The walls of the temple from the temple's base through the crowning elements are ornamented with reliefs, many finished to jewelry-quality miniature details. The terraces contain stone statues of male and female musicians holding various musical instruments including the vina,
mardala, gini, Other major works of art include sculptures of Hindu deities,
apsaras and images from the daily life and culture of the people (
artha and
dharma scenes), various
animals, aquatic creatures, birds,
legendary creatures, and friezes narrating the Hindu texts. The carvings include purely decorative geometric patterns and plant motifs. Some panels show images from the life of the king such as one showing him receiving counsel from a
guru, where the artists symbolically portrayed the king as much smaller than the guru, with the king's sword resting on the ground next to him. The
upana (
moulding) layer at the bottom of the platform contains friezes of elephants, marching soldiers, musicians, and images depicting the secular life of the people, including hunting scenes, a caravan of domesticated animals, people carrying supplies on their head or with the help of a bullock cart, travelers preparing a meal along the roadside, and festive processions. On other walls are found images depicting the daily life of the elite as well as the common people. For example, girls are shown wringing their wet hair, standing by a tree, looking from a window, playing with pets, putting on
makeup while looking into a mirror, playing musical instruments such as the
vina, chasing away a monkey who is trying to snatch items, a family taking leave of their elderly grandmother who seems dressed for a pilgrimage, a mother blessing her son, a teacher with students, a yogi during a standing
asana, a warrior being greeted with a
namaste, a mother with her child, an old woman with a walking stick and a bowl in her hands, comical characters, among others. The Konark temple is also known for its erotic sculptures of
maithunas. These show couples in various stages of courtship and intimacy, and in some cases coital themes. Notorious in the colonial era for their uninhibited celebration of sexuality, these images are included with other aspects of human life as well as deities that are typically associated with
tantra. This led some to propose that the erotic sculptures are linked to the
vama marga (left hand tantra) tradition. was originally constructed at the mouth of the river Chandrabhaga, but the waterline has receded since then. The wheels of the temple are sundials, which can be used to calculate time accurately to a minute.
Other temples and monuments The Konark Sun Temple complex has ruins of many subsidiary shrines and monuments around the main temple. Some of these include: •
Mayadevi TempleLocated west- been dated to the late 11th century, earlier than the main temple. It consists of a sanctuary, a
mandapa and, before it, an open platform. It was discovered during excavations carried out between 1900 and 1910. Early theories assumed that it was dedicated to Surya's wife and thus named the
Mayadevi Temple. However, later studies suggested that it was also a Surya temple, albeit an older one that was fused into the complex when the monumental temple was built. This temple also has numerous carvings and a square
mandapa is overlain by a
sapta-ratha. The sanctum of this Surya temple features a
Nataraja. Other deities in the interior include a damaged
Surya holding a lotus, along with
Agni,
Varuna,
Vishnu, and
Vayu. •
Vaishnava TempleLocated southwest of the so-called Mayadevi Temple, it was discovered during excavations in 1956. This discovery was significant because it confirmed that the Konark Sun Temple complex revered all the major Hindu traditions, and was not an exclusive worship place for the
saura cult as previously believed. This is a small temple with sculptures of
Balarama,
Varaha, and
Vamana–Trivikrama in its sanctum, marking it as a Vaishnavite temple. These images are shown as wearing
dhoti and a lot of jewelry. The sanctum's primary idol is missing, as are images from some niches in the temple. The site's significance as a place of
Vaishnavism pilgrimage is attested to in Vaishnava texts. For example,
Chaitanya, the early 16th-century scholar and founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, visited the Konark temple and prayed on its premises. •
KitchenThis monument is found south of the
bhoga mandapa (feeding hall). It, too, was discovered in excavations in the 1950s. It includes means to bring water, cisterns to store water, drains, a cooking floor, depressions in the floor probably for pounding spices or grains, as well several triple ovens (
chulahs) for cooking. This structure may have been for festive occasions or a part of a community feeding hall. According to Thomas Donaldson, the kitchen complex may have been added a little later than the original temple. •
Well 1This monument is located north of the kitchen, towards its eastern flank, was probably built to supply water to the community kitchen and
bhoga mandapa. Near the well are a pillared
mandapa and five structures, some with semi-circular steps whose role is unclear. •
Well 2This monument and associated structures are in the front of the northern staircase of the main temple, with foot rests, a washing platform, and a wash water drain system. It was probably designed for the use of pilgrims arriving at the temple. A collection of fallen sculptures can be viewed at the
Konark Archaeological Museum, which is maintained by the
Archaeological Survey of India. The fallen upper portion of the temple is believed to have been studded with many inscriptions. == History ==