THE PRESENT SUN TEMPLE KONARK IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE BLACK PAGODA. IT IS 36 KM, FROM PURI. THE PRESENT SUN TEMPLE WAS BUILT BY THE KING LANGULA NARASIGHA DEVA IN 13TH CENTURY A.D. WITH THE HELP OF 1200 ARCHITECTSIN 12 YEARS TIME AND AT 12 YEARS STATE REVENUE, IN THE FORM OF A CHARIOT OF SUN GOD. THE HEIGHT OF THIS TEMPLE IS 228 FEET. THE TEMPLE IS FITTED WITH 24 WHEELS AND 7 HORSES. ITS ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE IS A SHEER POETRY IN STONE. THE BENGALI POET RABINDRANATH TAGORE WAS SO MOVED BY ITS BEAUTY THAT HE SAID,” HERE THE LANGUAGE OF MAN IS DEFEATED BY THE LANGUAGE OF THE STONE.”
The Lokanath Temple IS AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 3K.M. TO THE WEST OF THE JAGANNATH TEMPLE, PURI, PURI ALSO A SEAT OF SHIVA WORSHIP . Sri lokanath is the Gurdian Deity of sri Jagannath Temple’s treasure house. So he is known as Bhandar Loknath also.
