Konark Sun Temple
Konark Sun Temple
Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE (year 1250) Sun temple at Konark about 35 kilometres northeast from Puri city, Odisha.
The temple is attributed to king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty about 1250 CE.
Dedicated to the Hindu Sun God Surya, what remains of the temple complex has the appearance of a 100-foot (30 m) high chariot with immense wheels and horses, all carved from stone.
The structures and elements that have survived are famed for their intricate artwork, iconography, and themes, including erotic kama and mithuna scenes.
Also called the Surya Devalaya, it is a classic illustration of the Odisha style of Architecture or Kalinga architecture.
This temple was called the "Black Pagoda" in European sailor accounts as early as 1676 because it looked like a great tiered tower which appeared black.
Similarly, the Jagannath Temple in Puri was called the "White Pagoda".
Both temples served as important landmarks for sailors in the Bay of Bengal.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
It remains a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, who gather here every year for the Chandrabhaga Mela around the month of February.
Konark Sun Temple is depicted on the reverse side of the Indian currency note of 10 rupees to signify its importance to Indian cultural heritage.
Konark Wheel
Konark Wheel
The Konark Sun temple architecture is symbolic, with the chariot's twelve pairs of wheels corresponding to the 12 months of the Hindu calendar, each month paired into two cycles (Shukla and Krishna).
The 24 elaborately carved stone wheels which are nearly 12 feet in diameter and are pulled by a set of seven horses.
When viewed from inland during the dawn and sunrise, the chariot-shaped temple appears to emerge from the depths of the blue sea carrying the sun.
The wheels of the temple are sundials, which can be used to calculate time accurately to a minute.
Its rotating motion symbolises time, Kaalchakra, as well as progress and continuous change.
The wheel has also been adapted into the Indian National Flag.
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