Introduction

Konark is also known as Konaditya. The name Konark is derived from the words “Kona” (corner) and “arka” (Sun). Konark Temple, located on India’s southeastern coastal border, is a beautiful, ancient temple built in the 12th century by King Narmansingh deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in 1250.

In India, every temple has its own patron deity. Konark temple is dedicated to Hindu gods, with Lord Suryanarayan as the presiding deity. Most of the temple’s parts were damaged by weather and Muslim invasions in the 15th and 17th centuries, but it remains one of India’s most beautiful temples. The structures that have survived are famous for the Kama and Mithuna scenes. It is known as Surya devalaya in the local dialect, and it is a classic example of Orrisa architecture. The discovery of the Konark Temple is dated back to 1676 when European sailors discovered it. It was named the Black Pagoda because it resembled a black-tied tower. Similarly, the Jagannath Temple in Puri has been given the name the White Pagoda. In the British era, conservation efforts were made by archaeological teams to store the Konark temple. Following independence, the Indian government has been making the same efforts to keep and restore the same old glory of the Konark temple. Following all of these efforts, the temple was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.

As a pilgrimage site, the Konark temple is significant in Hindu culture. Every year in the month of February, people from around India gather on the Chandrabaga beach for the Chandrabaga Mela. Chandrabagh Mela or Festival has its own interesting mythological story. The festival takes its name from the Chandrabaga river

History of Konark temple

Konark temple was crafted with the help of 1200 artisans over a complete span of 16 years between 1243 AD and 1255 AD. During the construction period, artisans observed strict celibacy and spoke with great devotion. A very interesting story is associated with the deadline for the construction of the Konark temple. King Narsimhadev wanted to create a temple for the sun temple in the stipulated time. When the deadline approached, he was not able to fix all the puzzle pieces. He was warned by the king that if he failed to deliver, a sentence of death would be his fate. This is the time when his son came from abroad to help solve the problem. He made the floating statue of the sun god that was balanced by magnetic forces. It was a very unique and sophisticated technology, considering the time. Finally, the king was happy with the result. But when the king got to know that it was not the architect but his son who had the major role, he decided to punish the father. Devastated by the news, the son committed suicide by jumping from the top of a temple into the sea. All of this caused the king to abandon the temple, and no worship has taken place there since, despite the fact that you can now enter the temple without shoes.

The temple was built entirely of black granite, with no cement or limestone used in its construction. The boulders were held together by iron sheets and rods that were held together by a spherical magnet placed at the top of the temple. The main statue was floating, balanced by magnetic forces. During the British era, when Lord Curzon visited the place, he was intrigued by the spherical magnet. He tried to remove the magnet for scientific purposes, and as a result, the idol came crashing down and the whole structure crumbled.  After their destruction, one of the idols was placed in the Puri temple, and the other in the national museum.  It was said the magnet was so powerful that it disrupted the magnetic compass of the ships, resulting in misdirection.  There are many theories or stories that tell about the destruction of the Konark temple. Magnet theory is the most sought-after explanation. Similarly, lighting theory, earthquake theory, Muslim invasion theory, and the closing down of the nearby port have different things to say.

Significance of Sundial (wheel) In the calculation of time

Credit:Saravana Manian P A

The Sun Temple is famous for its sundial.  Surya, or the Sun, is the chief of the navagrahas in Hindu culture and an important component of Hindu astrology.

The whole temple is surrounded by a chariot, symbolizing the chariot of the deity named Surya Deva. The chariot consists of 24 wheels, each measuring 10 feet in diameter. 24 wheels symbolize the 24-hour day, and the day and the seven horses pulling the chariot represent the seven days of the week; therefore, the whole temple was used to calculate the time of the day.

Let’s take a deep dive into the anatomy of the wheel’s structure. The wheel acts as a sundial that has eight major spokes that divide 24 hours into eight equal parts, each having a value of 3 hours between the major spokes.

There are also 8 minor spokes, a minor spoke between two major spokes that reduce the 3-hour time to 1 hour or 90 minutes. Further down, the edge of the wheel has a lot of beads. Between the major and minor spokes, there are 30 beads, each with a value of 3 minutes.

Credit:  Rajesh Jangra

To calculate the time when the sun moves from east to west, wheels made on both the east and west of the temple were used as a sundial to calculate the time more accurately. When the sun does not shine on the east wheel, it casts a shadow on the west. for the moondial? These questions are still hanging in the air. Some people think the remaining ones are just for decorative and religious purposes. An interesting story was attached to the use of the remaining 22 sundials. 100 year ago, a yogi was seen calculating time secretly. They say that when someone asked about the use of the remaining 22 wheels, the yogi refused to talk and walked away.

Credit: Saroj Kumar

If you look more carefully, you will find the carving on the wheels depicting women waking up, looking at a mirror, and engaging in sexual activity at night. Each part of the Konark is covered with beautiful deities, scenes of the courts, etc. You can see how a single temple can show the beautiful blend of daily ritual, religion, knowledge of astronomy, and electromagnetism.

When to visit Temple

Located in India’s south-eastern region, the best time to visit the temple is during the winter. In the summer, the climate is hot and humid. The Konarak is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. The temple is open every day. Visiting in the morning is the best option you can choose when the sun is rising.

How to reach

Road: The temple is situated in the town of Konark in the Puri district of Orissa. It is 35 kilometers from Puri and 60 kilometers from the state capital, Bhubaneswar. The Konark bus stand is 6 kilometers from the temple. Renting a cab from Puri is the easiest way.

Train: The Sun Temple is also well connected by trains and taxis. The nearest railway station is Puri, 30 km from Konark.

Air: If you looking for an air option then, Bhubaneswar or Biju Patnaik International Airport is 65 km from the temple.

Ticket Price

VisitorPrice
INDIAN VisitorRs 35
FOREIGNERRs 550
SAARC VisitorRs 35
BIMSTEC VisitorRs 35