I Am Konark -The Sun Temple-Meri Choti Kahani
I Am Konark –నేను కోనారక్ ని(Nēnu kōnārak ni) – The Sun Temple, and My Timeless Story
Priya Atithi,
Welcome to Puri (Pūrīki svāgataṁ aitithi).
I am Konark, and I was named after Lord Surya. Konark is a Sanskrit word formed with a combination of two words: Kona (Angel) and Arka (Surya). You have come from distant lands within India and abroad to witness my architectural beauty. You are here to walk upon my sacred grounds to experience and embrace the whispers of time. Now, hear it carefully the echoes through my stone walls narrating my story. Before you step inside my temple complex to experience my journey, all I need is permission. I need the approval to share my tale. My story narrates centuries of devotion, artistry, and the relentless passage of time.
I was born during the 13th century, during the era of King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. He was the devotee of the Sun God, Surya. His wish was to create a monument big enough to capture the divine glory of Surya Dev. Thus, I was born as a temple. The purpose of my existence was not just for worship but as a chariot of the Sun God himself. Your Konarak was carved from the very essence of devotion and artistry.
I am the result of the devotion and efforts of thousands of artisans, sculptors, and laborers. They worked tirelessly under the supervision of the key architect, Bisu Maharana.
The finest stones were sourced from far places. Day by day, I began to rise. My first formation started with the shape of a giant chariot with seven mighty horses pulling me towards the heavens. Twelve huge wheels, each with detailed carvings, represented the cycle of time: the months of the year and the path of the Sun.
I was constructed with such accuracy that the very first rays of the Sun would fall upon my shrine. The first ray was used to illuminate Surya’s idol naturally. When you look at my walls, you will find them adorned with intricate sculptures. Each sculpture narrates a story about gods and celestial beings, the warriors and dancers, and it talks about love and life.
Pilgrims, scholars, and travelers admired my brilliance. My walls sang the songs of devotion, and my courtyards echoed with the chants of priests. My complex remained filled with the presence of the hearts of devotees with awe.
When you carefully observe the carving upon me, you will witness each tell a story—the cycle of life, the power of the gods, the beauty of human existence. Many researchers agreed that the carvings display the essence of creation.
For centuries, I stood as a symbol of devotion and an embodiment of the Sun’s eternal journey.
But, dear Atithi, time is both a creator and a destroyer. I experienced that with time.
The world changed. Invaders came to destroy what they could not understand. The sanctum that once housed Surya’s idol was destroyed. My grand tower that soared into the sky faced the brutal attack of the invaders and was brought down. The glorious interiors of mine faced abandoned. My core crumbled, but I didn’t fall. My wheels still stood, my carvings still narrating their tales and my essence. The spirit of your Konar stood unbroken. The people visiting me appreciate my spirit and the sculptures curved on my walls.
Dear Aithithi, now, you stand before me while appreciating and gazing. But will that happen some centuries later by my Atithis of that century? I may not be as I once was or am today. But will my soul present in every stone, every sculpture and every whisper of my ruins get appreciation from tourists in the same way as today?
Aitithi, you are now a part of my journey. I will never fade if there are eyes that know how to appreciate and celebrate my architectural beauty.
So when you leave, dear traveler, do not merely take pictures—take my story. Tell the world of Konark, the Chariot of the Sun, the Temple of Time, the Monument of Eternal Light.
Believe me, I am not just a stone.
I am a symbol of devotion and architectural beauty.
I am not just a history, I am Konark.
Visit Me again.
Truly Yours
Konark
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
Konark has always fascinated me—not just for its architectural brilliance but for the sheer energy it radiates. Reading this felt like stepping into history, with the temple itself narrating its journey. The carvings, the symbolism, the stories hidden in the stones—it’s like poetry in stone form. Makes me want to visit again, this time with a slower gaze and a deeper appreciation. Ancient India really knew how to blend art, science, and devotion seamlessly!