Sun temple: Difference between revisions
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==China== |
==China== |
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One of the best preserved examples of a sun temple is the [[Temple of the Sun]] in [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang District]], [[Beijing]], [[China]], which was built in 1530 during the late [[Ming Dynasty]] for use in ritual sacrifice to the sun by the [[Emperor of China|Chinese emperor]]. The temple is part of a larger group of religious buildings linked to the [[Forbidden City]], including temples of [[Temple of Agriculture|agriculture]], [[Temple of Earth|Earth]], [[Temple of Heaven|Heaven]], and the [[Temple of the Moon|Moon]]. |
One of the best preserved examples of a sun temple is the [[Temple of the Sun]] in [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang District]], [[Beijing]], [[China]], which was built in 1530 during the late [[Ming Dynasty]] for use in ritual sacrifice to the sun by the [[Emperor of China|Chinese emperor]]. The temple is part of a larger group of religious buildings linked to the [[Forbidden City]], including temples of [[Temple of Agriculture|agriculture]], [[Temple of Earth|Earth]], [[Temple of Heaven|Heaven]], and the [[Temple of the Moon (China)|Moon]]. |
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==Egypt== |
==Egypt== |
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The sun temples of India were almost all dedicated to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] deity [[Surya]], with the most prominent being the [[Konark Sun Temple]] (also known as the ''Black Pagoda''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://konark.nic.in/intro.htm |title=Official website |publisher=Tourism Department, Government of Odisha |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> at [[Konark]] in [[Odisha]]. Konark was supposedly built by [[Narasimhadeva I]] of the [[Eastern Ganga Dynasty]] around 1250,<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian History |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=X4j7Nf_MU24C&pg=SL2-PA3 |publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=978-0-07-132923-1 |page=2 |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> and was built in the shape of a large chariot with carved stone wheels, pillars and walls. Other sun temples in South Asia include: |
The sun temples of India were almost all dedicated to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] deity [[Surya]], with the most prominent being the [[Konark Sun Temple]] (also known as the ''Black Pagoda''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://konark.nic.in/intro.htm |title=Official website |publisher=Tourism Department, Government of Odisha |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> at [[Konark]] in [[Odisha]]. Konark was supposedly built by [[Narasimhadeva I]] of the [[Eastern Ganga Dynasty]] around 1250,<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian History |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=X4j7Nf_MU24C&pg=SL2-PA3 |publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=978-0-07-132923-1 |page=2 |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> and was built in the shape of a large chariot with carved stone wheels, pillars and walls. Other sun temples in South Asia include: |
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*The [[Sun Temple, Modhera|Sun Temple]] at Modhera in [[Gujarat]], built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the [[Solanki]] dynasty<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=152&webpartid=1146 |title=Modhera sun temple |publisher=Gujarat Tourism |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> |
*The [[Sun Temple, Modhera|Sun Temple]] at Modhera in [[Gujarat]], built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the [[Solanki]] dynasty<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=152&webpartid=1146 |title=Modhera sun temple |publisher=Gujarat Tourism |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> |
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*[[Martand Sun Temple]], near [[Anantnag]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir]]<ref>{{ |
*[[Martand Sun Temple]], near [[Anantnag]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://anantnag.gov.in/Shrines-Martand.htm |title=District Anantnag |publisher=Anantnag District Administration |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> |
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*Bhramanya Dev Temple at [[Unao, Balaji]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]]<ref name=thehindu/> |
*Bhramanya Dev Temple at [[Unao, Balaji]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]]<ref name=thehindu/> |
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*Surya Pahar Temple at [[Sri Surya Pahar]] in [[Assam]]<ref name=thehindu/> |
*Surya Pahar Temple at [[Sri Surya Pahar]] in [[Assam]]<ref name=thehindu/> |
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*[[Biranchinarayan Temple, Buguda]] (also known as the ''Abode of Viranchinarayana'' or the ''Wooden Konark'') in [[Buguda]], [[Ganjam District|Ganjam]], [[Orissa]].<ref name=odishagov>{{cite web |url=http://www.odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/April2006/engpdf/A_little_known_sun_temple_at_%20palia.pdf |title=A Little Known Sun Temple At Palia |date=April 2006 |publisher=Government of Odisha |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> |
*[[Biranchinarayan Temple, Buguda]] (also known as the ''Abode of Viranchinarayana'' or the ''Wooden Konark'') in [[Buguda]], [[Ganjam District|Ganjam]], [[Orissa]].<ref name=odishagov>{{cite web |url=http://www.odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/April2006/engpdf/A_little_known_sun_temple_at_%20palia.pdf |title=A Little Known Sun Temple At Palia |date=April 2006 |publisher=Government of Odisha |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> |
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*[[Biranchinarayan Temple, Palia]], a 13th—century temple<ref>{{cite book |author=T.E. Donaldson |title=The Hindu Temple Art of Orissa |
*[[Biranchinarayan Temple, Palia]], a 13th—century temple<ref>{{cite book |author=T.E. Donaldson |title=The Hindu Temple Art of Orissa |
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|volume=2 | |
|volume=2 |page=695 |year=1986 |location=Leiden}}</ref> in [[Palia]], Odisha.<ref name=odishagov/> |
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*[[Multan Sun Temple]], also known as ''Aditya Sun Temple'',<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of Indian history: golden jubilee volume |year=1973 |publisher=T. K. Ravindran, University of Kerala. Dept. of History | |
*[[Multan Sun Temple]], also known as ''Aditya Sun Temple'',<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of Indian history: golden jubilee volume |year=1973 |publisher=T. K. Ravindran, University of Kerala. Dept. of History |page=362 |url=http://books.google.com/books?ei=V1mET_TaHITirAe4mZjABg&id=GPcgAAAAMAAJ&dq=sun+temple+of+multan&q=Aditya#search_anchor |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> in [[Multan]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]. |
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*[[Navlakha Temple, Ghumli]], Gujarat, built in the 11th century.<ref>{{cite book |title=Archaeology in India |year=1950 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India | |
*[[Navlakha Temple, Ghumli]], Gujarat, built in the 11th century.<ref>{{cite book |title=Archaeology in India |year=1950 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |page=101 |url=http://books.google.com/books?ei=XtGGT4_wL4nOrQegzdjoBg&id=VR-2AAAAIAAJ&dq=Navlakha+sun+temple+ghumli&q=+ghumli#search_anchor |accessdate=9 January 2014}}</ref> |
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==Others== |
==Others== |
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Revision as of 09:29, 12 January 2014
.JPG)
A sun temple (or solar temple) is a building used for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, dedicated to the Sun and/or a solar deity. Such temples were built by a number different cultures and are now generally in ruins. They are distributed across the world including in India,[1] China, Egypt, Japan and Peru. Several of the ruins are now undergoing excavation, preservation or restoration and a few are listed as World Heritage Sites individually or as part of a larger site e.g. Konark.[2]
China
One of the best preserved examples of a sun temple is the Temple of the Sun in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, which was built in 1530 during the late Ming Dynasty for use in ritual sacrifice to the sun by the Chinese emperor. The temple is part of a larger group of religious buildings linked to the Forbidden City, including temples of agriculture, Earth, Heaven, and the Moon.
Egypt
There were a number of Egyptian sun temples, such as the Great Temple of Ramses at Abu Simbel[3] and complexes built by the Fifth Dynasty, of which only two examples survive, that of Userkaf and of Niuserre.[4] The Fifth Dynasty temples usually had three components, a main temple building at a higher elevation, accessed by a causeway, from a much smaller entrance building.[5] In 2006, archaeologists found ruins underneath a market in Cairo, which could possibly be the largest temple built by Ramesses II.[6][7]
India
The sun temples of India were almost all dedicated to the Hindu deity Surya, with the most prominent being the Konark Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda),[8] at Konark in Odisha. Konark was supposedly built by Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty around 1250,[9] and was built in the shape of a large chariot with carved stone wheels, pillars and walls. Other sun temples in South Asia include:
- The Sun Temple at Modhera in Gujarat, built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty[10]
- Martand Sun Temple, near Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir[11]
- Bhramanya Dev Temple at Unao, Balaji in Madhya Pradesh[1]
- Surya Pahar Temple at Sri Surya Pahar in Assam[1]
- Suryanar Kovil Temple at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu[1]
- Surya Narayana Temple at Arasavalli in Andhra Pradesh[12][1]
- Dakshinaraka Temple at [Gaya, India|[Gaya]] in Bihar[1]
- Biranchinarayan Temple, Buguda (also known as the Abode of Viranchinarayana or the Wooden Konark) in Buguda, Ganjam, Orissa.[13]
- Biranchinarayan Temple, Palia, a 13th—century temple[14] in Palia, Odisha.[13]
- Multan Sun Temple, also known as Aditya Sun Temple,[15] in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
- Navlakha Temple, Ghumli, Gujarat, built in the 11th century.[16]
Others
There are also sun temple sites in a number of other countries:
- Qurikancha, in Cusco, was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to the sun god Inti.
- There are several Shinto shrines in Japan, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami including:
- Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie prefecture
- Amanawa Shinmei Shrine, founded in 710, iin Kamakura
- Amanoiwato-jinja in Takachiho, Miyazaki prefecture
- In the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, United States, there is a structure which may have been used as a sun temple by the Pueblo culture,[17] although it does not seem to have been completed.[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "A visit to the Sun Temple". The Hindu. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Sun Temple, Konârak". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Pharaonic monuments in Aswan". State Information Service, Egypt. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ Ronald J. Leprohon, ed. (2005). "Texts from the Pyramid Age". Society of Biblical Literature. p. 86. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ Kathryn A. Bard, ed. (1999). "Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt". Routledge. p. 86. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ Stefan Lovgren (1 March 2006). "Giant Ancient Egyptian Sun Temple Discovered in Cairo". National Geographic News. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Ancient sun temple uncovered in Cairo". NBC News. 28 February 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Official website". Tourism Department, Government of Odisha. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ Indian History. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-07-132923-1. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Modhera sun temple". Gujarat Tourism. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "District Anantnag". Anantnag District Administration. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "Sun rays touch Arasavalli deity". The Hindu. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
- ^ a b "A Little Known Sun Temple At Palia" (PDF). Government of Odisha. April 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ T.E. Donaldson (1986). The Hindu Temple Art of Orissa. Vol. 2. Leiden. p. 695.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Journal of Indian history: golden jubilee volume. T. K. Ravindran, University of Kerala. Dept. of History. 1973. p. 362. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ Archaeology in India. Archaeological Survey of India. 1950. p. 101. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ J. McKim Malville, Claudia Putnam (1993). "Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest". Johnson Books. p. 91. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Sun Temple". U.S. National Parks Service. Retrieved 11 January 2014.