Konark Sun Temple & Konark town ( 100% Solarisation Scheme ) – Burning Issues – Free PDF

About the scheme

• The Scheme envisages setting up of 10 MW grid connected solar project and various solar off-grid applications like solar trees, solar drinking water kiosks, off-grid solar power plants with battery storage etc
• The Scheme will meet all the energy requirements of Konark town with solar energy.
• The scheme gets the 100% Central Financial Assistance (CFA) support of around Rs. 25 Crores from Government of India through Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Konark Temple

• The word Konark is a combination of two words ‘Kona’ and ‘Arka’. Kona means Corner and ‘Arka’ mean Sun. So when combines it becomes the ‘Sun of the corner’. Konark Sun Temple is situated on the north eastern corner of the Puri and is dedicated to Sun God
• Konark was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty (1238-1264AD) in the 13th century

More about Temple

• This temple consists of a Vimana ( main shrine ) intended for housing the deity Jagamohana ( hall in front of Vimana ) from where the worshippers could have a glimpse of the deity a Nritya-mandapa ( dancing hall ) and Bhoga-mandapa (offering hall)

Architecture of Konark Temple

• The resemblance to a chariot ends with the wheels and horses. The rest of the edifice is a typical Orissa temple
• The exterior walls was lavishly decorated with intricate carvings, but interior carving There was no use of pillars
• The Shikharas in this school were known as rekha deuls. The mandaps were known as Jagamohan
• It is also known as Kalinga style of Architecture

Wheel of the Temple

• Various theories have been advocated regarding the significance of Konark wheel.
• According to some, 12 pairs of wheels represent the 12 months of the year and the 24 wheels signifies 24 hours of a day and the 8 major spokes signifies pahars (three hour period) of a day.
• According to others, the wheels of the chariot have been interpreted as the ‘Wheel of Life’. They portray the cycle of creation, preservation and achievement of realisation.
• These 12 pairs of wheels may also possibly represent the 12 zodiac signs.

Seven Horses of the Temple

• The representation of these seven horses explained in different ways The seven horse, which pull the sun temple eastwards towards the dawn, represents the seven days of the week
• These seven horses at Konarak are the seven colours visible in a rainbow – VIBGYOR. The seven horses are named after these seven colors: Sahasrara (Violet), Indra-nila (Indigo), Nila (Blue), Haritaha (Green), Pita (Yellow), Kausumbhaha (Orange) and Rakta (Red)

Magnets

• The uniqueness of the Sun Temple of Konark lies in the fact that it was built with an architectural setup of various magnets.
• During the construction of the main tower of the temple the artisans put an iron plate between every two stone pieces.
• There is a lodestone at the top of the temple was said to be a massive 52 ton magnet.

Black Pagoda

• Konark temple was called the “Black Pagoda” in European sailor accounts as early as 1676 because its great tower appeared black
• Second reason, its magnetic power that drew ships into the shore and caused shipwrecks.
• Similarly, the Jagannath Temple in Puri was called the “White Pagoda”.

Royal Guard of Konark

• At the entrance of the Sun Temple, you can find two lions at either sides of the entrance, that are seen crushing an elephant each. Beneath each elephant is a human being.
• According to the Hindu mythology, the lions resemble the pride, elephants resemble the wealth and both of them kill the human. The entire figure is made out of one piece of stone.

Other Interesting Things about Sun temple

• The Konark is the third link of Odisha’s Golden Triangle. The first link is Jagannath Puri and the second link is Bhubaneswar (Capital city of Odisha)
• Konark temple was initially built on the sea bank but now the sea has receded and the temple is a little away from the beach.
• 10 rs note have the Konark Sun Temple motif

Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister

• Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said,
• “The Government of India launched the scheme with an objective to take forward Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)’s vision to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as ‘Surya Nagri’
• To convey a message of synergy between the modern use of solar energy and the ancient Sun Temple and the importance of promoting solar energy.”

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