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Sun Temple

By isobel
  • Jan 1, 1300

    Temple Built

    Temple Built
    The Temple is built by the Orissan kingNarashimhadem 1 to celebrate military victories over Muslims.Temple is dedicated to Surya the sun god.At the centre is a platform furnished by 24 wheels seperated into 12 pairs.The pairs represent 12 new moons 12 full moons and the 12 months of the year.Each wheel has 8 spokes representing the 8 diversions of the Hindu day,
  • Jan 1, 1300

    Decorations

    Decorations
    All the wheels on the South side have small numbers on them so when the sun rises they will act like lots of sun dials.The wheels are charbas that mark the cycle of life.The platform is drawn by 7 horses representing the 7 days of the week.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1300 to

    Sun Temple

  • Nov 11, 1400

    It's all about the sun

    It's all about the sun
    The sun is obviously the main theme in this temple.Pictures of Surya,the sun god and his chariot (also called Ratha by which he travels across the sky in)covers the wallsof this magnificent structure.For instance,on one tower 3 imagesof Surya are aligned to catch the sun at dawn,noon and sunset.Not only does the temple tell us all about Ancient Hindu gods but also the base and walls present almost a storybord of Kalinga life in a procession of carvings.

  • Semi collapsed tower

    Semi collapsed tower
    In the late 1600 Mughals removed the copper covering over the Cupola.This together with strong winds made the 40 metre high tower partially collapsed.

  • Tower Collapsed

    Tower Collapsed
    Unfortunately the remaining part of the tower survived only approximately 200 years after the other half collapsed in 1600.Remnants of the tower show personifications of the 9 planets of the Hindu Universe:Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rehu or Neptune, Ketu or Pluto, the Moon or Chandra and the sun(not actually a planet.

  • Excavation and Restoration

    Excavation and Restoration
    Excavation and Restoration began to the temple in 1901.The sand was removed and certain rooms were filled in to stop the walls caving in.Although the fallen temple couldn't be restored, remnants of it were kept.If the temple didn't become a world heritage sight, the world would be deprived of valuable information about the Hindu way of life.