Aug 27, 2001 02:55 PM
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Konarak is the place in Orissa near Bhubaneshwar and Puri almost in a triangle, where is situated the famous Sun Temple made in the long ago past of India.
It is also called the Black Pagoda.
Basically the temple is in the form of a chariot.
The sun god, Surya Deva, is supposed to travel in a chariot across the skies.
The passage of time has wreaked some havoc with the temple as it stands near the sea-The Bay of Bengal, east coast of India.The fierce sun, the salt in the moisture laden sea breeze and the deterioration caused by natural forces of weathering over a period of time, in the stream of time,has affected this World Heritage Site.
The only other sun temple in India appears to be at Modhera in Gujarat.
The main temple which remains is impressive.
what attracts the visitors are the rock cut figures of a giant wheel, which signifies the cycle of life or the wheel of life. It shows by means of sculpture the stages of life and the poses of life and love,which include figures of men and women in various poses of sexual intercourse and love-the facts of life as it is.
Those were the times when it appears there was not so much of taboo on sex, or maybe the kings allowed the sculptures to be made only on temple walls.
There are various such poses and sculptures. Some of them have been photographed by foreigners and even Indians and find place in the illustrated books on the ''Kamasutra''.
Leaving aside the religious significance of the temple being dedicated to the life giving sun god, the temple needs preservation being a world Heritage site.
It is one of the most famous and visited tourist spots in Orissa.
The casuarina trees which surround the temple area provide the area with the sounds of the sea breeze whistling through them.
Couples,amorously inclined, enjoy visiting this place and become excited by the sculptures.
Younger people and those accompanying parents and elder people may feel embarassed on seeing some of the sculptures here.
Travel to Konarak is by road either from Puri or from Bhubaneswar.
One can buy colourful handicrafts from the small towns on the way.
