Priya Ramesh Swaminathan
Pune, India133 contributions
Modhera’s Sun Temple – Brilliant Architecture!
Feb 2020
We
hired an auto to travel 105 kms. from Ahmedabad to Mehsana (Modhera).
This superb Sun Temple was built in the 11th century A.D. by the Solanki
King Bhimdev I. It has a rectangular step-well/tank in the front, known
as Rama kund, which has impeccable geometric design. A wooden railing
has been erected around the step-well to protect people from unwittingly
falling into the tank.There is a Sabha Mandap, a connecting passage
known as Antaraal and the Garbhagruha or the sanctum sanctorum. The
walls, pillars, columns and exteriors of the Sabha Mandap and the
Garbhagruha are heavily carved with intricate life forms of deities,
celestial beings and animals. Twin pillars, again meticulously carved,
stand guard in front of the temple. The shikhara of the temple had been
destroyed during a Mughal invasion. The Sun Temple, like the one at
Konarak, doesn’t have any idol in its sanctum sanctorum which is closed.
Legend has it that while returning from Sri Lanka, along with his
wife Sita, Lord Rama performed a yagna at this site, to cleanse himself
of his sin of killing a Brahmin – Ravana, a devout Shaivite. Since this
ritual was performed by a Modh Brahmin, the site/village was named as
Modhera.Lord Shiva’s temple stands beside the Sun Temple. Fresh flowers bedecked the Shivaling. A museum with unique specimens of carving, provides us an insight into our rich cultural/architectural heritage.A toilet block stands behind this museum.Tourist buses are needed to visit this unique spot.
Written on 15 March 2020
The copyright of this review belongs to Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
This review has been published at www.tripadvisor.in.
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