GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Detailed explanation-1: -On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya’s chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses.

Detailed explanation-2: -Konark is a small town in the Puri District in the state of Odisha. It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, built in black grinite during the reign of Narasimhadeva-1 a distinguished ruller of Ganga Dynasty. The temple is a World Heritage Site.

Detailed explanation-3: -The name Konârka is derived from the Sanskrit word Kona (meaning angle) and word Arka (meaning sun) in reference to the temple which was dedicated to the Sun god Surya.

Detailed explanation-4: -It serves as an example of a typical Pidha Deul architecture in Orissa. The temple was actually conceived to symbolize the emergence of Sun-god with twelve pairs of wheels and seven horses (representing seven days of a week and twelve months of a year). This was in-line with the Hindu mythological traditions.