Konark Sun Temple (Odisha)
The sand used by the British for permanence can be removed recently inside the Konark Sun Temple.
The Archaeological Survey of India is working on a roadmap to safely remove sand from the sealed auditorium of the Konark Sun Temple. This hall is also known as Jagmohan.
To save it from falling, the British filled it with sand 118 years ago.
About Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha):
- It was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in 1238-1250 AD. It is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
- It is a 13th century Kalinga style temple. It is part of the Golden Triangle of Odisha along with Puri and Bhubaneshwar. It represents the chariot of the Sun God. In this twelve pairs of wheels pulled by seven horses represent their movement towards the sky.
Kalinga style of temple architecture:
- Identified as a subclass under the Nagara style. It consists of two parts—a sanctum (called a duality) where an idol is enshrined, and an auditorium (jagamohan) where devotees sit.
- The ground floor of the main temple is almost always square. The exterior of the temples is elaborately ornamented. Their interiors are usually ornamented. These usually have boundary walls.
Other Major Sun Temples in India:
- Brahmanya dev temple at Unao, Madhya Pradesh.
- Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat.
- Katarmal Sun Temple Almora (Uttarakhand).
- Sri Surya Pahar (Assam).
- Dakshinaarka Sun Temple (Bihar).
- Suryan Koil (Tamil Nadu).
- Arasavalli Suryanarayana Temple (Andhra Pradesh) etc.
Source – The Hindu
