Sun Temple, Modhera

Sun Temple, Modhera

Gudhamandapa, Sabhamandapa and Kunda of temple
Sun Temple, Modhera
Location in Gujarat
Alternative names Modhera Surya Mandir
General information
Status Ruined
Location Modhera, Mehsana district, Gujarat
Country India
Coordinates 23°35′1.7″N 72°7′57.67″E / 23.583806°N 72.1326861°E / 23.583806; 72.1326861Coordinates: 23°35′1.7″N 72°7′57.67″E / 23.583806°N 72.1326861°E / 23.583806; 72.1326861
Technical details
Material Sand stone
Designations ASI Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-158)
Sun Temple, Modhera

Plan of temple complex: (from top to bottom) Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir
Culture
Primary deity Surya
Direction and posture East-facing
Temple tank Suryakund
Shrine Ruined
Important festivals Modhera Dance Festival
Architecture
Architectural styles Maru-Gurjara (Solanki)
Number of monuments 3
Inscriptions Yes
History and governance
Date built 1026-27
Creator Bhima I

The Sun Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. It was built in 1026-27 AD by Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty. Later the temple was damaged by Mahmud Ghazni. No worship is offered now and is protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. The temple complex has three components: Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir. The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach bottom and numerous small shrines.

History

The Sun Temple was built during the reign of Bhima I of Solanki dynasty in 1026-1027 (Vikram Samvat 1083).[upper-alpha 1][1][2][3] It is built on 23.6° latitude (approximately near Tropic of Cancer).[upper-alpha 2][5] The temple was attacked and damaged by Mahmud Ghazni.[6][7][8] The place was later known as Sita ni Chauri and Ramkund locally.[upper-alpha 3][9] No worship is offered here now.[3] The temple is Monument of National Importance and is maintained by Archeological Survey of India.

Architecture

The temple complex is built in Maru-Gurjara style (Solanki style). The temple complex has three axially aligned components; the shrine proper (garbhagriha) in a hall (gudhamandapa), the outer or assembly hall (sabhamandapa or rangamandapa) and a sacred reservoir (kunda).[1][10]

The sabhamandapa is not in continuation with gudhamandapa but is placed little away as a separate structure. Both are built on paved platform.[1] The platform or plinth is inverted lotus shaped.

Gudhamandapa and garbhagriha

Gudhamandapa

The Gudhamandapa measures 51 feet 9 inches by 25 feet 8 inches. It is almost equally divided into Gudhamandapa, the hall and garbhgriha, the shrine proper. Both are rectangular in plan with one projection on each of the smaller sides and two projections on each of the longer sides. This projections on the smaller sides form the entrance and the back of shrine. The three projections of outer wall of Gudhamandapa had windows on each side and the east projection had the doorway. These windows had perforated stone screens; the northern is in ruins and the southern is missing. Pradakshinamarga is formed by the passage between the walls of garbhgriha and the outer walls of gudhamandapa. The roof of passage has stones slabs carved with rosettes. The Shikhara of the it no longer exists.[1]

Garbhagriha

The Garbhagriha, the shrine proper or sanctum sanctorum is square measuring 11 feet from inside.[1]

The shrine had two cells; a cell below the level of upper cell. The floor of upper cell is now fallen which once housed the image of deity. The seat of image is now in pit. The lower cell was probably used for storage.[1]

The walls inside shrine is plain and outer wall is decorated. The doorway has carved figures of seated Surya in panels surrounded by dancers and amorous couples. All figures are mutilated and the images on the door-lintel is completely destroyed.[upper-alpha 4][1]

The sanctum sanctorum is designed in a way that the first rays of rising sun lit up the image of Surya during solar equinox days[10][3][11][7] and on summer solstice day, the sun shines directly above the temple at noon casting no shadow.[5]

Gudhamandapa

Gudhamandapa with annotation of exterior mouldings (click to enlarge)
Base mouldings

The outer walls of shrine is highly decorated.[1] The base and walls of the shrine and hall are divided into several stretches with unique carvings. the pitha or adhisthana, base has the two square members called bhat followed by a cymarecta carving (lower part convex and upper part concave). It is followed by padma or padmaka, the moulding in form of inverted lotus. The next is antarita, a fillet or an astragal with a sharp edge between two recesses. Above this is patta having thin moulding called chhaja at its lower edge. The next is another chhaja separated by neck, alinga. The next broad band, patti, is gajathara carved with elephants. The following band narathara has figures of men in different attitudes.[1]

Mandovara or wall mouldings

Mandovara, the wall mouldings starts with kumbha, a pitcher. It has a broad undecorated band at lower part while middle part is decorated with oval discs. It is followed by kalasha, a pitcher. The next is broad band with chaitya-windows called kevala followed by similar called manchi. These two bands are separated by a deep band. There is a thin fillet above which the major paneled face of wall called jangha exist. This panels are decorated with figures of gods but the figures of Surya are placed prominently than others as the temple is dedicated to him. Other panels are decorated with dancers and other figures.[1]

The figures of Surya are prominently carved on three niches of shrine proper as well as on the each side of three windows in the outer wall of Gudhamandapa. The figures of Surya is in standing position with two arms holding lotuses and driven by seven horses.[1] It has some Persian influences.[3] The walls have 12 niches showing the different aspects of Surya in each month. Other figures include eight Dikpals, Vishwakarma, Varuna, Agni, Ganesha, Saraswati.

Every figure in panel has a small cornice over it surmounted with triangular pediment consisting of chaitya-window which is called udgam. The next projecting band with chaitya-window and kirtimukha is called malakval. The top most is the major cornice called chhajli.[1]

This is followed by shikhara which no longer exist.[1] The Vimana had horizontal geometrical and figurative bands which rising to create the Mount Meru-like shikhara. The central spire had Urushringa, the miniature shrines. It is judged by the shrines on the steps of Kunda.[3]

Mandapa

The Mandapa, a hall was roofed by a dome which probably rose in concentric manner. It is supported by eight principal pillars below arranged in an octagon, four pillars in front of shrine proper and two each in the recesses of windows and door.[1]

Sabhamandapa

Sabhamandapa with annotation of exterior mouldings (click to enlarge)
Sabhamandapa with ornately carved pillars and exterior
ceiling of Sabhamandapa

Sabhamandapa or Rangamandapa, the assembly hall is parallelogram in plan with rows of pillars opening entrance on each side diagonally. The extensively carved exterior has series of recessed corners giving impression of the star like plan of it.[1] There are 52 intricately carved pillars representing 52 weeks of the year.

Base mouldings

The pitha is almost similar to the Gudhamandapa but smaller as two courses of fillets are omitted. The padma is carved richly here with floral ornamentation.[1]

Wall mouldings

Above the Narathara, there is a band with figures of dancers and gods known as rajasena. The next is vedi which correspond to jangha of mandovara decorated with large panels of gods, goddesses and floral designs. The next is cornice called asinot. It followed by kakshasana which slopes outwards and forms the back-rests of the bench, asana which runs round the hall. There are erotic figures on it interrupted by rail-patterns.[1]

Ceiling and torana

The roof was in shape of stepped pyramid but it no longer exists. Inside, the walnut-shaped ceiling rises in tiers which has numerous floral girdles. It is 23 feet high.[3] It is supported by pillars arranged in an octagon. These pillars have stilts which supports the lintels. Torana or the decorated cusped arches arise from the lower brackets of the pillars and touch the lintels in middle. There are two types; semicircular and triangular. The semicircular arches has cusped arches with tips while triangular arches has round apex and wavy sides. Both types has broad band decorated with figures and tips which are now defaced and damaged. The lower brackets has makara which gives the name of makara-torana while decoration gives name of chitra-torana.[1]

Pillars

Long and short pillars, semicircular and triangular arches

The pillars of Sabhamandapa and Gudhamandapa are of two types; short and tall. The short pillars rests on walls and supports the roof. The tall pillars rise from the floor.[1]

Short pillars

The shaft is square in shape till half of its height followed by vase and then followed by octagonal shaft. It is surmounted by a capital and a bracket. The square part has floral design in circle on each side of faces. The vase is decorated similarly on its corners. The octagonal part have four bands; the top most has kirtimukha. The capital has three annulets.[1]

Tall pillars

They arise from square or octagonal base, kumbhi, with triangular ornamentation on each face. Above it is kalasha. It is followed by a deep band and the next is kevala decorated with chaitya-windows. the next is kirtimukha. The next is triangular pediment with chaitya-windows.[1]

The next is beginning of shaft. It is first decorated with standing figures, mostly dancers, on all eight faces enclosed in ringed pilasters. The next band with scenes of men and beasts is separated from it by round pillow-like band. It is followed by still smaller band with sixteen standing human figures separated by small annultet below. The next is band of leaves. Then the shaft becomes circular and had three or four bands having row of male warriors, lozenges, circles and kirtimukha at last. The kirtimukhas are separated by chain and bell ornamentation.[1]

It follows capital similar to small pillars crowned with makara brackets if eight stilted pillar and dwarfs in the rests. the eight stilted pillars have one more shaft and similar type of capital which is crowned with brackets of volutes and pendant leaves.[1]

Iconography

Pillars of Kirti-torana and steps leading to kunda

The panels on the Gudhamandapa is decorated with Surya centrally which indicates that the temple is dedicated to Surya. These images wears peculiar West Asian (Persian) boots and belt.[7][3] The other corners and niches are decorated with figures of Shiva and Vishnu in various forms, Brahma, Nāga and goddesses. The depicted scenes on small flat ceilings and lintels of sabhamandapa are from epics like Ramayana.[1]

Kirti-torana

There was a kirti-torana, the triumphant arch, in front of sabhamandapa. The pediment and torana no longer exists but two pillars remains. The moulding and decoration is similar to that of walls of sabhamandapa and pillars.[1] There were two more kirti-torana on each side of the kunda of which only one exists without upper part.

Kunda

Panoramic view of the Kunda

Kunda, a tank or reservoir is known as Ramakunda or Suryakunda. The flight of steps through kirti-torana leads to the reservoir. It is rectangular. It measures 176 feet from north to south and 120 feet from east to west. It is paved with stones all around. There are four terraces and recessed steps to descend to reach the bottom of the tank. The main entrance lies on west. There are steps to reach from one terrace to another on right angle to terrace. These steps are rectangular or square except the first step of each flight of steps which is semicircular. Several miniature shrines and niches in front of terrace-wall have images gods including many Vaishnavite deities and goddesses such as Shitala.[12][1][7][3]

Stepwell

The stepwell on the west of Kunda has one entrance and two pavilion-towers. It is moderately ornamented. The door-frame has lotus and leaves and the ruchaka type pilasters indicate it belongs to 11th century. The small mandapa above the ground level and located on the second kuta of stepwell may belong to 10th century.[13]

Modhera dance festival

The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat organises an annual three-day dance festival at the temple in January, following the festival of Uttarayan. The objective is to present classical dance forms in an atmosphere similar to that in which they were originally presented.[3]

Location

It is located in Modhera village which is 25 km from Mehsana and 102 km from Ahmedabad.[14]

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ↑ The date is based on an inscription on the back wall of shrine which reads upside down. The decoration of torana and columns resembles that of Vimala Vasahi Adinath temple of Dilwara Temples built in 1031-32 which confirms its period.
  2. ↑ The Tropic of Cancer position is not fixed, but varies in a complicated manner over time. It drifts south almost half an arcsecond (0.47″) of latitude per year (it was at exactly 23° 27′ in year 1917 and will be at 23° 26' in 2045).[4] See axial tilt and circles of latitude for further information.
  3. ↑ In 1887, Alexander Kinloch Forbes described in his book Rasmala that the place was known by locals as Sita ni Chauri and Ramkund associated with Rama and Sita of Ramayana.[9]
  4. ↑ It may had Ganesha as in other Surya or Vishnu temples.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia (1941). The Archaeology of Gujarat: Including Kathiawar. Natwarlal & Company. pp. 70, 84–91. Archived from the original on 2015.
  2. ↑ "Sun-Temple at Modhera (Gujarat)". Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Subodh Kapoor (2002). The Indian Encyclopaedia: Meya-National Congress. Cosmo Publications. p. 4871-4872. ISBN 978-81-7755-273-7.
  4. ↑ Montana State University: Milankovitch Cycles & Glaciation Archived 6 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. 1 2 Arvind Bhatnagar; William Livingston (7 April 2005). Fundamentals of Solar Astronomy. World Scientific. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-981-4486-91-0.
  6. ↑ Brajesh Kumar (2003). Pilgrimage Centres of India. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 163. ISBN 978-81-7182-185-3.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Rajiv Rastogi; Sanjiv Rastogi (1 January 2009). Surya Namaskar. Prabhat Prakashan. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-81-8430-027-7.
  8. ↑ S. B. Bhattacherje (1 May 2009). Encyclopaedia of Indian Events & Dates. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. A24. ISBN 978-81-207-4074-7.
  9. 1 2 Wibke Lobo (1982). The Sun Temple at Modhera: A Monograph on Architecture and Iconography. C.H. Beck. p. 2. ISBN 978-3-406-08732-5.
  10. 1 2 Ward (1 January 1998). Gujarat–Daman–Diu: A Travel Guide. Orient Longman Limited. pp. 153–155. ISBN 978-81-250-1383-9.
  11. ↑ "21st March brings special sunrise to Modhera Sun temple(Video)". DeshGujarat. 25 March 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  12. ↑ Fabrizio M. Ferrari (20 November 2014). Religion, Devotion and Medicine in North India: The Healing Power of Sitala. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-4725-9871-4.
  13. ↑ Jutta Jain-Neubauer (1 January 1981). The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-391-02284-3.
  14. ↑ "Modhera Sun Temple". Retrieved 9 April 2016.

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