The Konark Sun Temple was built in the 13th century and dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya. Its unique architecture takes the form of a giant stone chariot pulled by horses, representing Surya's chariot in Hindu mythology. Though now in ruins, it was over 200 feet tall and elaborately carved with wheels, horses, and religious sculptures. The temple followed traditional elements but also geometric patterns in its design and layout of sculptures, representing Hindu iconography through its grand symbolic structure.

1. Odisha temple architecture
• the temple architecture of Odisha corresponds
to altogether a different category for their
unique representations called Kalinga style of
temple architecture. This style broadly comes
under the Nagara style. The Kaḷinga
architectural style is a style of Hindu
architecture which flourished in the ancient
Kalinga previously known as Utkal and part of
the kingdom of Magadha or present eastern
Indian state of Odisha.
• The style consists of three distinct types of
temples: Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara
Deula. The former two are associated with
Vishnu, Surya and Shiva temples while the third is
mainly with Chamunda and Durga temples. The
Rekha Deula and Khakhara Deula houses the
sanctum sanctorum while the Pidha Deula
constitutes outer dancing and offering halls.

2. • The generic name of the Odisha temples is deul, which
has in its front a square building or assembly hall
called jagamohan, which corresponds to the mandapa.
These two edifices combine to form the essentials of an
Odishan temple. Later other structures like the Nat-
Mandir or Dancing Hall and Bhog Mandir or Hall of
Offerings were added to the temple structure. The
lower and the upright portion of the duel is called the
bada, the tall middle portion is called chhapra, the flat
fluted disc at the summit is called amla and its finial is
called kalasa. The Orissan temples as a whole are of
the astylar order, pillars being notable by their
absence.
• in Kalinga Architecture, basically, a temple is made in
two parts, a tower, and a hall. The tower is called deul
and the hall is called Jagmohan. The walls of both the
duel and the Jagmohan are lavishly sculpted with
architectural motifs and a profusion of figures. The
most repeated form is the horseshoe shape, which has
come from the earliest times, starting with the large
windows of the chaitya-grihas. It is the deul or delua
which makes three distinct types of temples in Kalinga
Architecture

3. Jaganath puri
temple

4. introduction
Introduction The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is an important Hindu temple dedicated
to Lord Jagannath, located on the eastern coast of India, at Puri in the state of Odisha.
The present temple was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier
temple, and begun by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of the Eastern Ganga
dynasty. The Puri temple is famous for its annual Ratha yatra, or chariot festival, in
which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple
cars. Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are a trio of deities worshipped at the temple.

5. history
• History The temple was built by the Ganga
dynasty king Anantavarman Chodaganga in the
12th century CE. Anantavarman was originally a
Shaivite, and became a Vaishnavite sometime
after he conquered the Utkala region (in which
the temple is located) in 1112 CE. A 1134–1135
CE inscription records his donation to the
temple. Therefore, the temple construction
must have started sometime after 1112 CE.
• The temple annals, the Madala Panji records
that the Jagannath temple at Puri has been
invaded and plundered eighteen times. In 1692,
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered to close
the temple. The temple was plundered and
looted because of enormous wealth present in
it. Due to these attacks, the idols of Lord
Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra were
transferred to various places in order to save
them.

6. architecture
Architecture The huge temple complex covers an
area of over 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2), and
is surrounded by a high fortified wall. This 20
feet (6.1 m) high wall is known as Meghanada
Pacheri. Another wall known as kurma bedha
surrounds the main temple. It contains at least
120 temples and shrines. With its sculptural
richness and fluidity of the Oriya style of temple
architecture, it is one of the most magnificent
monuments of India.
The temple has four distinct sectional
structures, namely –
1. Deula, Vimana or Garba griha where the triad
deities are lodged on the ratnavali (Throne of
Pearls). In Rekha Deula style;
2. Mukhashala (Frontal porch);
3. Nata mandir/Nata Mandapa, which is also
known as the Jagamohan (Audience
Hall/Dancing Hall),
4. Bhoga Mandapa (Offerings Hall)

7. Plan (jaganath temple)

8. • The main temple is a curvilinear temple and crowning
the top is the 'srichakra' (an eight spoked wheel) of
Vishnu. Also known as the "Nilachakra", it is made
out of Ashtadhatu and is considered sacrosanct.
Among the existing temples in Orissa, the temple of
Shri Jagannath is the highest. The temple tower was
built on a raised platform of stone and, rising to
214 feet (65 m) above the inner sanctum where the
deities reside, dominates the surrounding landscape.
The pyramidal roofs of the surrounding temples and
adjoining halls, or mandapas, rise in steps toward
the tower like a ridge of mountain peaks.
• The Nila Chakra is a disc with eight
Navagunjaras carved on the outer
circumference, with all facing
towards the flag post above. It is
made of alloy of eight metals
(Ashtadhatu) and is 3.5 Metres (11 feet
and 8 inches) high with a
circumference of about 11 metres (36
feet).

9. • The Singhadwara (The Lion Gate), is one of
the four gates to the temple and forms the
Main entrance. The Singhadwara is so named
because two huge statues of crouching
lions exist on either side of the entrance.
The gate faces east opening on to the Bada
Danda or the Grand Road. The Baisi Pahacha
or the flight of twenty two steps leads into
the temple complex. A magnificent sixteen-
sided monolithic pillar known as the Aruna
stambha stands in front of the main gate.
This pillar has an idol of Arun, the
charioteer of the Sun God Surya, on its top.
• Apart from the Singhadwara, which is the main
entrance to the temple, there are three
other entrances facing north, south and
west. They are named after the sculptures of
animals guarding them. The other entrances
are the Hathidara or the Elephant Gate, the
Vyaghra Dwara or the Tiger Gate and the
Ashwadwara or the Horse Gate

10. • The Dola Mandapa is noteworthy for a beautifully
carved stone Torana or arch which is used for
constructing a swing for the annual Dol Yatra
festival. During the festival the idol of
Dolagobinda is placed on the swing. The Snana
Bedi is a rectangular stone platform where idols
of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are
placed for ceremonial bathing during the annual
Snana Yatra.
• There are many minor temples in the
precincts of Jagannath Temple and Vimala
temple is one of them. Hindu mythology says
that the feet of Goddess Sati has fallen on
the spot where the temple is constructed.
The food offered to Lord Jagannath is also
offered to goddess Vimala then it is called
Mahaprasad

11. • There are many Mandapas or Pillared halls on
raised platforms within the temple complex meant
for religious congregations. The most prominent is
the Mukti Mandapa the congregation hall of the
holy seat of selected learned Brahmins. Here
important decisions regarding conduct of daily
worship and festivals are taken. Mukti Mandapa is a
platform made with granite and its height is five
feet. The square-shaped mandapa covers an area of
900 square feet. The roof of the mandapa is
supported by twelve pillars out of which four are
built in the middle. The roof is 13 feet high while the
height of each pillar is 8 feet. Idols of many gods
and goddesses have been installed here.
• The temple was plastered with a thick coat of lime
sometime in the 16th century A.D. to protect its
surface from decay caused by saline wind. Quoting
some temple records, the application of lime
plaster was done for the first time during the reign
of Prataparudra Deva on both the Vimana and
Jagamohana. Such plastering to have been done in
1647 A.D. Thereafter successive plasters had been
applied in 18th century.

12. Lingaraj temple

13. location : Bhubaneshwar,Orissa
built BY : Jajati Keshari in 11th century
Dedicated to : Lord Shiva
style : Kalinga Architecture
material : Laterite Stone
Total area : 1049.66 sq m
introduction

14. • Lingaraja temple is believed to be the oldest
and the largest temple of bhubaneswar,it is
more than 1100 years old.
• The temple of Lingaraj is highly revered by
the followers of Hinduism.The term
‘Lingaraj’ suggests ‘ The king of
Lingas’,where ‘linga’ is the phallic form of
lord shiva.
• In the 11th century,when the king shifted
this capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneswar,he
started the construction of Lingaraj
temple.
• The assembly hall (jagamohana),sanctum and
the temple tower were built during the 11th
century,while the hall of offering(bhoga-
mandapa)was built during the 12th century
history

15. architecture
• One of the finest examples of purely Hindu temple in
India.
• The Lingaraj temple faces east and is built of
sandstone and laterite.
• The main entrance is located in the east, while there
are small entrances in the north and south.
• The temple has 4 components namely,
Garbhagriha,Jaganmohana(assembly hall),nata
mandira(festival hall) bhoga-mandapa( hall of
offerings).
• One can enter the temple complex through ‘simha
dwara’(the lion’s gate),where lions flank both the
sides, crushing elephants under their feet.

16. • The exterior walls of the hall has decorative
sculptures of men and beast.
• The tower walls are sculpted with female figures in
different poses
• The bhoga-mandapa(hall of offering) measures 42 ft.
x 42 ft. from inside,56.25 ft. x 56.25 ft. from outside
and has 4 doors in each of the sides.
• The door in the gate of the entrance porch is made
of sandalwood.
• The nata mandira(festival hall) measures 38 ft. x 38
ft. from inside,50 ft. x 50 ft. from outside , has one
main entrance and two side entrances. The side
walls of the hall has decorative sculptures
displaying women and couples.
architecture

17. • The jaganmohana (assembly hall) measures 35 ft. x
30 ft. from inside, 55 ft. x 50 ft. from outside,
entrances from south and north and has a 98 ft.
tall roof.
• The tower is 180 ft. high and the complex has 150
smaller shrines.
• The hall of offering and assembly hall both has a
pyramidal roof. It bears an inverted bell and a
kalasha in the top.
• The temple is enshrined within a spacious compound
wall of laterite measuring 160 m x 140 m.
• The wall is 2.3 m thick and surrounded by a plain
slant coping.
architecture

18. plan

19. GARBHA GRIHA
• The Rekha deula has a 54.864 m tall pyramidal tower over the sanctum and
measures 6.7 m x 6.7 m from inside.
• 16 m x 16 m from outside over the sanctum.
• it is covered with decorative design and seated lion projecting from the walls.
• The sanctum is square in shape from inside.
• The temple has a vast courtyard mired with hundreds of small shrines.

20. JAGAN-MOHANA
• The tower is 30 m high.
• The jagan- mohana(assembly hall) measure 11 m x 9.1 m from inside.
• 17 m x 15 m from outside.
• The hall has a pyramidal roof made up of several horizontal
layers arranged in sets of 2 with intervening platform as in the
hall of offering.
• Entrances from south and north.
• The facade to the entrances are decorated with perforated
windows with lion sitting on hind legs.
• The inverted bell above second unit is adored by khalsa and
lions.
• In the interior if the jagan –mohan are 2 rows of pillars,3 in each
row ,producing a miniature nave and aisles;these pillars were
originally monoliths having plain square shafts, no bases,but
with volute bracket capitals.

21. NATA MANDAPA & BHOGA
MANDAPA
NATA MANDAPA(FESTIVAL HALL)-
• It measures 12 m x 12 m from inside and 15 m x 15 m
from outside.
• Has one main entrance and two side entrances.
• It has flat roof sloping in stages.
• BHOGA MANDAPA(HALL OF OFFERINGS)-
• It measures 13 m x 13 m from inside, 17.15 m x 17.15 m
from outside.
• It has 4 doors in each of the sides

22. sections

23. Sun temple
konarak

24. • Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE sun
temple at Konark about 35 kilometres (22 mi)
northeast from Puri on the coastline of
Odisha, India. The temple is attributed to king
Narasimha Deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty
about 1250 CE.
• Dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya, what
remains of the temple complex has the
appearance of a 100-foot (30 m) high chariot
with immense wheels and horses, all carved
from stone. Once over 200 feet (61 m) high,
much of the temple is now in ruins, in particular
the large shikara tower over the sanctuary.
• This temple was called the "Black Pagoda" in
European sailor accounts as early as 1676
because its great tower appeared black.
• The cause of the destruction of the Konark
temple is unclear and remains a source of
controversy

25. • The Konark Sun Temple was built from stone in
the form of a giant ornamented chariot
dedicated to the Sun god, Surya. In Hindu Vedic
iconography Surya is represented as rising in
the east and traveling rapidly across the sky in
a chariot drawn by seven horses.
• The Konark temple presents this iconography on a
grand scale. It has 24 elaborately carved stone
wheels which are nearly 12 feet (3.7 m) in diameter and
are pulled by a set of seven horses.
• The architecture is also symbolic, with the
chariot's twelve pairs of wheels
corresponding to the 12 months of the Hindu
calendar, each month paired into two cycles
(Shukla and Krishna).

26. • The temple plan includes all
the traditional elements of a
Hindu temple set on a square
plan. According to Kapila
Vatsyayan, the ground plan, as
well the layout of sculptures
and reliefs, follow the square
and circle geometry, forms
found in Odisha temple design
texts.
• It has four doorways on its
four sides. The western one
leads to the antarala (inner
sanctum), whereas the others
lead to the porches outside.
The interior is left unadorned
excepting a five feet (1.5 metre)
wide ornamental chlorite
block on the sides and top of
the door-way of the inner
sanctum, like those fixed over
the entrances to the
Jagamohana

27. The walls of the temple from the temple's base
through the crowning elements are
ornamented with reliefs, many finished to
jewelry-quality miniature details. The terraces
contain stone statues of male and female
musicians holding various musical instruments.
Other major works of art include sculptures
of Hindu deities, apsaras and images from the
daily life and culture of the people (artha and
dharma scenes), various animals, aquatic
creatures, birds, mythological creatures, and
friezes narrating the Hindu texts.

28. • The temple was in ruins before its restoration.
Speculation continues as to the cause of the
destruction of the temple. Early theories stated that
the temple was never completed and collapsed during
construction. This is contradicted by textual evidence
and evidence from inscriptions. The Kenduli copper
plate inscription of 1384 CE from the reign of
Narasimha IV seems to indicate that the temple was not
only completed but an active site of worship.
• The natural-damage theory is supported by the
nearness of the temple to the shore and the monsoons
in the region that would tend to cause damage.
• The upper levels and terrace of the Konark Sun
temple contain larger and more significant works of
art than the lower level. These include images of
musicians and mythological narratives as well as
sculptures of Hindu deities, including Durga in her
Mahishasuramardini aspect killing the shape-shifting
buffalo demon (Shaktism), Vishnu in his Jagannatha
form (Vaishnavism), and Shiva as a (largely damaged)
linga(Shaivism)

30. • The size of the wheel is of 9 feet 9 inches in diameter and
each one of them having 8 wider spokes and 8 thinner
spokes.Out of these 24 wheels 6 are in either side of the
main temple, 4 wheels are on each side of the Mukhasala
and 2 wheels on each side of steps at eastern front. The
huge wheels of the Konark Temple are one of the major
attractions for visitors. According to some, the 7
horses represent the days of the week and the 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 prahars (three hour period) of a day.
According to others, the wheels of the chariot have
been interpreted as the 'Wheel of Life'.
• The size and architecture of the 24 wheels is same but
each one of them has been differently carved all over.
The thicker ones are all carved with circular medallions
at their centres on the widest part of the face. The axels
of the wheels project by about one foot from the
surface, having similar decorations at their ends. The
rims are carved with designs of foliages with various
birds and animals, whereas the medallions in the spokes
are carved with the figures of women in various
luxurious poses