The temple, mandir, stone temple, indian temple, hindu temple, pilgrim, religious plac: 06/27/12

Modhera Sun Temple - Hindu Temple of India - Photo

The SUN TEMPLE OF MODHERA is a temple dedicated to HINDU god surya ( SUN ). SUN is called “SURYA” in Hindi. The Mandir was built in 1026 A.D by king BHIMDEV of SOLANKI dynasty.

There are some other SUN temples are in INDIA, they are as followed:

Top 9 Surya Mandir (Temple) In Inida

1. At KONARK in ORISSA

2. In JAMMU AND KASHMIR near ALMORA

3. In UTTRAKHAND at GAYA

4. And in BIHAR, the DAKSHINAARKA TEMPLE.

5. THE BHRAMANYA DEV TEMPLE at UNAO in MADHYA PRADESH

6. SUN TEMPLE at SURYA PAHAR in ASSAM

7. SURYANAR TEMPLE at KUMBHAKONAM in TAMILNADU

8. SURYANARAYANA-SWAMI TEMPLE at ARASAVLI in ANDHRA PRADESH

9. THE SUN TEMPLE OF MODHERA at GUJARAT

Legend Of Modhera Surya God Mandir

The area near MODHERA was known as DHARMARANYA which means THE FOREST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, according to SKANDA PURAN and BRAHMMA PURAN. According to these PURANS, LORD RAMA, after defeating RAVAN, asked sage VASHISHTHA to show him a place of pilgrimage where he could go and purify himself from the sin of BRAHMMA HATYA (the sin of killing a Brahmin, because RAVAN was a BRAHMMIN by birth). Sage VASHISHTHA showed him DHARMARANYA, which was near the modern town of MODHERA. In the DHARMARANYA, he settled at a village MODHERAK and performed a YAGNA there. Thereafter he established a village and named it SITAPUR. This village is about 15 km from BECHARAJI MODHERAK village and it subsequently came to be known as MODHERA.

The Sun Temple was built by RUSHABH BHIMDEV of SOLANKI Dynasty in AD 1026. This was the time when SOMNATH and the adjoining area was plundered by MAHHUMAD GHAZANI and reeled under the effects of his invasion. The SOLANKI’S, however, regained much of their lost power. ANHILWAD PATAN, the SOLANKI capital, was restored to glory. Royalty and traders jointly contributed to build grand temples.

SOLANKIS were considered to be SURYAVANSHIES, or descendants of Sun god. The temple was so designed that the first rays of the sun fell on the image of Surya, the Sun God, at the time equinoxes. The temple is partially in ruins after it was also finally destroyed by ALLAUDDIN KHILJI. However, enough has remained of the temple to convey its grandeur.

About The Temple - Modhera

The Sun Temple at MODHERA dates back to early 11th century CE and was built by King BHIMDEV-1 in 1026 CE. It was during the same period that the Jain temples at MOUNT ABU were constructed by VIMAL SHAH. The RUDRA MAHAL TEMPLE at SIDDHPUR also dates back to this period. Also re-constructed at the same time was the SOMNATH temple at SOMNATH PATAN. Interestingly, the grand BRIHADESHWAR TEMPLE at THANJAVUR in South India was constructed during the same time. Even in its ruined state, the sun temple at MODHERA is awesome. There is no worship offered here now. There is no SHIKHARA either. The temple has a sanctum, a PRADAKSHINA PATH and a SABHA MANDAP in front.

The exterior of the sanctum has many carved images of the Sun God, portrayed as wearing a belt and long shoes as in the DAKSHINAARKA TEMPLE at GAYA. The MANDAPA in front of the sanctum has beautifully carved pillars with exquisite TORANAS adorning the entrances. The exterior of this temple is intricately carved. This temple has been designed such that the sun's rays illuminate the sanctum at dawn, during the time of the equinoxes.

The 11th century Sun temple of MODHERA is easily one of the finest examples of devotional in western India. Built by the SOLANKI RAJPUT kings, the aid of donations from the people, the temple features carved TORAN arches mounted on KIRTI STAMBHAS (pillars of victory) as the entrances, a large rectangular stepped with 108 smaller shrines, an exquisite 52 pillared portico, beautiful domed central portion and a sanctum designed so that the sun light fell on the BEJEWWELLED statue of the God, specially at sunrise during the equinox. The exterior of temple is carved with traditional erotic scenes, RIVALLING at KONARK and KHAJURAHO, and depictions of various Gods and, while inside are friezes of the Mahabharata and portrayed on the pillars. The temple is framed by a well garden, and sits on the banks of river PUSHPAVATI. There is a cafeteria here run by the Tourism corporation of India tea, and a PWD Guest House.

In front of the temple is a colossal tank, which was once known as SURYA KUND or RAMA KUND. The tank has a series of carved steps leading to the bottom. Several miniature shrines adorn the steps of the tank - which is an art gallery in itself.

MODHERA is now the site of several dance and cultural festivals. The sun temple and the ambience here provide a majestic backdrop for the exhibition of performing arts.

How To Reach Mothera Surya Mandir ?

The temple 99 km from AHEMEDABAD, Gujarat, India.

SUN TEMPLES AND THE GOLDEN ARCHITECTURAL PERIOD OF GUJARAT

The golden period of architecture in Gujarat came during the rule of the SOLANKI dynasty, with some splendid architectural wonders coming up during the 9th-12th century. Forts at DABHOI and JHINJWADA, the Hindu temples of MODHERA, SOMNATH(earlier incarnation), GHUMLI, GOPE, BILESHWAR, KERA and SHAMLAJI, the Jain temples of GIRNAR ,KUMBHARIYAJI ,Mt Abu and Taranga, and attractive places for harvesting water-BRAHMMA KUND at SIHORE, SAHASTRALINGS TALAO at PATAN, MUNSAR tank at VIRAMGAM, the STEPWALLS of PATAN and GHUMLI-came up during this golden era. The most importantly of this period is MODHERA, the Sun temple built in 1026 AD by BHIMDEVA of the SOLANKI RAJPUT clan which ruled the whole of what is now known as Gujarat and nearer parts of RAJPUTANA and MALWA from the 8th to the 13th century, before losing to their relatives.