Konark or Konarak Sun temple is dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya and, conceived as a giant stone chariot with 12 wheels, is the most famous of the few solar temples built in India. It is located about 35 km northeast of the city of Puri on the coast of the state of Odisha (formerly Orissa). It was built c. 1250 d. C. by King Narasimhadeva I (r. 1238-1264 d. C.) of the Dynasty of the Ganges of the East (VIII century AD.C. – XV century AD.C.).
The temple in its current state was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 CE. Although many parts are now in ruins, what remains of the temple complex continues to attract not only tourists but also Hindu pilgrims. Konarak stands as a classic example of Hindu temple architecture, with a colossal structure, sculptures and artworks on a myriad of subjects.
The Eastern Gangas established their kingdom in the Kalinga region of eastern India (present-day state of Odisha) in the “early eighth century AD.C.” (Tripathi, 368), although his fortune increased from the eleventh century AD. C. onwards. The greatest king of this dynasty was Anantavarman Chodaganga (1077 – 1147 AD.C.), who ruled for about 70 years. He was not only a formidable warrior, but also a patron of the arts and a much favored temple building. The great temple of the god Jagannatha in Puri, initiated by him, “stands as a brilliant monument to the artistic vigor and prosperity of Orissa during his reign” (Majumdar, 377). His successors continued the tradition, the most notable being Narasimhadeva I who not only completed the construction of the Jagannatha temple but also the Konarak temple.
The word ‘Konark’ is a combination of two Sanskrit words kona (corner or angle) and arka (the sun). Therefore, it implies that the main deity was the sun god, and the temple was built in an angular format. The temple follows the architectural style of Kalinga or Orissa, which is a subset of the nagara style of Hindu temple architecture. It is believed that the Orissa style shows the nagara style in all its purity. Nagara was among the three styles of Hindu temple architecture in India and prevailed in northern India, while in the south the dravida style predominated and in central and eastern India it was the Vesara style. These styles can be distinguished by the way features such as plant and elevation were visually represented.
The nagara style is characterized by a square plan, which contains a shrine and an assembly hall (mandapa). In terms of elevation, there is a huge curvilinear tower (shikhara), leaning inwards and crowned. Although Odisha is located in the eastern region, the nagara style was adopted. This could be due to the fact that, since King Anantavarman’s domains also included many areas in northern India, the style that prevailed there decisively influenced the architectural plans of the temples that the king was about to build in Odisha. Once adopted, his successors also continued the same tradition and, over time, many additions were made.