Although the Konark Temple may be famous for its sundials thereby, attracting many connoisseurs to study the unique chariot wheels, there are many other aspects to this temple that one needs to study which is possible only through keen observation. The detailed description of life through its carvings on this temple is in fact, unparalleled and one cannot find such a description of life anywhere in the world.
This is a World Heritage Site as the sculptures and the intricacies of the carvings are unbelievable and very close to life of that time. The sanctum sanctorum which hardly remains and other chambers of the temple have been sealed as the ancient structure was in a state of collapse due to many reasons ranging from destruction by invaders to the weathering process.
Our guide relates innumerable tales one after the other, responsible for construction of this temple by Narasimhadevaraya-1 and says this was to honor the Sun God as he was cured of leprosy. The massive chariot wheels of this temple may be a big draw but the life size, big, minute and miniaturist sculptures and the embellishments around this demonstrates the talent of those artists till this day.
Every aspect of creation of images has been planned in line with the direction of the sun. The northern side of the chariot wheel signifying night has all those sculptures associated with sexual activity, rest and relaxation.
Here, the bigger sculptures display the male-female sexual relationships in detail. The postures and figurines in the middle layers of the temple are erotic in nature and fills the walls throughout in many poses and forms. A look at these sculptures – one feels there was neither any taboos nor anything to hide about. It was a society that was undergoing a lot of changes and for the people, the sexual relationship between two humans was the most natural.
On the Bhog Mandap and its platform, one can see hundreds of male-female sculptures in close bonding. However, the closeness of the male and female and in an embrace is depicted only in some 10 per cent of the carvings in Konark Temple. There are life sized sculptures but most of them are in various stages of ruin. Many sections here - we could not visit in the Mandap area as steel structures and wooden poles barricaded our entry. This has been set up to prevent the temple from collapsing.
According to our learned guide, these erotic figures denote the way of life as also is a symbol of moksha. Although audacious to many, the erotic sculptures are so emotive that they depict the human relations without any embarrassment to a very high degree. The images of women in various forms in fact, depict them as they are, fearless, powerful and intelligent.
These erotic images formed part of a temple complex and it was acceptable to the society. “All these erotic images are outside the temple and so one is supposed to leave all lust behind before entering a temple,” says our guide. But he adds that during those days there was freedom of expression as also public display of love without any censure or shame unlike the conservative thoughts today.
There are no sculptures of gods or goddesses in intimate forms once you enter the temple. It means once a human being starts thinking beyond sexual passion, then one can attain happiness, or it is the way to Nirvana as Osho said describing the Konark’s erotic figures.
All in all, the Konark Temple depicts the nine rasas as described in various ancient texts with the Shringar rasa standing out prominently. The erotic figures depicted here also shows the openness of the society and reveals that people were no prudes. These sculptures were sculpted at a time when both Buddhism and Shaivism was finding popularity with the masses.
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