Modhera Sun Temple
- Location: Gujarat
- Built:
- It was built in 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty
- The temple is suspected to have been built to commemorate the defence of Modhera by Bhima I against Mahmud of Ghazni.
- Parts: The temple complex is divided into three components:
- Gudda Mandapa, the shrine hall,
- Sabha Mandapa, the assembly hall
- Kunda, the reservoir.
Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commons
Konark Sun Temple
- Location: Coastline of Odisha in Puri district
- Built by: King Narasimha Deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty
- Other Name: Also called the Surya Devalaya, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Surya.
- Architecture: Kalinga Architecture
- It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
- The temple, built from Khondalite rocks, is also known as ‘BLACK PAGODA’ due to its dark colour.
- The temple remains a site of contemporary worship for Hindus, during the annual Chandrabhaga Festival, around the month of February.
Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commons
Martand Sun Temple
- Location: Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir
- Built by: Karkota dynasty king Lalitaditya Muktapida (725 to 753 CE)
- Dedicated to: Vishnu-Surya
- Three Chambers: Mandapa, Garbagriha and the Antralaya.
- Style of Construction: Kashmiri style, though it is influenced by Classical Greco-Roman, Buddhist-Gandhara, and North Indian styles.
- Historical Works Mentioning it: Rajatarangini, written in the 12th century CE by Kalhana.
- Destruction: As per Jonaraja and Hasan Ali, Sikandar Shah Miri (1389-1413) demolished the temple in a bid to islamize the society on the suggestions of a Sufi cleric named Mir Muhammad Hamadani.
Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commons
Suryanaar Kovil
- Location: Tamil Nadu
- Construction Style: It was built in the 11th century in Dravidian style.
- It has shrines of sun god and eight other celestial bodies, together called ‘Navagraha’.
- It has a beautiful five-layered Gopuram.
Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commosn