KONARK: The Architectural Marvel

 The name Konark is made of the two sanskrit words 'kona' and 'arka'. Kona means corner, and Arka means sun. There are three main sun temples built in India: Marthand Surya Temple (Jammu & Kashmir), Modhera Sun Temple (Gujarat), and Konark Sun Temple (Odisha). Konark Sun Temple is situated on the bank of the River Chandrabaga in Odisha, near Puri, the city of Lord Jagannath. It was built by the Ganga dynasty king Narasimhadeva, who was dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. It 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. The temple was so built that  the first ray of the sun fell on the gigantic sun idol kept inside the main temple complex. 

There are mainly three types of architectural styles that existed in ancient India. Nagra style, or northern style; Dravidian style, or southern style; and Vesara style, or mixed style. Odisha was recognized as Kalinga desha in ancient times, so the Konark temple follows the Kalinga Nagra style. Mainly, two types of stones are used for the construction of Konark Temple: sandstone and granite. Sandstone contains 32% iron, so when viewed from a distance, the temple is seen in black. This specialty is Konark Sun Temple, also known as Kala Pagoda or Black Pagoda.

  

The construction of Konark was very different. Four temples are made in one line according to Kalinga Nagra style: Bhoga Mandap, Natya Mandap, Prarthana Mandap, and the main mandir. The main attraction of the temple is its twelve pairs of wheels located at the base of the temple. These wheels are not ordinary wheels but tell time as well; the spokes of the wheels create a sundial. One can calculate the precise time of the day by just looking at the shadow cast by these spokes.Another unique feature of this temple is the presence of an iron plate in between every two stones. Massive iron beams have also been used to construct the higher floors of the temple. Approximately 52-ton magnet was used to create the peak of the main temple. It is said that the entire structure has tolerated the harsh conditions, especially in the sea, because of this magnet. Previously, the unique arrangement of the main magnet along with the other magnets caused the main idol of the temple to float in the air. The Nata mandir, or dancing hall, is full of carved images of dancers and musicians. The Nava Graha, or Nine Planets Temple. Intricately carved figures of elephants, horses, and lions at the entrance. Various images of mythical creatures, musicians, dancers, and erotic sculptures.

 

 

Many theories explain the fall of the temple in their own way.

 As per research a lodestone (a piece of the mineral magnetite that is naturally magnetized),  has been found at the top of the temple. The lodestone’s placement caused huge damage to the temple, as many vessels passing through the Konark Sea were attracted to it. Also, this magnet used to disturb the compass of almost all the ships in the sea. So, to remove the cause of the trouble, Portuguese voyagers stole the lodestone. The displacement of the lodestone led to a total imbalance, and so the Konark temple fell down. But there is no historical record of this event or the presence of such a great lodestone at Konark. As per another very popular theory, the temple was destroyed by Kalapahad (Kalapahad was the title given to a Muslim governor, Sultan Sulaiman Karrani of Bengal), who invaded Orissa in 1508. He had also destroyed many other Hindu temples in Orissa, along with the Konark Sun Temple. The infiltration on Orissa in 1568 by Kalapahada is chronicled in the Madala Panji of the Puri Jagannath temple. He broke the majority of the images in the majority of Orissa's Hindu temples, including the Konark Temple.

The conservation of the remaining part of the Konarak temple is still a challenge before the Archaeological Survey of India which took charge of the temple in 1939. ASI prepares an annual conservation plan on a regular basis. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has implemented a number of measures to mitigate the impacts of saline action, water logging, erosion, and vegetative intrusions. This involves cleaning the surface applying a paper pulp method, consolidating and strengthening stones as needed, pumping sets to remove water, and periodic biocidal treatment to control vegetative intrusion.   Monument conservation is an ongoing effort, and Sun Temple in Konark, which is also a World Heritage Site, is in good preservation thanks to ASI's routine maintenance.