Konark temple, Odisha severely damaged by Muslim invasion Led By Kalapahad,(16thCE) Was Saved By Maratha Rulers In 18th CE

Damaged Konark temple in 1847 damaged/en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Above image: the 13th CE Konark temple, Odisha.  A lithography plate from James Fergusson's "Ancient Architecture in Hindoostan" (1847) showing part of the main tower still standing.http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1200_1299/konarak/konarak.html 

A sketci of Konark temple 1815. /en.wikipedia.org

Above image:  From the source, Pen and ink drawing of a sculpture of the processional chariot pulled by horses from the Surya temple at Konarak in Orissa, from an album of 37 drawings (43 folios) of sculpture at Jajpur, Puri, Bezwada and Sitanagar made during a journey from Bengal through Orissa to the Coromandel Coast, dated 1815. Note the damaged parts such as roof, etc.  The great Sun Temple of Konarak stands is on the Bay of Bengal, here thousands of pilgrims still come to bathe in the water during the spring festival to celebrate the birth of the Vedic sun god, Surya. Built by Narashimhadev, king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 13th century, the temple is conceived as a gigantic chariot with twelve pairs of carved wheels.  It originally consisted of a sanctum with a spire reaching more than 70 metres, an assembly hall and a dancing pavilion as well as a number of subsidiary shrines. The sanctum and the dancing pavilion have lost their roofs and it is only the assembly hall which has survived with its large pyramidal roof, the exterior of which is decorated with sculptures of musicians, dancers and maidens. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konark_Sun_Temple#/media/File:1815_sketch_of_the_sculpture_at_Konarak_Sun_Temple,_Odisha_India.jp

The Konark Sun Temple, a marvel of 13th-century architecture, faced significant damage during the Muslim invasion in the 16th century. Kalapahad, a general and a Muslim convert, is believed to have led the attack around 1568, targeting temples as part of his campaign. Despite this assault, parts of the temple survived, largely due to subsequent efforts by various rulers and local communities. Historical records indicate that the temple was an active site of worship until the late 16th century, as supported by inscriptions such as the Kenduli copper plate of 1384 CE, which confirmed its completion and consecration. The Konark Sun Temple’s destruction has been attributed to various factors, each contributing to its current state of ruin.s

Beyond Natyamandir one could  find 100ft tall pyramidal tower  Jaganmohana - prayer hall standing on a Chariot of seven rearing horses with 12 large wheels on either side from the front the chariot looks ready to leap into the sky. The exterior walls of the Prayer hall contained  all kinds of nicely carved small images including erotic sculptures  Like many parts of the complex,  the 230ft arched sanctum behind  the prayer  collapsed due to damaged structure. So the sanctum is almost empty.   It is believed that the original idol of Surya was removed due to its magnetic properties, which interfered with the navigation of ships passing along the coast.

After the attack, the temple fell into disuse and was gradually engulfed by dense forests. Two centuries later, during the Maratha rule in Odisha in the 18th century, the temple caught the attention of a Maratha holy man who discovered it abandoned and overgrown. Recognizing its cultural and religious significance, the Marathas made efforts to preserve parts of the temple. They relocated the Aruna Stambha, a pillar featuring Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun God, to the Lion's Gate entrance of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, thus safeguarding an important fragment of the monument.

Although much of the temple lay in ruins, its massive stone structure and carvings withstood the test of time, offering a glimpse into its former grandeur. European travelers and surveyors in the 17th and 18th centuries recorded the temple's deteriorating condition, and their accounts helped bring attention to its significance. The damage to the Konark Sun Temple likely occurred between the late 16th and early 17th centuries due to intentional destruction and natural causes. 

However, the enduring reverence for the temple and efforts by rulers like the Marathas ensured that parts of this UNESCO World Heritage site were preserved, allowing it to remain a symbol of India’s architectural and cultural heritage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konark_Sun_Temple#

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