SUN TEMPLE, MODHERA

MODHERA• Modhera is situated in Mehsana district, 18

miles south of Patan(old Solanki capital)

• In the past modhera was a port on the bank of River ‘PUSHPAVATI’

• Tha Golden period of Modhera is ‘SUN TEMPLE’, grandest achievement of Solankies

• The 4th Solanki ruler BHIMDEV has built the temple in 1026(11th Century)

How Did Modhera Came Into Existence?

• According to the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana, the areas near Modhera were known during ancient days as Dharmaranya

• After defeating Ravana, Lord Rama asked sage Vasistha to show him a place of pilgrimage where he could go and purify himself from the sin of Brahma-hatya

• Sage Vasistha showed him Dharmaranya, which was near the modern town of Modhera.

• In the Dharmaranya, he settled at a village Modherak and performed a yagna

• Thereafter he established a village and named it Sitapur. • This village is about 8 km from Becharaji Modherak village and it

subsequently came to be known as Modhera.

SUN TEMPLE• The Sun Temple was built by Raja Bhimdev of Solanki Dynasty

in AD 1026. • This was the time when Somnath and the adjoining area was

plundered by Mahmud Ghazni and reeled under the effects of his invasion.

• The Solankis, however, regained much of their lost power and splendour.

• Anahilvad Patan, the Solanki capital, was restored to glory. Royalty and traders jointly contributed to build grand temples.

• Solankis were considered to be Suryavanshis, or descendants of Sun god

• The temple is partially in ruins after it was also finally destroyed by the Mahmud of Ghazni.

Architecture• The Sun temple is of a unique

architecture of its own kind• The temple comprises three

separate but axially-aligned and integrate elements

• Surya Kund, which is an intricately carved, stepped tank named after Sun god Surya.

• Sabha Mandap, which is a hall used for religious gatherings and conferences.

• Guda Mandap, i.e. sanctum sanctorum, which once housed the idol of Sun God.

Surya Kund

Sabha Mandapa

Guda Mandapa

Surya Kunda

• This is a massive rectangular stepped tank. A 100 sq meter rectangular pond believed to be used to store pure water. Devotees were required to perform ceremonial ablutions here before worshipping the Sun God.

• 108 miniature shrines are carved inbetween the steps, which are on western side, inside the tank. 108 is a number considered to be auspicious by Hindus.

• Huge ornamental arch called Toran leads one to Sabha Mandap literally meaning assembly hall........

• Four main temples at four corners

• Equally beautiful when full of water…as well when empty.

• The sun temple is placed on the raised plinth called Terrace.It is also known as “Kharasila”

• All the 3 compartments are arranged in one line.

• The temple and Kunda are arranged in such a way that, when the sun rises 1st ray falls on the Shikhara and when it rises completely, the front faced of the temple highlights in the water.

Guda Mandap• There is an Idol of Lord SHIVA, Sun

God and Agni Dev( the god of fire). Only in this temple the idol of Sun God has 6 hands instead of 2 or 4.

• There is a deep ditch like othere Shiva Temples.

• This is also called the main temple or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

• It is based on a lotus-base plinth. It is designed such that the rays of the rising and setting sun on the day of equinox, fell on the bejewelled idol built by the Solanki Rajputs in honour of their ancestral God.

• It was plundered by Mahmud Gazni.

• There is an octagonal arrangement of 8 pillars in Guda mandap which is main character of Mandaps in Gujarat

• The pillars are 13 ft high, octagonal at base and circular on top.

• They are carved in horizontal courses.

• The capital supports the toranas on the top, on which the dome is supported.

• The rim of the dome is 17 ft high and centre is 23 ft high. The dome is made by corbelling.

• Outer walls are more richly carved than inner ones.

• The main temple complex is having 5 windows with single entry. Between sanctuary and Guda Mandap, there is doorway for sanctuary, which is beautifully carved.

• The temple complex is 80 ft long and 50 ft wide.

Garbhagriha

11 ft

7 ft Section

• There is an idol of Lord SHIVA.• There is a deep ditch in the Garbhagriha like other Shiva Temples.• It is 11ft deep from ground floor, 10ft long & 7ft breadth, so there are 2

floors.• There is a Pradakshina Path around the Garbhagriha which is covered

with Shikhara on top.

Sabha Mandapa• Main character of Gujarat Architecture.• Also known as Nrutya Mandap wher the

dance performances were held.• This hall of religious gatherings is a

magnificeant pillared hall. • It is connected to Guda Mandap by

narrow corridor.• It is square with each side of 50 ft and

places diagonally in front of the main temple complex.

• It is open from all 4 sides and has 52 intricately carved pillars and 4 entrances with decorated toranas.

• Both inner and outer pillars are richly carved.• The carvings depict various scenes from the Hindu epics of Ramayan,

Mahabharat and Krishna Lila, Narshihavtar.• Between the Sabha Mandapa and the Sanctum Sanctorium (Guda

Mandapa) is a beautiful hall with pillars and arches, whose facade has been renovated and partially redone, and the walls have 12 niches showing the different aspects of the Sun God in each month.

• The reflection of light on carving gives marvellous effect to viewer.• Two structures i.e. Sabha mandap and Guda mandap differ from each

other: 1) Sabha mandap – Open hypostyle hall 2) Guda mandap – Enclosed within walls

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