Konark Chayadevi Temple, Odisha

Address

Konark Chayadevi Temple, Odisha

Konark, Konark Block,

Puri District, Odisha 752111

Amman

Chayadevi

Introduction

Chayadevi Temple is dedicated to goddess Chayadevi, the consort of Lord Surya located in the Konark Sun Temple Complex in Konark Town in Konark Block in Puri District in Odisha, India. This temple is also called as Mayadevi Temple. This temple is situated to the south-west of the main shrine in the Konark Sun Temple Complex. This temple is a protected monument of Archaeological Survey of India. Konark is well-connected by Odisha State Public Transport buses plying on National and State highways linking it to Puri, Bhuvaneswar and other cities of Odisha.

Puranic Significance

This temple is believed to be built by the Somavamsis in 11 th century CE. It was discovered during excavations carried out between 1900 and 1910. Early theories assumed that it was dedicated to Surya’s wife and thus named the Mayadevi Temple. However, later studies suggested that it was also a Surya temple, albeit an older one that was fused into the complex when the monumental temple was built.

Special Features

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a raised platform. The temple consists of rekha vimana and pidha jagamohana. The temple is pancharatha on plan and panchangabada in elevation. The temple is completely in ruined state except a portion of its bada. A platform projecting on the eastern side forms the main entrance of the temple. The vimana and the jagamohana are square on plan. The temple is standing over a pista consisting of three mouldings. The mouldings of the pista is decorated with lotus petals, scroll works and scenes of royal processions. The bada portion is decorated with naga and nagi pilasters, six-armed Nataraja and amorous couple in khakharamundis. The niches in the kanika pagas evidently carried eight dikpalas, of which only Agni remains at the southeastern corner.

There is an image of Surya in the northern side. The parsvadevata niches contain images of Surya in different forms. Images of dikpalas, gaja-vidalas, nayikas of different form and maithuna images are inserted in the niches on the walls of the jagamohana. The base of the doorjamb of the jagamohana entrance way has dvarapalas in the niches of the khakharamundis on either side.

The interior of the jagamohana is devoid of any decoration except the ornamental pilasters at intervals. Each pilaster has framed niches containing images of nayika in various modes. The ceiling of the jagamohana was spanned by corbels. Two sets of Navagraha architrave now kept in the Konark museum were found during excavation of this temple.