Sun Temple, Modhera – Gudha Mandapa & Sanctum

Sun Temple, Modhera – Gudha Mandapa & Sanctum

The Gudhamandapa measures 51 feet 9 inches by 25 feet 8 inches. The gudha mandapa is built on a paved platform. The platform is inverted lotus-shaped. It is almost equally divided into gudha mandapa and sanctum, the shrine proper. Both are rectangular in plan with one projection on each of the smaller sides and two projections on each of the longer sides. These projections on the smaller sides form the entrance and the back of the shrine.

The three projections of the outer wall of Gudhamandapa had windows on each side and the east projection had the doorway. These windows had perforated stone screens; the northern is in ruins and the southern is missing. Pradakshina patha is formed by the passage between the walls of sanctum and the outer walls of Gudhamandapa. The roof of passage has stones slabs carved with rosettes. The Shikhara of it no longer exists.

The  sanctum sanctorum is square measuring 11 feet from inside. The shrine had two cells; a cell below the level of the upper cell. The floor of the upper cell is now fallen which once housed the image of a deity. The seat of the image is now in a pit. The lower cell was probably used for storage. The walls inside the shrine are plain and the outer wall is decorated. The doorway has carved figures of seated Surya in panels surrounded by dancers and amorous couples.

All figures are mutilated and the images on the door-lintel are completely destroyed. 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. It is said that the main idol was made of pure gold and depicted as sun sitting on his chariot with 7 horses with his charioteer Aruna driving the chariot.

The idol sat on a deep plinth that was again filled with gold coins. Now, only the plinth remains. The Idol and its riches were plundered by Mahmud Ghazni. It is said that the diamonds on the idol could lit the whole temple. The outer walls of the shrine is highly decorated. The base and walls of the shrine and hall are divided into several stretches with unique carvings. the Pitha or adhisthana, the base has the two square members called Bhat followed by a cyma recta carving (lower part convex and upper part concave).

It is followed by padma or padmaka, the molding in form of an inverted lotus. The next is antarita, a fillet or an astragal with a sharp edge between two recesses. Above this is patta having thin molding called chhaja at its lower edge. The next is another chhaja separated by neck, alinga. The next broad band, patti, is gajathara carved with elephants. The following band narathara has figures of men in different attitudes. The Mandovara (the wall moldings) start with kumbha, a pitcher.

It has a broad undecorated band at the lower part while the middle part is decorated with oval discs. It is followed by kalasha, a pitcher. The next is a broad band with chaitya-windows called kevala followed by similar called manchi. These two bands are separated by a deep band. There is a thin fillet above which the major paneled face of the wall called jangha exist. These panels are decorated with figures of gods, but the figures of Surya are placed prominently than others as the temple is dedicated to him.

Other panels are decorated with dancers and other figures. The figures of Surya are prominently carved on three niches of shrine proper as well as on each side of three windows in the outer wall of Gudhamandapa. The figures of Surya is in standing position with two arms holding lotuses and driven by seven horses. It has some Persian influences.

The walls have 12 niches showing the different aspects of Surya in each month. The other corners and niches are decorated with figures of Shiva and Vishnu in various forms, eight dikpalas, Vishwakarma, Varuna, Agni, Ganesha, Saraswathi, Brahma, Naga and goddesses. Every figure in the panel has a small cornice over it surmounted with a triangular pediment consisting of chaitya-a window which is called udgam.

The next projecting band with chaitya-window and kirtimukha is called malakval. The topmost is the major cornice called chhajli. This is followed by shikhara which no longer exist. The vimana had horizontal geometrical and figurative bands which rising to create the Mount Meru-like shikhara. The central spire had Urushringa, the miniature shrines. It is judged by the shrines on the steps of Kunda.