A Brief Background
• Legend has it that the Konark temple was built by Samba, son of Krishna, who was cursed by leprosy.
• When Samba was cured after 12 years of penance on the advice of Surya, he built the temple for the Sun God.12th Century
• From 1238 to 1250 CE – The Konark Temple was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Kenduli copper plate inscription of 1384 CE + other texts of the period proves that the temple had been completed and regular worship used to take place.
Architecture
➜ Late-style Kalingan temple.
➜ Kona = corner.
➜ arka = the sun god.
➜ Konark = refers to Surya’s magnificent images on the three sides, across east to west, that catch the rays of the sun as it rises and sets.
➜ The Konark forms part of the golden triangle of Odisha, along with Puri and Bhubaneswar, and attracts tourists, pilgrims, and history and art lovers.
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| 12th Century |
The Sun Temple complex comprises: 1. the Natamandapa or the dance hall – has intricately carved pillars of dancers and men and women in erotic poses,
2. the 100-ft high Jagamohana (the assembly hall) and
3. the Rekha Deul (sanctum).
➜ The Rekha Deul-Jagamohana complex forms the chariot while the Natamandir stands apart.
➜ There is no presiding deity in the sanctum
The famous chariot wheel of Konark features on the reverse side of the ₹10 note.
The structure declined in strength because of:
• Periodic Islamic invasions since the 16th century,
• Structural flaws such as soil incompatibility and unsuitability of stones used, and
• Weathering of rocks.
1837* – The compromised structure collapsed.
➜ The Jagamohana is the only structure that is fully intact.
• Much of the freestanding statuary and panels are now lying with the Konark Museum and the National Museum in Delhi.
• With the temple located close to the shoreline, natural decay has been hard to prevent.
1903 – The British administration had filled the Jagamohan with sand and sealed it, to ensure the stability of the monument.
➜ A hole was built on the top portion of the Jagamohan and sand was poured into it.
➜ However, those huge amounts of sand have caused cracks on the structure from inside.
2013 to 2018 – The Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) at Roorkee conducted a scientific study into the temple’s structural stability.
➜ The study warned of possible damage caused by the sand settling down — resulting in a gap of 17 feet between the sand layer and the structure.
➜ The CBRI report stated that despite the gap, the structure was still stable.
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CBRI had suggested 2 solutions:• the 17-foot gap should be refilled with fresh sand.
• Remove all the sand and properly restore the structure.
🌟 The Archaeological Survey of India is in charge of the conservation of the monument – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
ASI Conservation policy
• Conservation of such sites is governed by the Culture Ministry’s National Policy for Conservation of the Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains (2014).
• Under the policy, “a monument or an archaeological site should be subjected to a minimum — whilst only necessary — interventions so as to maintain its authenticity and integrity”
• ASI has conserved iconic monuments like Rani ki Vav, Humayun’s Tomb, Ajanta caves, in the past, in similar ways.
➜ Rani ki vav was recovered through excavation.
➜ While digging out the earth, the architectural strength was compromised.
➜ ASI helped to restore the pillars.
Much of the Ajanta caves have been recovered by digging out soil.
February 2020 – Union Culture minister Prahlad Singh Patel said the sand will be removed from the structure.
➜ Based on this, ASI formed a four-member committee to study the monument and submit a safe method of removal.
➜ As per the preliminary proposal, a window will be carved out on the western side of Jagamohan in the first phase.
➜ The 6×6 foot window will be created close to an existing opening made in the British era to gain access to the interior of the monument.
➜ The new access will help authorities chart out a future course of action through inspection and documentation of the walls and the interiors.
• ASI will be assisted by IIT Madras in the process.
• After these steps are officially completed, tenders will be floated for the excavation process.
