The Unknown Truth About Konark Sun Temple!

 

 

The Unknown Truth About Konark Sun Temple!

 

Hi readers! Its time again to visit another famous temple in India that we all have heard of or even visited but without any knowledge of its origin. So, today I’m going to take you to the Konark Sun Temple. You may be wondering what new information can I give about a temple that is already so famous. Well, to discover that, you have to read further. If you ever wish to see a colossal chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels, carrying the Sun god, the Konark Sun temple is your destination. Built in the 13th century, the Konark Sun temple is a beautiful representation of Orissa architecture. Did you ever wonder why the temple is called Konark? Its not just another word. To understand its significance, we need to break it up. Kona means corner and ark means sun. This signifies that this is the corner of the world where you can find and worship the Sun god. There are two stories narrating the birth of the Konark Sun temple.

The first one says that this is one of the places where Lord Vishnu placed one of his belongings after successfully defeating the demon Gyasur. He chose the Konark Sun temple to place his Lotus. Another legend narrates the story of Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, who suffered with leprosy, as a result of a curse placed on his father. To get rid of this curse, Lord Krishna did penance for 12 year at Mitravana near the confluence of Chandrabhaga River with the sea at Konark. This pleased the Sun god and the curse was gotten rid of. As an expression of gratitude, Lord Krishna got a temple built which was dedicated to the Sun god. 

One day, while bathing in the same river, Samba discovered the idol of the Sun god, submerged in the river. With great devotion he brought the idol to the temple built by his father and installed it there. Since then, it gained religious importance and attracted millions of people annually. The Konark Sun temple is not only one of the twelve jyothirlingas in India but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Apart from this, it featured on NDTV's list of Seven Wonders of India and Times of India's list of Seven Wonders of India.

- Kruti Beesam