In Context:

=> Odisha government has planned to run the Sun Temple completely on solar energy.

=> Konark is going to be the first model town in Odisha to shift from grid dependency to green energy.

About  Konark Sun Temple:

=> Location:  Konark is situated at a comfortable distance from the famous religious and tourist centre of Puri (35 K.M.) and the capital city of Bhubaneswar (65 K.M.)

=> Meaning of Name: "Konarka" , the place bears a name composed of two World elements: Kona meaning corner and ARKA meaning the Sun.

• The Sun god worshipped in Ark Kshetra is also called Konark.
• In 'Brahma Purana' the Sun God in Ark-kshetra has been described as Konaditya.
• So it is evident that the place where the Kona aditya (or Kona-arka, the Sun god) was worshipped was also popularly called Konark.

=> The main Temple was called by European sailors "The Black Pagoda" as it formed an important landmark for them in their coastal voyage.It forms part of the golden triangle of Odisha, along with Puri and Bhubaneswar, and attracts tourists, pilgrims, and history and art lovers.

=> Built by: Built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty from 1238-1250 CE.

=> Features: The Sun Temple built in the thirteenth century was  conceived as a gigantic chariot of Sun God, with twelve pairs of exquisitely ornamented wheels pulled by seven pairs of horses.

• Its fine traceries and scroll work , the beautiful and natural cut of animal and human figures, all give it a superiority over other temples.
• The Sun temple belongs to the Kalinga School of Indian Temples with characteristic curvilinear towers mounted by Cupolas.
• The main sanctum which (229 ft. high) was constructed along with the  audience hall (128 ft. high) having elaborate external projections.
• The main sanctum which enshrined the presiding deity has fallen off.
• The  Audience Hall survives  in its entirety but of the other two viz the Dancing Hall(nata Mandir) and the Dining Hall (Bhoga-Mandap), only small portions have survived the vagaries of time.

=> The alignment of the Sun Temple is in the east-west direction.

=> The temple is a World Heritage Site is situated in the eastern state of Odisha and  is  a massive temple dedicated to the Sun God temple

=> Great poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote of Konark: “Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.”

=> Protection : The Sun Temple, Konârak is protected under the National Framework of India by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act (1958) and its Rules (1959).

• Other relevant protective legislation includes the Forest Act, Konârak Development Act and notified Council Area Act.

By: ASRAF UDDIN AHMED