Brief Description
On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries.
On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India's most famous Brahman sanctuaries.
Temple du Soleil à Konârak
Au bord du golfe du Bengale, dans le prolongement des rayons du soleil levant, le temple de Konarak est une représentation monumentale du char du dieu-soleil Surya, aux vingt-quatre roues abondamment sculptées de motifs symboliques, et de son attelage de six chevaux. Construit au XIIIe siècle, c'est l'un des plus célèbres sanctuaires brahmaniques de l'Inde.
معبد الشمس في كوناراك
يشكّل معبد كوناراك الواقع على تخوم خليج البنغال في امتداد أشعة الشمس البازغة عرضاً تذكارياً لعربة إلهة الشمس ثريا بعجلاتها الأربعة والعشرين المنحوتة بوفرة بزخارف رمزية وبربطها ستة أحصنة. إنّ هذا المعبد الذي شُيّد في القرن الثالث عشر هو من أشهر المعابد البرهمانية في الهند.
Source: UNESCO/BPI
科纳拉克太阳神庙
科纳拉克太阳神庙位于孟加拉湾沿岸，沐浴着冉冉升起的太阳。神庙依照太阳神苏利耶驾驶战车的样子建造。24个车轮饰有字符图案，6匹马拉着战车。这座神庙建于13世纪，是印度最著名的婆罗门庙宇之一。
Source: UNESCO/ERI
Храм Солнца в Конараке
Освещаемый лучами восходящего солнца храм в Конараке на берегу Бенгальского залива – это монументальное воплощение колесницы бога Солнца – Сурьи, увлекаемой упряжкой из шести лошадей. Ее 24 колеса украшены символическими изображениями. Этот храм, воздвигнутый в XIII в., является одним из наиболее известных брахманских святилищ в Индии.
Source: UNESCO/ERI
Templo del Sol en Konârak
Situado a orillas del golfo de Bengala y bañado por los rayos del sol naciente, el Templo del Sol es una representación monumental del carro del dios sol, Surya, con sus veinticuatro ruedas esculpidas con un sinfín motivos simbólicos y su tiro de seis caballos. Construido en el siglo XIII, este templo es uno de los más celebres santuarios brahmánicos de la India.
Source: UNESCO/ERI
コナーラクの太陽神寺院
source: NFUAJ
© OUR PLACE The World Heritage Collection
Long Description
Konârak is an outstanding testimony to the 13th-century kingdom of Orissa. It is directly and materially linked to Brahmin beliefs, and forms the invaluable link in the history of the diffusion of the cult of Surya, which originated in Kashmir during the 8th century and finally reached the shores of eastern India.
On the eastern coast of India, south of the Mahanadi Delta, is the Brahmin temple of Kimarak (still spelled as Konârak or Konârka), one of the most famous Brahmin sanctuaries of Asia. Konârak derives its name from Konârka, the presiding deity of the Sun Temple. Konârka is a combination of two words, kona (corner) and arka (Sun). It was one of the earliest centres of Sun worship in India. Built around 1250 in the reign of King Narasingha Deva (1238-64), it marks the apogee of the wave of foundations dedicated to the Sun God Surya; the entire temple was conceived as a chariot of the Sun God with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings.
The present Sun Temple was probably built by King Narashimhadev I (1238-64) of the Ganga dynasty to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. The temple fell into disuse in the early 17th century after it was desecrated by an envoy of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba, the son of Lord Krishna. Samba was afflicted by leprosy and after twelve years of penance he was cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built this temple.
Against the horizon, on the sandy shore, where the rising Sun emerges from the waters of the Gulf of Bengal, stands the temple, built from stone and carefully oriented so as to permit the first rays of the Sun to strike its principal entry. It is a monumental representation of the chariot of Surya pulled by a team of seven horses (six of which still exist and are placed on either side of the stairway leading to the sanctuary).
On the north and south sides, 24 wheels some 3 m in diameter, lavishly sculptured with symbolic motives referring to the cycle of the seasons and the months, complete the illusionary structure of the temple-chariot. Between the wheels, the plinth of the temple is entirely decorated with reliefs (fantastic lions, musicians and dancers, erotic groups). Like many Indian temples, Konârak comprises several distinct and well-organized spatial units. The vimana (principal sanctuary) was surmounted by a high tower with a sikkara which was razed in the 19th century; to the east, the jahamogana (audience hall) now dominates the ruins with its pyramidal mass, the original effect.
Further to the east, the natmandir (dance hall), today unroofed, rises on a high platform. Various subsidiary structures are still to be found within the enclosed area of the rectangular wall, which is punctuated by its gates and towers.
Apart from the Puranas, other religious texts also point towards the existence of a Sun temple at Konârak long before the present temple. Konârak was once a bustling port of Kalinga and had good maritime trade relations with South-East Asian countries.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
