The Eastern Ganga King ruled the Kalingan region from the 5th century AD to around the 15th century AD. They were one of India's most powerful dynasties, creating magnificent temples such as the Konark Sun Temple and Jagannath Temple.
King Narasimha Deva- I built the Konark Temple in 1244 to worship Surya, the Sun God. Konark was chosen as the site of construction because it was described in ancient texts as Surya's holy seat. Many Hindu scriptures mention Konark as a significant site for sun worship. One theory claims that Konark was the site of the first Sun temple. The legend of how Samba, son of Lord Krishna, built the temple to worship the sun is told in the Samba Purana, an ancient text dedicated to Surya. Samba is credited with inventing the practice of sun worship.
The great thing about temples is that they're diverse, reflecting the culture of the country. The temple contains elements such as sundials and Khondalite rocks that are synonymous with Indian culture.
The Konark Sun Temple was built in the eastern Indian state of Odisha near the city of Puri. It has 24 wheels with symbolic designs, pulled by a team of seven horses. It is one of four temples in Odisha that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Konark sun temple was constructed in 1250 in Eastern Ganga by King Narasimhadeva I. It's famous for featuring several brightly-colored, intricately-carved structures and statues decorated with gold plates. One structure is believed to represent the skeleton, an allegory for the end of death. The bright red color is one of its characteristic features, as are the many wheels that line both sides of the temple walls, thought to hold significance for both time and the movement of planets.
It is said that the seven horses represent the seven days of the week. According to legend, the magical seven's number has surrounded us ever since we were born. The bride and groom for example in Hindu tradition take seven rounds of Agni, the Fire God; there are elements in groups of seven; an octave is composed of seven notes, and so on.
The temple complex continues to attract tourists by offering a variety of offerings, including religion and sacred sites.
Sun Temple is an ancient temple that was built in the late medieval period. The upper levels and terrace house larger, more significant pieces of art than the lower level. These include sculptures of Hindu deities such as Durga killing the Mahishasuramardini demon in her Mahishasuramardini aspect (Shaktism), Jagannatha Buddha and Vishnu as a four-handed deity (Vaishnavism) and Shiva as a linga (Shaivism). Before 1940, many friezes and sculptures were taken out to museums all over Europe, including London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Moscow.
The temple's domes and arches are crowned by beautiful reliefs, which are intricately crafted. There are many things to marvel at, like purely decorative geometric patterns, plant motifs, and scenes from the king's life. Some of the panels depict the king getting advice from a guru (as in one of them) while the king rests his sword next to him on the ground signifying how much smaller he is than the guru.
The surface of the platform is covered with friezes of elephants, marching soldiers, musicians, and images depicting the secular life of the people. Images depicting the daily lives of the elite as well as common people can be found on other walls. Girls are shown wringing their hair, standing by a tree, looking out a window, playing with pets, applying makeup in front of a mirror, and so on.
One of the most renowned monuments in India is the Konark temple. This monument is often referred to as the 'Temple of a Thousand Lingams' because of its rich collection of erotic sculptures that represents its ancient past. These sculptures depict a variety of ancient Hindu beliefs, including the tantric belief that sex is not solely an act to procreate but an act done to promote inner peace.
The largest sculptures in Puri are the gateways to the temple complex. They feature life-size lions taming elephants, elephant-taming demons, and horses taming demons, among other things. The Aruna Stambha, a large pillar dedicated to Aruna, used to stand in front of the porch's eastern stairway. Horizontal friezes and motifs were carved into its surface as well. It is now located in front of Jagannatha temple.
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