Talk:Sun Temple, Modhera

Untitled

Enjoy some of my pics if you are interested. you may see some of them on Google Earth directly. Pl click on.. http://www.panoramio.com/user/220854/tags/The%20%20Sun%20Temple-%20Modhera

You may also see an interesting 360'photograph by clicking.. http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/worldwidepanorama/wwp308/html/HarshalPurohit.html

Regards, Harshal Purohit +91 94275 46777

The erotic carvings are in the inside pillars as well, disproving the idea at Khajuraho that you leave sex outside when attend to God.Sean McHugh (talk) 14:10, 2 August 2012 (UTC)

Just uploaded more photos

Hi,

I just got a new Canon Powershot and went on to picturise this mesmerising temple. Uploading the snaps of the same.

Uday 15:39, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

Article is Start quality, hence removing the stub tag

This article is of a start quality.

It still needs improvements, but its no longer a stub, so removing stub tag from it.

Moderators : if you still think this is a stub, feel free to mark it with the tag.

Uday 11:34, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

Start

This article is assessed to be Start class. Suggestions for improvements from Chez can be found at the comments subpage. The article has some good pictures, but it is still weak in areas. Per the article process grading scheme, "major editing is needed, most material for a complete article needs to be added. This article still needs to be completed, so an article cleanup tag is inappropriate at this stage." Happy editing, [sd] 23:15, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Assessment comment

The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:Sun Temple, Modhera/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

* The infobox is a decent start. If the temple had been there for 1000 years surely there would be a lot of information about it all along its history. Try providing more details about the temple history, architectural style and about the king who built it. This page needs a free license picture. Try incorporating inline referencing. Cheers -- Chez (Discuss / Email) • 06:28, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

Last edited at 06:28, 1 November 2006 (UTC). Substituted at 07:18, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

Removed info /Rewrite

The Sun temple is of a unique architecture. The temple comprises three separate, axially aligned and integrated elements: Surya Kund, Sabha Mandap and Guda Mandap.

Surya Kund

This Suryakunda, also known as Ramakunda, is a large rectangular stepped tank measuring 53.6 x 36.6 meters under the east face of sabhamandap used to store pure water. Devotees were required to perform ceremonial ablutions here before worshiping the Sun God.

The Suryakund is a finest example of geometry. The organization of stone into composition gives shape to a dazzling pattern of art. It is proportioned with innumerable stone steps leading devotees down to its base. 108 miniature shrines are carved in between the steps inside the tank. Also number 108 considered to be auspicious by Hindus as Hindu rosary has same number of beads.

Info removed from article due to lack of ref is moved here. Find references.--Nizil (talk) 04:12, 8 August 2016 (UTC)

Fixed and rewritten entirely. Regards,--Nizil (talk) 13:19, 9 August 2016 (UTC)

Ghazni damaged the temple?

This Sun temple was attacked and damaged by Mahmud of Ghazni as per some sources. He had attacked Somnath temple during the same period so many sources tend to attribute damage of sun temple to him. He had attacked Somnath in 1024 while Sun temple was built in 1026-27, soon after his departure. So it is unlikely that he had attacked it. So I removed the claim. Scholar Madhusudan Dhaky had discussed dating and style in detail here: He has not attributed damage to Ghazni and he states that the temple is built after he went. He also suggested the shrine proper was built during Bhim I period and dancing hall may be added later during Karandev period based on style and architectural evidence. The roofs of both mandapas are collapsed long ago but no certain time is mentioned.--Nizil (talk) 18:01, 31 December 2016 (UTC)

@Utcursch:. As you have good knowledge and experience in Chaulukya and post-Chaulukya history, did you have ever encountered credible source or clarification regarding Modhera Sun temple being attacked by any invader? Because in next 12th century Gujarat was attacked by Muslim invaders 4-5 times (Ghori, Ghurid and Aibak) last at last around 1300, Khilji. I think of natural causes like aging (then many temples etc were built by stone interlocking technique rather than mortar so may have collapsed due to weight imbalance) and lightening for possible collapse of the Shikhar (temple spire) as all other images on walls seem unaffected or unmolested. It is very unlikely that the invader had only damaged the spire and all other things were left unaffected. On the other hand, it is very unlikely that they spared Sun temple and attacked major temples like Rudra Mahalaya and other temples in north Gujarat. What is thoughts on it? Regards,--Nizil (talk) 11:13, 11 September 2017 (UTC)

According to Asoke Kumar Majumdar (1956, p. 45.), the Modhera Sun temple was constructed during 1026-1027 CE, possibly to commemorate the defence against Mahmud of Ghazni. I haven't come across any source that states the temple was destroyed by Mahmud. utcursch | talk 16:35, 11 September 2017 (UTC)

On a closer look, the first three sources do not meet WP:HISTRS. Diamond Pocket Books is know to plagiarize from Wikipedia. The other two don't appear to be qualified historians either, more like compilers. I agree with your decision to remove this claim. utcursch | talk 16:39, 11 September 2017 (UTC)

Thank you for your inputs.--Nizil (talk) 04:49, 12 September 2017 (UTC)

@Utcursch:, I have acquired the monograph on the sun temple and had a section discussing dating. There is also an image of the inscription and the author suggested that the temple must have been destroyed earlier by Gazni and rebuilt by the Bhima. I have updated the article accordingly. If you wish to expand and take this article to GA, I can send you its PDF.--Nizil (talk) 11:43, 12 March 2018 (UTC)

Can send me the article? I want to do further research about the temple for project. 2409:40C1:4028:5972:2C:1CFF:FE2C:6620 (talk) 17:11, 20 September 2024 (UTC)

References

Solar equinox days/summer solstice phenomenon

The claim is as follows:

The sanctum sanctorum is designed in a way that the first rays of rising sun lit up the image of Surya during solar equinox days and on summer solstice day, the sun shines directly above the temple at noon casting no shadow.

• Issue is discussed by Archeology of Kutch FB page here:[1].

It investigates/calculate various dates and concludes that the said phenomena can happen. The on-site confirmation is required by archeologists, it suggests. In my opinion, as Tropic of Cancer moves south every year and the temple is built 1000 years ago, the phenomena may not be occurring anymore on these dates. Based on calculation done by me on suncalc.org, it seems that the phenomenon of lit up my happen around 1 October instead of 21 September (equinox day) as the temple is located sightly in SE direction to compensate it location it relation to tropic of cancer in past.--Nizil (talk) 05:49, 16 June 2017 (UTC)

References