SUN TEMPLE

MODHERA
 PRESENTED BY
• M ABHINAND SANTHOSH
• MEENAKSHY M S
• FATHIMA SHERIN R
 LOCATION
• Modhera
• Mehsana district
• Gujarat
• On the bank of river Pushpavathi
 HISTORY
• Built during the reign of BHIMA I of Solanki dynasty
• Dedicated to SUN GOD – SURYA
• Designed so that the rays of the sun would directly fall on the image of Surya time of
equinox
• It was destroyed by the Mahmood of Ghazini
 ARCHITECTURE
• The temple complex is built in Maru-Gurjara style (chaulukya style)
• Has three axially aligned components.
Shrine proper (Garbha griha)
Outer or assembly hall ( sabha mandapa)
Sacred reservoir ( Suryakund )
• Sabha mandapa is not in continuation with gudha mandapa
• Both are built on paved platform
• The platform or plinth is inverted lotus shaped
• Collapsed roofs
• Decorated outer walls
• Followed by Shikhara which no longer exist
 STRUCTURES
• Main temple or Gudha Mandapa
• Pillared hall or Sabhamandapa
• Suryakund
 MAIN TEMPLE
• Elevated on a broad terrace of solid brick faced stone
• Resolved to two separate structure by a narrow passage consist of open pillared hall- The
Sabha Mandap and enclosed rectangle building of the assembly hall or Gudha Mandapa or
Garbha Griha
• Axial length of the building is 145 feet
• On the plan sabha mandap is based on a square of nearly 50ft wide , placed diagonally with
the axial line , its sides being interrupted at regular intervals by resist chases
• Rectangular part of the temple is 80ft * 50ft
• In its design recessed angles are also a distintive feature of the exterior
 SABHA MANDAPA
• Gujarati style around an octagonal pillared space
• Sloping seats and dwarf columns on the periphery
• The pillars on the periphery are locked by flying torana
• There are pillared entrances with cusped arch ways at each of the four corners and a smaller
pillar within each recessed angle
 SURYA KUND
• Also known as Ramakund
• Massive rectangular stepped tank for ablution
• Shrine in between terraces of steps on the western side of wide flight of steps lead to the
torana