KONARK
The Unique Seat of Sun-God

ANTIQUITY

It is mentioned in Kapila Samhita that the region comprising the temple Konark and the river Chandrabhaga formed the integral parts of Maitraya woods, associated with the sports of many celestials. Prachi Mahatmya - another valuable treatise embodies many accounts of this once world famous temple. According to it, this is one among the hundreds of temples situated on the banks of the holy river Prachi and it was unique in many respects. Around this there existed many Agraharams-Brahmin colonies, reverberating with the Vedic chants and hymns; and they were constructed primarily for the temple employees. It was a sea port of intercontinental fame, called Chitrotpala and carved out a name as a flourishing centre of religion and trade. Here on this Punyabhumi countless people used to throng during the annual festival for a holy dip in Chandrabhaga and to see the rising Sun believing that the Sun-god appeared with his chariot on this day. This same festival is being celebrated every year on the Magha Saptami-seventh day of bright fortnight of the Lunar month. Hieun Tsang the renowned Chinese philosopher recorded his observations and associations in his diary and called it Che-li-talo.

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