The temple of Konarak is one of most impressive which is in India. It is not a temple-city following the example large temples of Nadu Tamil, with their multiple concentric enclosures. What strikes in Konarak, it is the monolithic aspect and crushing monument.Built at the 13 2nd century under the reign of king Ganga Narasimha Deva 1st, this colossal work, dedicated to the solar god Suryâ, the apogee of the architectural art of Ganga and, of the blow, historical Orissa marks.
The place chosen by the architects, in edge of sea at the time, proved more than debatable: the sand dunaire basement, made up unconsolidated, had the greatest evil to support the weight of the building which was not long in subsiding. An earthquake, in 1630, worsened the damage which culminated with the collapse of the tower (which exceeded the 60 m height) at the 19 2nd century, at the time of a storm. Meanwhile, of the destroying Moslem invasions, at the 15 2nd century, had profaned the sanctuary and had incited the autochtones to give up the temple. This one "was thus rediscovered" at the end of the 19 2nd century by Brittaniques in a serious state of decay.
It is advised to visit the temple the morning. One penetrates in the immense enclosure by the entry of the east, the Door of the Lions. It is kept, on both sides, by lions surmounting of the elephants occupied to devour a demon. This reason, which one finds at various places, is variously interprêté: for the local guides, it is the symbol of the hindouism triumphing over Buddhism (!), for others a commemoration of the royal vistoires, unless it is not about the triumph of knowledge on ignorance...
Then, one passes close to an elevated mandapa on a high platform whose circumferences are equipped with small planks and engraved medallions dancers (devadasi). It was, believes one, a hall of the dance (nritya mandapa = to natmandir), whose remain the beautiful ones and fine carved columns.
One crosses then the ground in the center of which the temple of Suryâ is drawn up on its elevated esplanade.
One will slowly make it tower of the base of the temple, admiring and detailing with the passage the many planks representing of the horses, hunters, some erotic scenes, other animals.... But what strikes more, in fact the seven large horses seem to tractor draw the colossal solar tank of the temple thanks to enormous stone wheels reaching nearly 3 m in diameter. Twelve of these wheels frame, on each side, the solar tank. Each wheel is divided of 24 rays gathered by groups of three; it is said that each one corresponds to a division of the day. On the wheels, small sculptures in medallions, depict scenes of the everyday life; their place is given according to the moment of the day (see in particular the fourth wheel in the south). The twelve wheels on the southern side appear about fifteen the rising moon, those on the northern side, those of the downward moon.
An imposing staircase goes up towards the entry of the hall (jagamohan) of the temple. The large dark stone porch (chlorite) is remarkable. The jagamohan is surmounted by a pyramidal roof on several levels, decorated with many exceptional sculptures, which one can hardly see but with the binocular. The building culminates with 39 meters, which is completely exceptional.
With the back of the jagamohan, the tower (deul) broke down. While climbing, one can admire some beautiful sculptures. In a great niche of the southern face, in particular, the most famous green chlorite representation is held of Suryâ. Upright on his tank drawn by seven horses, the god receives the homage of a character knelt in front of him. One generally thinks that it is about its coachman, Aruna, but some estimate that it is about the king manufacturer of the temple. Around, are held of the divinities equipped with four arms, Brahmâ somewhat ventripotent on the line, and perhaps Vishnu on the left. Other figures of Suryâ are visible in niches in the west and north.
Behind the principal temple, a temple secondary, known as of Mayadevi, has some low-reliefs, a statue of Suryâ, a furious elephant catching a man.
In the court, at north, were placed a pair of lions which before, kept the northern entry, and looked towards outside.
One will not leave the
site without to have gone in a small building without character, out of the
enclosure, with the north-eastern angle. Chlorite superb and gigantic monolith
is installed there. It is the architrave which formerly surmounted the principal
porch of the temple. It represents Navagraha (nine Planétes) which is honoured
daily by priests. The divinities impressive and are blackened by oilings day
labourers.