14/18 ☼ Exploring Temples, Caves, Ghats, and an Imambara: A 3000-Mile Adventure
Konark temple its magnets & the floating idol ☀️!
King Narasimhadeva of the Ganga dynasty constructed the pyramid-shaped Konark temple with the assistance of 1,200 artisans over a span of 12 years. The Sun Temple of Konark is renowned for its distinctive architectural design, which incorporates the use of magnets. During its construction, craftsmen strategically placed an iron plate between each stone piece of the main tower. At the pinnacle of the temple, there was a colossal 52-ton magnet. The statue of the Sun God inside the temple, crafted from an iron-containing material, appeared to float in mid-air without any physical support (think of magnetic equilibrium balancing all internal and external forces). The alignment of the main temple and the Sun God was such that the first ray of sunlight from the coast would pass through the Nata Mandir (Dancing Hall), reflect off a diamond adorning the crown of the Sun God, and brilliantly illuminate the statue. It is also said that magnetic force was incredibly powerful, leading to disruptions in the compasses of passing ships near the coast (particularly Konark, a significant port back then). Consequently, navigating became extremely challenging for sailors. In order to protect their trade and vessels, Portuguese sailors resorted to demolishing the temple and absconding the 52-ton magnet. Portuguese traders named it the "Black Pagoda" because their compasses stopped working near the temple, causing shipwrecks.
Contents
History
Wheel of Life
Adjoining Monuments
History
The name Konark refers to arka or Sun of the kona or Corner. It is the most sacred place for the worship of Surya in Orissa. According to some local texts, the prince Samba son of Krishna and his wife Jambavati went to the place accidently where krishna’s several wives were bathing. With this act, Krishna cursed him with leprosy. Samba pleased Surya god, the healer of skin diseases near Chandrabhaga. After 12 years of penance, he was cured and he decided to erect a temple in honour of Surya.
The main temple was a colossal chariot with twelve pairs of wheels which stand for the twelve months of a year and seven horses in the spirited gallop. The exterior walls of the sun temple are embellished with an amazing amount of bold sculptures and carvings. The theme of the sculptures may be classified as deities, musician-nymphs, secular, birds, beasts, aquatic animals and mythological figures, architectural motifs and decorative patterns woven out of floral & geometrical motifs. The secular sculptures include voluptuous beauty in seductive poses; musicians and dancers, and a fairly large number of themes.
Wheel of Life
Explore the timekeeping capabilities of the Sun Temple, which features a stunning chariot design with 24 intricately carved wheels that function as sundials, allowing for precise time calculations down to the minute. The temple's design includes 7 horses symbolizing the days of the week, 12 pairs of wheels representing the months of the year, and 24 wheels signifying the hours in a day. The major and minor spokes on the wheels further divide time into three-hour periods and half-hour increments, with each bead on the edge of the wheel representing 3 minutes. Additionally, the wheels of the chariot are seen as a representation of the 'Wheel of Life', symbolizing the cycle of creation, preservation, and realization. The 12 pairs of wheels could also be interpreted as the 12 zodiac signs, adding to the temple's rich symbolism and significance. How to calculate time using the spokes is well described in this link.
Adjoining Monuments
To the west of the main temple is Mayadevi, believed to be one of the wives of Surya.
Konark's history is incredibly fascinating. By engaging with a knowledgeable local guide and conversing with the locals, I managed to uncover some significant aspects of the temple. It is strongly advised to delve into the history of Konark before embarking on a visit, as it adds a whole new dimension to the experience. I then headed to Bhubaneswar, where my primary focus was on discovering temples, and caves, and seeking spiritual enlightenment.