Sun temple

 Hinduism believes that Sun is the source of energy, power and is the sustainer of all life on earth. So it worships Sun as God and calls it Aditya. It is said that reference to this is seen even in the Vedas. The worship of the Sun in India is thus several centuries old.

It is also said that Iran was once a centre of solar worship and that some of the Magha priests of Iran had been brought to India to officiate in ceremonies. 

In India there are several temples erected for the Sun God as the principal deity. It is also believed that Surya, the Sun God offered worship at several of the shrines in Tamilnadu. Many of these shrines have been designed in such a way that the sun's rays illuminate the sanctum (of Shiva) on certain days of the year. Several of the South Indian Temple Tanks also bear the name Surya Theertham or Surya Pushkarini.

 

One of the very important temples of Sun God is the one in Konark, a small village about 65 KM from the state capital of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar. This temple was constructed in the 13^th century and considered to be the grandest of all Sun temples. Oriyan architecture reached its pinnacle in the Sun temple at  Konark.

It is a grand and magnificent temple in the form of sun’s charriot drawn by seven horses marking the seven days of the week. The 24 huge wheels, superbly carved and decorated, mark the hours of the day. 

This temple was envisioned by the Ganga ruler Narasimha Deva but it was not fully completed. The main idol of the Sun God on which the sun’s rays fall in the morning is said to have been removed by some Portuguese navigators. The temple now comprises only of the sabhamandap and the natamandir. The main temple crumbled down many years ago.

Even what is left today, is a testimony to the talent of the architects who lived in India centuries ago. In 1984 UNESCO declared  the Sun Temple a world heritage centre.  Sun temple is one of India’s most famous Brahman sanctuaries.