairs of wheels pulled by seven horses depicting its movement across the sky.
- The chakras have 24 spokes which symbolize the 24 hours of a day. The wheels also function as sundials, as the shadows cast by the spokes indicate the time of day.
- Above the vimana was a tall tower with a shikhara (crown cover), also known as Rekha Deul, which was demolished in the 19th century.
- The Jahmogana (audience hall or pavilion) on the east side is the dominant structure of the ruins with its pyramidal shape.
- Far to the east the Natmandir (dance hall), now roofless, is set on a raised platform.
Source – Indian Express
