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The roof of the jagamohana, made of horizontal tiers grouped in three stages with life-size female sculptures of matchless charm and delicacy adorning each stage, the whole surmounted by two stupendous crowning members, produces a picturesque contrast of light and shade and is unparalleled for its grandeur and structural propriety. Majestic in conception, this temple is indeed one of the sublimest monuments of India, notable as much for its imposing dimensions and faultless proportions as for the harmonious integration of architectural grandeur with plastic elegance.
Mayadevi Temple :- To the west of the main temple are the remains of temple no.2 popularly called the temple of Mayadevi, believed to have been one of the wives of Lord Surya. But the presence of the sun images as parsvadevata in-situ indicate its dedication to the sun god, built earlier than the main Sun temple. The temple facing east, consists of a sanctum (deul) and a porch (Jagamohana) standing over a raised platform, façade of which is relieved with ornamentation. The superstructures of the sanctum and porch are missing. The interior of the porch is notable for their sculptural treatment while the sanctum is devoid of any deity. Stylistically, the temple is assignable to circa late eleventh century AD. Vaishnava Temple:- The small brick temple facing east in south-west corner of the compound was discovered in 1956 during the sand clearance. Also called temple no.3 is pancharatha on plan. It consists of a deul and a Jagamohana but with the superstructure is missing and devoid of any exterior decoration. Images of Balarama and two parsvadevatas of Varaha and Trivikrama were unearthed (now displayed in Archaeological Museum, Konark) proving its Vaishnava affiliation. The temple is datable to circa eleventh century A.D.
Archaeological Museum, Konark (District Puri, Orissa)-
The museum housing the fallen sculptures and architectural members of
the Sun temple was shifted to the present museum building in 1968. The
present museum is located little away from the main temple in the
north direction.
The second gallery has 108 antiquities on display. The reconstructed
wall of temple, cult objects like dikpals and celestial nymphs, the
head of the crocodile in gigantic nature, the flora and fauna carved
on stone, the drummer, etc. are among main display in the gallery.
The fourth gallery is recently organized and has 45 artifacts on
display. The objects include roaring lion, man tied by the elephant
trunk, crocodile head meant for pranala in the temple, part of a Surya
image and king witnessing dance performance, erotic couples,
salabhanjikas, elephants on pilaster, scroll works and swans taking
the garland etc.
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Built
in the thirteenth century, it was conceived as a gigantic solar
chariot with twelve pairs of exquisitely-ornamented wheels dragged by
seven rearing horses. The temple comprised a sanctum with a lofty
(presumably over 68 m. high) sikhara, a jagamohana (30. m. square and
30. m. high) and a detached nata-mandira (hall of dance) in the same
axis, besides numerous subsidiary shrines. The sanctum and the
nata-mandira have lost their roof. The nata-mandira exhibits a more
balanced architectural design than that of other Orissan temples. The
sanctum displays superb images of the Sun-god in the three projections
which are treated as miniature shrines. The sanctum and the jagamohana
together stand on a common platform studded with an intricate wealth
of decorative ornaments and sculptures, often of a highly erotic type
The
third gallery has 45 objects. The huge figures of superb workmanship
have been displayed in this gallery include celestial nymphs, image of
Surya Narayana, Gaja-Vyala, the king and his troop. Some erotic
figures are also exhibited in this gallery. Many of the images have
also been displayed in the show cases.
