SUN TEMPLE,KONARK,ODISHA(PART-2)

FALL OF KONARK.

Incomplete Temple
It is opined by some historians that, due to the early death of the king Langula Narasimha Dev, builder of the Konarak temple, the construction of the temple had been left in a haphazard state. As a result of this, the incomplete structure eventually collapsed. But this view is unsupported by historical data. The records of Madala Panji of Puri Jagannath temple, as well as from some copper plates dated 1278 A.D., state that the king Langula Narasimha Dev reigned till 1282. Many historians are of the opinion that the construction of the Konark temple was completed between 1253 and 1260 A.D. So the argument that the temple collapsed due to non-completion during construction is not tenable.
Lodestone
Legends describe a lodestone on the top of the Sun temple. Due to its magnetic effects, vessels passing through the Konark sea were drawn to it, resulting in heavy damage. Other legends state that magnetic effects of the lodestone disturbed ships' compasses so that they did not function correctly. To save their shipping, the Portugese voyagers took away the lodestone, which was acting as the central stone and keeping all the stones of the temple wall in balance. Due to its displacement, the temple walls lost their balance and eventually fell down. But there is no record of this occurrence in any historical records, nor is there any record of the existence of such a powerful lodestone at Konark.
Kalapahad
The most popular theory about the root of the fall of Konark temple rests with the Kalapahad. According to the history of ODISHA, Kalapahad invaded ODISHA in 1508. He destroyed Konark temple, as well as a number of Hindu temples in ODISHA. The Madala Panji of Puri Jagannath temple describes how Kalapahad attacked ODISHA in 1568. Including Konark temple, he broke most of the images in most of the Hindu temples in ODISHA. Though it was impossible to break the Sun temple of Konark, the stone walls of which are of 20 to 25 feet thick, he somehow managed to displace the Dadhinauti (Arch stone) and thus made a way for the temple to collapse. He also broke most of the images and other side temples of Konark. Due to displacement of the Dadhinauti, the temple gradually collapsed and the roof of the Mukasala was also damaged, due to the stones falling down from the temple top.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• CULTURE
• DESTINATION
• LANDMARK
• ODISHA
• KONARK
• TEMPLE.