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| Home > Indian Sculptures > Hindu Sculptures > The Sun Temple of Konark
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| | The Sun Temple of Konark
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The Sun Temple of Konark
 The temple of the Sun at Konark is magnificent in its construction, has been known for the supreme achievement of the architectural genius of Orissa. It is situated about twenty miles northeast of Puri in Orissa, is a result of the continuous development for centuries. During the reign of the eastern Ganga King Narasimha Deva I (1238-1264) the temple is believed to be built. The name of the place `Konark` is derived from Konarka, the presiding deity of the Sun Temple. In fact the word `Konarka` is a combination of two words, Kona means corner and Arka means sun, & together it means `the sun of the corner`.
The Konark temple is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, and is considered as unique for its supremely gained in imaginative character. The whole appearance of the temple is conceived of as a rath, giving the name `Temple on Wheels`. The rath is carved with twenty-four wheels in total. So, it can be the said as the depiction of the winged chariot of that time on which the Sun God rides. The base of the temple is formed with an immense terrace with twelve giant wheels, each one is around 10 feet high, on either side. Therefore, the temple is constructed on the raised platform & the actual temple building is erected in two conjoined parts. The natmandir and the bhogmandir are constructed as separate structures, but enclosed within a courtyard measuring of 865 ft. by 540 ft.
 The Sun temple is the culmination of Orissan style of temple architecture, and one of the most important sculptural monuments of religious architecture in the India. The entire temple is designed to achieve the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels, for the Sun god, carrying him across the heavens. Sun or sometimes termed as Surya has been a popular deity in India since the Vedic period.
The rath of the Sun God is drawn by seven carved structures of horses straining their necks at the back to pull the massive chariot. The dynamism and mobility that is gained in these sculptured animal figures are striking to a large extent.
But today, this marvelous creation is in ruin condition, only the Jagamohan or assembly-hall being the only part that is in state to testify to the past glory of the temple.
Much of the carved & constructed splendid structures are not in their original position. And most of the excellent appearance and vitality of the structure are due to the roof in pyramidal style with its three tiers and sculptured figures. The sculpture that embellishes the outer surfaces of this architectural masterpiece is equally exquisite in its luxuriance and also employs many techniques of invention than the vast structure itself. The exterior part of temple structure is chiseled and molded with either using abstract designs, or fantastic human and animal forms. Even it won`t be an exaggeration in saying that sculptors has tried their best to use every motif and subject known to the Indian mind in the theme of carvings. All the artwork of the sculptures is executed in hard stone guarantees the preservation of it. It displays a rarely encountered exuberance of mood and appearance in the architecture.  From designs to design, the technique of carving with minute precision also varies. For the vigorous groups modeled on massive scale employ repetitive structures.
Much of the relief work found on the outer walls of the temple at Konark -as of certain other temples in India - has erotic sculptures. Many are of opinion that such erotic sculptures are of indicative of the emergence of a phase the tantrism in Hinduism at that time. At this temple an exotic sculptures through what is known as, the Maituna ritual is depicted in the carvings of the temple.
The Sun temple of Konark is sculptured with loving couples, engaged in some of ingenious amatory postures. These postures are actually drawn from the Kamasutra. The proportion of figures & shapes is the feature of these erotic sculptures too. The re-discovery among the ruins at the place, of some extraordinary erotic sculpture at the Sun temple was equally sensational issue
Architecture
 The massive structure of the temple, though now in ruin condition, sits in solitary splendor surrounded by the drifting sands. The huge wheels carved with intricate design of the rathas are the major attractions in the entire architecture of the place. The spokes of these huge & artistic wheels serve as sundials, and with the help of the shadows formed by these wheels one can be informed with the precise time of the day. The pyramidal roof of the temple adds in the glory of the architectural beauty is made from the sandstone & soars over 30 m in height.The sculptures carved on walls of the temple is following a brilliant chronicle in stone, with thousands of images including deities, the surasundaris, which were known as heavenly damsels, and human musicians, lovers, dancers. It also depicts different scenes that reveal around the courtly life.
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