Konark Sun temple - wikipedia Konark Sun temple This article is about the temple of the sun at Konark. For the list of sun temples in the world, see Temple of the Sun. Sun Temple, Konârak UNESCO World Heritage site Location Konark, Odisha, India Criteria Cultural : ( i ) ( iii ) ( vi ) Reference 246 Inscription 1984 ( 8th Session ) Area 10.62 ha ( 26.2 acres ) Website konark.nic.in Coordinates 19 ° 53 ′ 15 '' N 86 ° 5 ′ 41 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 19.88750 ° N 86.09472 ° E ﻿ / 19.88750 ; 86.09472 Coordinates : 19 ° 53 ′ 15 '' N 86 ° 5 ′ 41 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 19.88750 ° N 86.09472 ° E ﻿ / 19.88750 ; 86.09472 Location of Konark Sun Temple in Odisha. Konark Sun Temple ( India ) Show map of Odisha Show map of India Show all Konark Sun Temple is a 13th - century CE sun temple at Konark about 35 kilometres ( 22 mi ) northeast from Puri on the coastline of Odisha, India. The temple is attributed to king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE. Dedicated to the Hindu 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. Once over 200 feet ( 61 m ) high, much of the temple is now in ruins, in particular the large shikara tower over the sanctuary ; at one time this rose much higher than the mandapa that remains. 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 Hindu temple architecture. The cause of the destruction of the Konark temple is unclear and remains a source of controversy. Theories range from natural damage to deliberate destruction of the temple in the course of being sacked several times by Muslim armies between the 15th and 17th centuries. This temple was called the `` Black Pagoda '' in European sailor accounts as early as 1676 because its great tower 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. The temple that exists today was partially restored by the conservation efforts of British India - era archaeological teams. 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. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Location 3 Description 3.1 Reliefs and sculpture 3.2 Hindu deities 3.3 Style 3.4 Other temples and monuments 4 History 4.1 Ancient Texts 4.2 Konark in texts 4.3 Construction 4.4 Damage and ruins 4.5 Aruna Stambha 4.6 Preservation Efforts 5 Reception 6 Gallery 6.1 Antique paintings and photographs 6.2 Current day photographs 7 See also 8 References 8.1 Bibliography 9 External links Etymology The name Konark derives from the combination of the Sanskrit words Kona ( corner or angle ) and Arka ( the sun ). The context of the term Kona is unclear, but probably refers to the southeast location of this temple either within a larger temple complex or in relation to other sun temples on the subcontinent. The Arka refers to the Hindu sun god Surya. Location The Konark Sun Temple is located in an eponymous village about 35 kilometres ( 22 mi ) northeast of Puri and 60 kilometres ( 37 mi ) southeast of Bhubaneswar on the Bay of Bengal coastline in the Indian state of Odisha. The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar airport ( IATA : BBI ). Both Puri and Bhubaneswar are major railway hubs connected by Indian Railways ' Southeastern services. Description Original temple and the surviving structure ( yellow ), left ; the temple plan, right The Konark Sun Temple was built from stone in the form of a giant ornamented chariot dedicated to the Sun god, Surya. In Hindu Vedic iconography Surya is represented as rising in the east and traveling rapidly across the sky in a chariot drawn by seven horses. He is described typically as a resplendent standing person holding a lotus flower in both his hands, riding the chariot marshaled by the charioteer Aruna. The seven horses are named after the seven meters of Sanskrit prosody : Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnih, Jagati, Trishtubha, Anushtubha, and Pankti. Typically seen flanking Surya are two females who represent the dawn goddesses, Usha and Pratyusha. The goddesses are shown to be shooting arrows, a symbol of their initiative in challenging darkness. The architecture is also 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 Konark temple presents this iconography on a grand scale. It has 24 elaborately carved stone wheels which are nearly 12 feet ( 3.7 m ) 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. 1822 drawing of the mandapa 's east door and terrace musicians 1815 sketch of stone horses and wheels of the mandapa The temple plan includes all the traditional elements of a Hindu temple set on a square plan. According to Kapila Vatsyayan, the ground plan, as well the layout of sculptures and reliefs, follow the square and circle geometry, forms found in Odisha temple design texts such as the Silpasarini. This mandala structure informs the plans of other Hindu temples in Odisha and elsewhere. The main temple at Konark, locally called the deul, no longer exists. It was surrounded by subsidiary shrines containing niches depicting Hindu deities, particularly Surya in many of his aspects. The deul was built on a high terrace. The temple was originally a complex consisting of the main sanctuary, called the rekha deul, or bada deul ( lit. big sanctum ). In front of it was the bhadra deul ( lit. small sanctum ), or jagamohana ( lit. assembly hall of the people ) ( called a mandapa in other parts of India. ). The attached platform was called the pida deul, which consisted of a square mandapa with a pyramidal roof. All of these structures were square at their core, and each was overlain with the pancharatha plan containing a variegated exterior. The central projection, called the raha, is more pronounced than the side projections, called kanika - paga, a style that aims for an interplay of sunlight and shade and adds to the visual appeal of the structure throughout the day. The design manual for this style is found in the Silpa Sastra of ancient Odisha. A stone wheel engraved in the walls of the temple. The temple is designed as a chariot consisting of 24 such wheels. Each wheel has a diameter of 9 feet, 9 inches, with 8 spokes. Twice as wide as they were high, the walls of the jagamohana are 100 feet ( 30 m ) tall. The surviving structure has three tiers of six pidas each. These diminish incrementally and repeat the lower patterns. The pidas are divided into terraces. On each of these terraces stand statues of musician figures. The main temple and the jagamohana porch consist of four main zones : the platform, the wall, the trunk, and the crowning head called a mastaka. The first three are square while the mastaka is circular. The main temple and the jagamohana differed in size, decorative themes, and design. It was the main temple 's trunk, called the gandhi in medieval Hindu architecture texts, that was ruined long ago. The sanctum of the main temple is now without a roof and most of the original parts. On the east side of the main temple is the Nata mandira ( lit. dance temple ). It stands on a high, intricately carved platform. The relief on the platform is similar in style to that found on the surviving walls of the temple. According to historical texts, there was an Aruna stambha ( lit. Aruna 's pillar ) between the main temple and the Nata mandira, but it is no longer there because it was moved to the Jagannatha at Puri sometime during the troubled history of this temple. According to Harle, the texts suggest that originally the complex was enclosed within a wall 865 feet ( 264 m ) by 540 feet ( 160 m ), with gateways on three sides. The stone temple was made from three types of stone. Chlorite was used for the door lintel and frames as well as some sculptures. Laterite was used for the core of the platform and staircases near the foundation. Khondalite was used for other parts of the temple. According to Mitra, the Khondalite stone weathers faster over time, and this may have contributed to erosion and accelerated the damage when parts of the temples were destroyed. None of these stones occur naturally nearby, and the architects and artisans must have procured and moved the stones from distant sources, probably using the rivers and water channels near the site. The masons then created ashlar, wherein the stones were polished and finished so as to make joints hardly visible. The original temple had a main sanctum sanctorum ( vimana ), which is estimated to have been 229 feet ( 70 m ) tall. The main vimana fell in 1837. The main mandapa audience hall ( jagamohana ), which is about 128 feet ( 39 m ) tall, still stands and is the principal structure in the surviving ruins. Among the structures that have survived to the current day are the dance hall ( Nata mandira ) and the dining hall ( Bhoga mandapa ). Reliefs and sculpture Detail of carved chariot wheel Bansuri musician A young woman The walls of the temple from the temple 's base through the crowing elements are ornamented with reliefs, many finished to jewelry - quality miniature details. The terraces contain stone statues of male and female musicians holding various musical instruments. Other major works of art include sculptures of Hindu deities, apsaras and images from the daily life and culture of the people ( artha and dharma scenes ), various animals, aquatic creatures, birds, mythological creatures, and friezes narrating the Hindu texts. The carvings include purely decorative geometric patterns and plant motifs. Some panels show images from the life of the king such as one showing him receiving counsel from a guru, where the artists symbolically portrayed the king as much smaller than the guru, with the king 's sword resting on the ground next to him. The upana ( moulding ) layer at the bottom of the platform contains friezes of elephants, marching soldiers, musicians, and images depicting the secular life of the people, including hunting scenes, a caravan of domesticated animals, people carrying supplies on their head or with the help of a bullock cart, travelers preparing a meal along the roadside, and festive processions. On other walls are found images depicting the daily life of the elite as well as the common people. For example, girls are shown wringing their wet hair, standing by a tree, looking from a window, playing with pets, putting on makeup while looking into a mirror, playing musical instruments such as the vina, chasing away a monkey who is trying to snatch items, a family taking leave of their elderly grandmother who seems dressed for a pilgrimage, a mother blessing her son, a teacher with students, a yogi during a standing asana, a warrior being greeted with a namaste, a mother with her child, an old woman with a walking stick and a bowl in her hands, comical characters, among others. A kama scene on the walls of the Konarka Temple The Konark temple is also known for its erotic sculptures of maithunas. These show couples in various stages of courtship and intimacy, and in some cases coital themes. Notorious in the colonial era for their uninhibited celebration of sexuality, these images are included with other aspects of human life as well as deities that are typically associated with tantra. This led some to propose that the erotic sculptures are linked to the vama marga ( left hand tantra ) tradition. However, this is not supported by local literary sources, and these images may be the same kama and mithuna scenes found integrated into the art of many Hindu temples. The erotic sculptures are found on the temple 's Shikhara, and these illustrate all the bandhas ( mudra forms ) described in the Kamasutra. Other large sculptures were a part of the gateways of the temple complex. These include life - size lions subduing elephants, elephants subduing demons, and horses. A major pillar dedicated to Aruna, called the Aruna Stambha, used to stand in front of the eastern stairs of the porch. This, too, was intricately carved with horizontal friezes and motifs. It now stands in front of the Jagannatha temple at Puri. Hindu deities The upper levels and terrace of the Konark Sun temple contain larger and more significant works of art than the lower level. These include images of musicians and mythological narratives as well as sculptures of Hindu deities, including Durga in her Mahishasuramardini aspect killing the shape - shifting buffalo demon ( Shaktism ), Vishnu in his Jagannatha form ( Vaishnavism ), and Shiva as a ( largely damaged ) linga ( Shaivism ). Some of the better - preserved friezes and sculptures were removed and relocated to museums in Europe and major cities of India before 1940. The Hindu deities are also depicted in other parts of the temple. For example, the medallions of the chariot wheels of the Surya temple, as well as the anuratha artwork of the jagamohana, show Vishnu, Shiva, Gajalakshmi, Parvati, Krishna, Narasimha, and other gods and goddesses. Also found on the jagamohana are sculptures of Vedic deities such as Indra, Agni, Kubera, Varuna, and Âdityas. Style The temple follows the traditional style of Kalinga architecture. It is oriented towards the east so that the first rays of the sunrise strike the main entrance. The temple, built from Khondalite rocks, was originally constructed at the mouth of the river Chandrabhaga, but the waterline has receded since then. The wheels of the temple are sundials, which can be used to calculate time accurately to a minute. Other temples and Monuments The Konark Sun Temple complex has ruins of many subsidiary shrines and monuments around the main temple. Some of these include : Mayadevi Temple -- Located west - southwest from the entrance of the main temple, it has been dated to the late 11th century, earlier than the main temple. It consists of a sanctuary, a mandapa and, before it, an open platform. It was discovered during excavations carried out between 1900 and 1910. Early theories assumed that it was dedicated to Surya 's wife and thus named the Mayadevi Temple. However, later studies suggested that it was also a Surya temple, albeit an older one that was fused into the complex when the monumental temple was built. This temple also has numerous carvings and a square mandapa is overlain by a sapta - ratha. The sanctum of this Surya temple features a Nataraja. Other deities in the interior include a damaged Surya holding a lotus, along with Agni, Varuna, Vishnu, and Vayu. Vaishnava Temple -- Located southwest of the so - called Mayadevi Temple, it was discovered during excavations in 1956. This discovery was significant because it confirmed that the Konark Sun Temple complex revered all the major Hindu traditions, and was not an exclusive worship place for the saura cult as previously believed. This is a small temple with sculptures of Balarama, Varaha, and Vamana -- Trivikrama in its sanctum, marking it as a Vaishnavite temple. These images are shown as wearing dhoti and a lot of jewelry. The sanctum 's primary idol is missing, as are images from some niches in the temple. The site 's significance as a place of Vaishnavism pilgrimage is attested to in Vaishnava texts. For example, Krishna Chaitanya, the early 16th - century scholar and founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, visited the Konark temple and prayed on its premises. Kitchen -- This monument is found south of the bhoga mandapa ( feeding hall ). It, too, was discovered in excavations in the 1950s. It includes means to bring water, cisterns to store water, drains, a cooking floor, depressions in the floor probably for pounding spices or grains, as well several triple ovens ( chulahs ) for cooking. This structure may have been for festive occasions or a part of a community feeding hall. According to Thomas Donaldson, the kitchen complex may have been added a little later than the original temple. Well 1 -- This monument is located north of the kitchen, towards its eastern flank, was probably built to supply water to the community kitchen and bhoga mandapa. Near the well are a pillared mandapa and five structures, some with semi-circular steps whose role is unclear. Well 2 -- This monument and associated structures are in the front of the northern staircase of the main temple, with foot rests, a washing platform, and a wash water drain system. It was probably designed for the use of pilgrims arriving at the temple. A collection of fallen sculptures can be viewed at the Konark Archaeological Museum, which is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. 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Krishnamurti Sai Baba Vivekananda Nigamananda Yogananda Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade Tibbetibaba Trailanga Society Varna Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Shudra Dalit Jati Denominations Persecution Nationalism Hindutva Other topics Hinduism by country Balinese Hinduism Criticism Calendar Iconography Mythology Pilgrimage sites Hinduism and Jainism / and Buddhism / and Sikhism / and Judaism / and Christianity / and Islam Glossary of Hinduism terms Hinduism portal Ancient texts The oldest surviving Vedic hymns, such as hymn 1.115 of the Rigveda, mention Surya with particular reverence for the `` rising sun '' and its symbolism as dispeller of darkness, one who empowers knowledge, the good, and all life. However, the usage is context specific. In some hymns, the word Surya simply means sun as an inanimate object, a stone, or a gem in the sky ( Rigvedic hymns 5.47, 6.51 and 7.63 ) while in others it refers to a personified deity. In the layers of Vedic texts, Surya is one of the several trinities along with Agni and either Vayu or Indra, which are presented as an equivalent icon and aspect of the Hindu metaphysical concept called the Brahman. In the Brahmanas layer of Vedic literature, Surya appears with Agni ( fire god ) in the same hymns. Surya is revered for the day, and Agni for its role during the night. According to Kapila Vatsyayan, the concept of a Surya -- Agni relationship evolves, and in later literature Surya is described as Agni representing the first principle and the seed of the universe. It is in the Brahmanas layer of the Vedas, and the Upanishads that Surya is explicitly linked to the power of sight, and to visual perception and knowledge. He is then internalized and said to be the eye, as ancient Hindu sages suggested abandonment of external rituals to gods in favor of internal reflection and meditation of the gods within, in one 's journey to realize the Atman ( soul, self ) within, in texts such as the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Chandogya Upanishad, Kaushitaki Upanishad, and others. The Mahabharata epic opens its chapter on Surya by reverentially calling him the `` eye of the universe, soul of all existence, origin of all life, goal of the Samkhyas and Yogis, and symbolism for freedom and spiritual emancipation ''. In the Mahabharata, Karna is the son of Surya and an unmarried princess named Kunti. The epic describes Kunti 's difficult life as an unmarried mother, then her abandonment of Karna, followed by her lifelong grief. Baby Karna is found and then adopted, and grows up to become one of the central characters in the great battle of Kurukshetra where he fights his half - brothers. Konark in texts Konark, also referred to in Indian texts by the name Kainapara, was a significant trading port by the early centuries of the common era. The current Konark temple dates to the 13th century, though evidence suggests that a sun temple was built in the Konark area by at least the 9th century. Several Puranas mention Surya worship centers in Mundira, which may have been the earlier name for Konark, Kalapriya ( Mathura ), and Multan ( now in Pakistan ). The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim and traveler Hiuen - tsang ( also referred to as Xuanzang ) mentions a port city in Odisha named Charitra. He describes the city as prosperous, with five convents and `` storeyed towers that are very high and carved with saintly figures exquisitely done ''. Since he visited India in the 7th century, he could not have been referring to the 13th - century temple, but his description suggests either Konark or another Odisha port city already featuring towering structures with sculptures. According to the Madala Panji, there was at one time another temple in the region built by Pundara Kesari. He may have been Puranjaya, the 7th - century ruler of the Somavasmi Dynasty. Construction The current temple is attributed to Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty, r. 1238 -- 1264 CE --. It is one of the few Hindu temples whose planning and construction records written in Sanskrit in the Odiya script have been preserved in the form of palm leaf manuscripts that were discovered in a village in the 1960s and subsequently translated. The temple was sponsored by the king, and its construction was overseen by Siva Samantaraya Mahapatra. It was built near an old Surya temple. The sculpture in the older temple 's sanctum was re-consecrated and incorporated into the newer larger temple. This chronology of temple site 's evolution is supported by many copper plate inscriptions of the era in which the Konark temple is referred to as the `` great cottage ''. According to James Harle, the temple as built in the 13th century consisted of two main structures, the dance mandapa and the great temple ( deul ). The smaller mandapa is the structure that survives ; the great deul collapsed sometime in the late 16th century or after. According to Harle, the original temple `` must originally have stood to a height of some 225 feet ( 69 m ) '', but only parts of its walls and decorative mouldings remain. Damage and ruins A lithography plate from James Fergusson 's `` Ancient Architecture in Hindoostan '' ( 1847 ) showing part of the main tower still standing The temple was in ruins before its restoration. Speculation continues as to the cause of the destruction of the temple. Early theories stated that the temple was never completed and collapsed during construction. This is contradicted by textual evidence and evidence from inscriptions. The Kenduli copper plate inscription of 1384 CE from the reign of Narasimha IV seems to indicate that the temple was not only completed but an active site of worship. Another inscription states that various deities in the temple were consecrated, also suggesting that construction of the temple had been completed. A non-Hindu textual source, the Akbar - era text Ain - i - Akbari by Abul Fazl dated to the 16th century, mentions the Konark temple, describing it as a prosperous site with a temple that made visitors `` astonished at its sight '', with no mention of ruins. Texts from the 19th century do mention ruins, which means the temple was damaged either intentionally or through natural causes sometime between 1556 and 1800 CE. The intentional - damage theory is supported by Mughal era records that mention that Kalapahad, formerly a Hindu named Rajiv Lochan Ray or Kalachand Roy Bhadury later he had converted to Islam, attacking and damaging Jagannath Puri and the Konark temple. Other texts state that the temple was sacked several times by Muslim armies between the 15th and 17th centuries. Islamic texts describing the raids of Kalapahad mention his army 's first attempt to destroy the temple in 1565, but they failed. They inflicted only minor damage and carried away the copper kalasa. A medieval era description of Konark When nine flights of steps are passed, a spacious court appears with a large arch of stone upon which are carved the sun and other planets. Around them are a variety of worshippers of every class, each after its manner with bowed heads, standing, sitting, prostrate, laughing, weeping, lost in amaze or in rapt attention, and following these are divers musicians and strange animals which never existed but in imagination. -- Ain - i - Akbari, Abul Fazl The controversial Hindu text Madala Panji and regional tradition state that Kalapahad attacked again and damaged the temple in 1568. The natural - damage theory is supported by the nearness of the temple to the shore and the monsoons in the region that would tend to cause damage. However, the existence of nearby stone temples in the Odisha region that were built earlier and have stood without damage casts doubt to this theory. According to P. Parya, the number of rings of moss and lichen growth found on the stone ruins suggests the damage occurred sometime around the 1570s, but this approach does not indicate why or by whom. According to Thomas Donaldson, evidence suggests that the damage and the temple 's ruined condition can be dated to between the late 16th century and the early 17th century from the records of various surveys and repairs found in early 17th - century texts. These also record that the temple remained a site of worship in the early 17th century. These records do not state whether the ruins were being used by devotees to gather and worship, or part of the damaged temple was still in use for some other purpose. This evidence of the use of the temple, however, contradicts any theories that the late 16th - century Muslim invasion had completely destroyed the site. Aruna stambha In the last quarter of the 18th century, the Aruna stambha ( Aruna pillar ) was removed from the entrance of Konark temple and placed at the Singha - dwara ( Lion 's Gate ) of the Jagannath temple in Puri by a Maratha Brahmachari named Goswain ( or Goswami ). The pillar, made of monolithic chlorite, is 33 feet 8 inches ( 10.26 m ) tall and is dedicated to Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun god. Preservation efforts Sound and light show in Konark Temple In 1803 the East India Marine Board requested the Governor General of Bengal that conservation efforts be undertaken. However, the only conservation measure put in place at the time was to prohibit further removal of stones from the site. Lacking structural support, the last part of the main tower still standing, a small broken curved section, collapsed in 1848. The then - Raja of Khurda, who had jurisdiction over this region in the early 19th century, removed some stones and sculptures to use in a temple he was building in Puri. A few gateways and some sculptures were destroyed in the process. In 1838 the Asiatic Society of Bengal requested that conservation efforts be undertaken, but the requests were denied, and only measures to prevent vandalism were put in place. In 1859 the Asiatic Society of Bengal proposed, and in 1867 attempted to relocate an architrave of the Konark temple depicting the navagraha to the Indian Museum in Calcutta. This attempt was abandoned as funds had run out. In 1894 thirteen sculptures were moved to the Indian Museum. Local Hindu population objected to further damage and removal of temple ruins. The government issued orders to respect the local sentiments. In 1903, when a major excavation was attempted nearby, the then - Lieutenant governor of Bengal, J. A. Baurdilon, ordered the temple to be sealed and filled with sand to prevent the collapse of the Jagamohana. The Mukhasala and Nata Mandir were repaired by 1905. In 1906 casuarina and punnang trees were planted facing the sea to provide a buffer against sand - laden winds. In 1909 the Mayadevi temple was discovered while removing sand and debris. The temple was granted World Heritage Site status by the UNESCO in 1984. Konark Sun Temple panoramic view Reception The Konark Sun Temple has attracted conflicting reviews. According to Coomaraswamy, the Konark Sun Temple marks the high point of the Odisha style of Nagara architecture. The colonial - era reception of the temple ranged from derision to praise. Andrew Sterling, the early colonial - era administrator and Commissioner of Cuttack questioned the skill of the 13th - century architects, but also wrote that the temple had `` an air of elegance, combined with massiveness in the whole structure, which entitles it to no small share of admiration '', adding that the sculpture had `` a degree of taste, propriety and freedom which would stand a comparison with some of our best specimens of Gothic architectural ornament ''. The Victorian mindset saw pornography in the artwork of Konark and wondered why there was no `` shame and guilt in this pleasure in filth '', while Alan Watts stated that there was no comprehensible reason to separate spirituality from love, sex, and religious arts. According to Ernest Binfield Havell, the Konark temple is `` one of the grandest examples of Indian sculpture extant '', adding that they express `` as much fire and passion as the greatest European art '' such as that found in Venice. Indian writers, too, have expressed a spectrum of opinions. For example, the leftist author Bhattacharya criticized the `` brahmanical temple erotica '', offering it as evidence of `` female exploitation by the dominant classes of Hindu male society '', and a `` reflection of abnormal sex desires ''. In contrast, the Nobel Laureate Tagore wrote, Here the language of stone surpasses the language of human. -- Rabindranath Tagore Gallery Antique paintings and photographs Watercolour painting of two European officers with a dog exploring the interior ( 1812 ) Watercolour `` somnath '' drawing of the north side of Konark ( 1820 ). It depicts part of the main tower still standing. Photograph of a general view from the south - west ( c. 1890 ). Arunastambha at the Singhadwara at Jagannath Temple in Puri ( 1870 ) Current day photographs Nata mandir Front view of Nata mandir A simha - gaja at the entrance A weathered horse sculpture Elephants of Konark Temple A secondary statue of the Sun god A sculpture on the temple wall Mayadevi Temple at Konark Sculpture of a makara on Mayadevi Temple Vaishnava Temple Sanctum of the Vaishnava Temple Carvings on the Sun temple A sculpture on the temple wall A sculpture taken from the site at the British Museum Replica of Sun Temple at Gwalior See also Orissa portal History of Odisha Solar deity Konark Dance Festival, an annual event held at this site References ^ Jump up to : Konark : India, Encyclopaedia Britannica ^ Jump up to : `` Sun Temple, Konârak ''. UNESCO. Retrieved 3 May 2013. Jump up ^ Sen, Sailendra ( 2013 ). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 121 -- 122. ISBN 978 - 9 - 38060 - 734 - 4. Jump up ^ Indian History. Tata McGraw - Hill Education. p. 2. ISBN 978 - 0 - 07 - 132923 - 1. Retrieved 3 May 2013. ^ Jump up to : James C. Harle ( 1994 ). The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent. Yale University Press. pp. 251 -- 254. ISBN 978 - 0 - 300 - 06217 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Linda Kay Davidson ; David Martin Gitlitz ( 2002 ). Pilgrimage : From the Ganges to Graceland : an Encyclopedia. ABC - CLIO. pp. 318 -- 319. ISBN 978 - 1 - 57607 - 004 - 8. ^ Jump up to : Thomas Donaldson ( 2005 ). Konark. Oxford University Press. pp. 15 -- 28. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 567591 - 7. Jump up ^ Thomas Donaldson ( 2005 ). Konark. Oxford University Press. p. 28. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 567591 - 7. ^ Jump up to : Debala Mitra 1968, p. 3. Jump up ^ Lewis Sydney Steward O'Malley ( 1 January 2007 ). Bengal District Gazetteer : Puri. Concept Publishing Company. p. 283. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7268 - 138 - 8. Retrieved 3 May 2013. Jump up ^ Karuna Sagar Behera ( 2005 ). Konark : The Black Pagoda. Government of India Press. pp. 1 -- 2. ISBN 978 - 81 - 230 - 1236 - 0. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 1 -- 2. Jump up ^ T. Richard Blurton ( 1993 ). Hindu Art. Harvard University Press. p. 208. ISBN 978 - 0 - 674 - 39189 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Roshen Dalal ( 2010 ). Hinduism : An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. pp. 399 -- 401. ISBN 978 - 0 - 14 - 341421 - 6. Jump up ^ Heather Elgood ( 2000 ). Hinduism and the Religious Arts. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 80 -- 81. ISBN 978 - 0 - 304 - 70739 - 3. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, p. 38. ^ Jump up to : `` Official website : The Sun Temple ''. Tourism Department, Government of Orissa. Retrieved 3 May 2013. ^ Jump up to : Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 24 -- 25. ^ Jump up to : Kapila Vatsyayan ( 1997 ). The Square and the Circle of the Indian Arts. Abhinav. pp. 88 -- 91, 96 -- 100. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7017 - 362 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Ananda K Coomaraswamy 1985, p. 116. Jump up ^ Alice Boner ; Sadāśiva Rath Śarmā ( 1966 ). Silpa Prakasa Medieval Orissan Sanskrit Text on Temple Architecture. Brill. OCLC 999775106. ^ Jump up to : Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 27 -- 29. ^ Jump up to : Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 29 -- 31. ^ Jump up to : Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 31 -- 33. Jump up ^ King Narasimha and his spiritual advisor : Konarak Temple, V&A Museum, UK ; Quote : `` In this Konarak sculpture Narasimha is depicted with his guru, probably the yogi Acharyraja. As king, Narasimha, named after the ' man - lion ' incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, ruled Odisha and neighbouring regions of eastern India from 1238 to 1264. He held political control over the region in which the Sun temple was constructed and was the actual patron of the temple, yet he is shown as smaller than his guru. The guru sits cross-legged, with one arm raised in a gesture of explanation. The bearded king, seated in the centre of the sculpture, is stripped of all royal symbols. His sword lies on the ground in front of him. Instead of a weapon he holds a palm - leaf manuscript, the original medium for transcribing sacred texts in India. Beside the king are two attendants : one sits reading a palm - leaf manuscript ; the other stands with his hands joined together in a demonstration of reverence. On the lower register, on a smaller scale, four warriors stand with shields and weapons. '' Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 38 -- 41. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 41 -- 47, 61 -- 64. Jump up ^ `` Konarak Sun Temple : Mithuna Sculptures ''. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 17 May 2011. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 79 -- 81. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 46 -- 48. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 49 -- 51. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 52 -- 54, 65 -- 67. Jump up ^ N. Chenna Kesavulu ( 1 February 2009 ). Textbook of Engineering Geology. Macmillan Publishers India Limited. p. 188. ISBN 978 - 0 - 230 - 63870 - 9. Retrieved 27 July 2013. Jump up ^ P.C. Varghese ( November 2012 ). Engineering Geology for Civil Engineers. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. p. 126. ISBN 978 - 81 - 203 - 4495 - 2. Retrieved 2 August 2013. Jump up ^ Praharaj, Mayarani ( December 2015 ). `` Astronomical Heritage : The Sun Temple - Konark ''. Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects. 80 ( 12 ) : 17. Retrieved 8 May 2017. ^ Jump up to : Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 86 -- 89. Jump up ^ `` World Heritage Sites : Konarak Sun Temple ''. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 17 May 2013. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 86 -- 93. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 96 -- 100. ^ Jump up to : N.S. Ramaswami ( 1971 ). Indian Monuments. Abhinav. pp. 161 -- 163. ISBN 978 - 0 - 89684 - 091 - 1. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 101 -- 103. Jump up ^ Thomas Donaldson ( 2005 ). Konark. Oxford University Press. pp. 34, 75. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 567591 - 7. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 103 -- 105. Jump up ^ Debala Mitra 1968, pp. 105 -- 106. Jump up ^ `` Archaeological Museum, Konarak ''. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 17 May 2013. Jump up ^ Arthur Anthony Macdonell ( 1996 ). Vedic Mythology. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 30 -- 31. ISBN 978 - 81 - 208 - 1113 - 3. Jump up ^ Barbara A. Weightman ( 1996 ), Sacred Landscapes and the Phenomenon of Light, Geographical Review, Vol. 86, No. 1 ( Jan. 1996 ), pages 59 -- 71 Jump up ^ Jan Gonda ( 1969 ), The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd. 63 / 64, H. 1 / 2, ( 1968 / 1969 ), pages 216, 219 with footnote 51, 212 -- 226 ^ Jump up to : H.W. Bodewitz ( 1976 ). The Daily Evening and Morning Offering ( Agnihotra ) According to the Brāhmanas. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 36 -- 39 with notes. ISBN 978 - 81 - 208 - 1951 - 1. Jump up ^ Roy W. Perrett ( 2001 ). Indian Philosophy : Theory of value. Routledge. pp. 182 -- 183. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8153 - 3612 - 9. Jump up ^ Henk Bodewitz ( 1997 ), Jaiminīya Brāhmaṇa I, 1 -- 65 : Translation and Commentary, Brill Academic, ISBN 978 - 9004036048, pp. 328 -- 329, 254 -- 258 Jump up ^ JC Heesterman ( 1985 ), The Inner Conflict of Tradition : Essays in Indian Ritual, Kinship, and Society, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 978 - 0226322995, pp. 93 -- 94, link at Google Books Jump up ^ Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Robert Hume ( Translator ), Oxford University Press, pp. 96 -- 97 Jump up ^ Kausitaki Upanishad Robert Hume ( Translator ), Oxford University Press, pp. 302 -- 303, 307 -- 310, 327 -- 328 Jump up ^ Patrick Olivelle ( 1992 ), The Samnyasa Upanisads : Hindu Scriptures on Asceticism and Renunciation, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978 - 0195070453, pp. 147 -- 151 Jump up ^ G.B. Milner ( 2005 ). Natural Symbols in South East Asia. Routledge. pp. 129 -- 130. ISBN 978 - 1 - 135 - 75287 - 3. Jump up ^ Helaine Selin ( 2008 ). Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. Springer. p. 1731. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4020 - 4559 - 2. Retrieved 2 August 2013. Jump up ^ Linda Kay Davidson ; David Martin Gitlitz ( 1 January 2002 ). Pilgrimage : From the Ganges to Graceland : an Encyclopedia. ABC - CLIO. p. 318. ISBN 978 - 1 - 57607 - 004 - 8. Retrieved 27 July 2013. Jump up ^ John M. Rosenfield ( 1967 ). The Dynastic Arts of the Kushans. ( Mit Faks. ). University of California Press. p. 195. GGKEY : 0379L32LPNJ. Retrieved 27 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Konark Sun Temple : Introduction ''. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 29 July 2013. Jump up ^ Boner, Alice ; Dāsa, Rājendra Prasāda ; Rath Śarmā, Sadāśiva ( 1972 ), New light on the Sun Temple of Koṇārka : four unpublished manuscripts relating to construction history and ritual of this temple, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office ^ Jump up to : `` Konarak, Conservation ''. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 27 July 2013. Jump up ^ Dr. Benudhar Patra ( April 2006 ). `` Antiquity of Arkakshetra Konark '' ( PDF ). Orissa Review. Government of Odisha. Retrieved July 27, 2013. Jump up ^ Thomas Donaldson ( 2005 ). Konark. Oxford University Press. pp. 1 -- 3. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 567591 - 7. Jump up ^ Mahendra Narayan Behera ( 2003 ). Brownstudy on Heathenland : A Book on Indology. University Press of America. pp. 146 -- 147. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7618 - 2652 - 1. Jump up ^ Thomas Donaldson ( 2005 ). Konark. Oxford University Press. pp. 16 -- 26. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 567591 - 7. Jump up ^ Thomas Donaldson ( 2005 ). Konark. Oxford University Press. pp. 26 -- 28. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 567591 - 7. Jump up ^ Thomas Donaldson ( 2005 ). Konark. Oxford University Press. pp. 16 -- 28. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 567591 - 7. Jump up ^ Narayan Miśra ( 1 January 2007 ). Annals and Antiquities of the Temple of Jagannātha. Sarup & Sons. p. 19. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7625 - 747 - 3. 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Art of India. Parkstone. pp. 109 -- 112. ISBN 978 - 1 - 78042 - 880 - 2. Jump up ^ David Kopf ( 1985 ), Sexual Ambivalence in Western Scholarship on Hindu India : A History of the Idea of Shakto - Tantrism, Comparative Civilizations Review, Volume 13, Number 13, pages 154 -- 155 Jump up ^ Manish Telikic Chary ( 2 February 2009 ). India : Nation on the Move : An Overview of India 's People, Culture, History, Economy, IT Industry, & More. iUniverse. p. 389. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4401 - 1635 - 3. Retrieved 17 May 2013. Jump up ^ Mulk Raj Anand ; Mayadhar Mansinha ; Charles Louis Fabri ( 1968 ). Konarak. Marg Publications. p. 4. Bibliography Prasanna Kumar Acharya ( 2010 ). An encyclopaedia of Hindu architecture. Oxford University Press ( Republished by Motilal Banarsidass ). ISBN 978 - 81 - 7536 - 534 - 6. Prasanna Kumar Acharya ( 1997 ). A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture : Treating of Sanskrit Architectural Terms with Illustrative Quotations. Oxford University Press ( Reprinted in 1997 by Motilal Banarsidass ). ISBN 978 - 81 - 7536 - 113 - 3. Vinayak Bharne ; Krupali Krusche ( 2014 ). Rediscovering the Hindu Temple : The Sacred Architecture and Urbanism of India. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4438 - 6734 - 4. Alice Boner ( 1990 ). Principles of Composition in Hindu Sculpture : Cave Temple Period. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978 - 81 - 208 - 0705 - 1. Alice Boner ; Sadāśiva Rath Śarmā ( 2005 ). Silpa Prakasa. Brill Academic ( Reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass ). ISBN 978 - 8120820524. Ananda K Coomaraswamy ( 1985 ), History of Indian and Indonesian Art, Dover, ISBN 9780486250052 A.K. Coomaraswamy ; Michael W. Meister ( 1995 ). Essays in Architectural Theory. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 563805 - 9. Dehejia, V. ( 1997 ). Indian Art. Phaidon : London. ISBN 0 - 7148 - 3496 - 3. Adam Hardy ( 1995 ). Indian Temple Architecture : Form and Transformation. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7017 - 312 - 0. Adam Hardy ( 2007 ). The Temple Architecture of India. Wiley. ISBN 978 - 0470028278. Adam Hardy ( 2015 ). Theory and Practice of Temple Architecture in Medieval India : Bhoja 's Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra and the Bhojpur Line Drawings. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. ISBN 978 - 93 - 81406 - 41 - 0. Harle, J.C., The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 2nd edn. 1994, Yale University Press Pelican History of Art, ISBN 0300062176 Monica Juneja ( 2001 ). Architecture in Medieval India : Forms, Contexts, Histories. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978 - 8178242286. Stella Kramrisch ( 1976 ). The Hindu Temple Volume 1. Motilal Banarsidass ( Reprinted 1946 Princeton University Press ). ISBN 978 - 81 - 208 - 0223 - 0. Stella Kramrisch ( 1979 ). The Hindu Temple Volume 2. Motilal Banarsidass ( Reprinted 1946 Princeton University Press ). ISBN 978 - 81 - 208 - 0224 - 7. Michael W. Meister ; Madhusudan Dhaky ( 1986 ). Encyclopaedia of Indian temple architecture. American Institute of Indian Studies. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8122 - 7992 - 4. George Michell ( 1988 ). The Hindu Temple : An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 226 - 53230 - 1. George Michell ( 2000 ). Hindu Art and Architecture. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978 - 0 - 500 - 20337 - 8. Debala Mitra ( 1968 ), Konarak, Archaeological Survey of India T.A. Gopinatha Rao ( 1993 ). Elements of Hindu iconography. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978 - 81 - 208 - 0878 - 2. Ajay J. Sinha ( 2000 ). Imagining Architects : Creativity in the Religious Monuments of India. University of Delaware Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87413 - 684 - 5. Burton Stein ( 1978 ). South Indian Temples. Vikas. ISBN 978 - 0706904499. Burton Stein ( 1989 ). The New Cambridge History of India : Vijayanagara. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 521 - 26693 - 2. Burton Stein ; David Arnold ( 2010 ). A History of India. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4443 - 2351 - 1. Kapila Vatsyayan ( 1997 ). The Square and the Circle of the Indian Arts. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978 - 81 - 7017 - 362 - 5. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sun Temple, Konârak. 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Question: who built the temple of sun god at konark
Answer: king Narasimhadeva I