THE CULTURAL DESTINATION A REVIEW

MODHERA SUN TEMPLE

 INTRODUCTION

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 after 1026-27 CE during
the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. 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 shrine proper of the Sun Temple was built during the reign of Bhima I of
Chaulukya dynasty Earlier, during 1024-25, Mahmud of Ghazni had invaded Bhima's
kingdom, and a force of around 20,000 soldiers had unsuccessfully tried to check his
advance at Modhera. Historian A. K. Majumdar theorizes that the Sun Temple might
have been built to commemorate this defence.[5] On a block in western wall of cella,
there is an inscription "Vikram Samvat 1083" upside down carelessly incised in
Devnagari script which correspond to 1026-1027 CE. No other date is found. As the
inscription is upside down, it evidences the destruction and reconstruction of the
cella.
• Due to position of the inscription, it is not firmly considered as the date of
construction. On the stylistic ground, it is known that the kunda with its corner
shrines was built earlier in the beginning of the 11th century. The inscription is rather
considered as the date of destruction by Ghazni instead of the construction. Soon
after Bhima had returned to the power. So the temple proper, the miniature and the
niche shrines in the tank was built shortly after 1026 CE. The dancing hall was added
much later in the third quarter of the 12th century along with the gateways, the
porch of the temple proper and the doorframes of the temple and the cella during
the reign of the Karna.
• The temple is built on 23.6° latitude (approximately near Tropic of
Cancer).[B][8][9][10][11] The place was later known as Sita ni Chauri and Ramkund
locally.[C][12] No worship is offered here now.[3] The temple is Monument of
National Importance and is maintained by Archeological Survey of India.
 PILLARS

Pillars

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.
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.
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.
• Pillars
• Long and short pillars, semicircular and triangular
arches
• Pillars of Kirti-torana and steps leading to kunda
• 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.
• 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.
CURRENT SENERIO