The spectacular Konark Temple complex is an excellent example to understand the science of Hindu philosophy and tenets of Shilpa Shastra. This complex is full of architectural and artistic gems that will leave you spellbound.
The magnificent Konark Sun Temple in particular is a wonderous architectural and structural feat, a true testimony to one’s faith in the Supreme Brahman. The main temple is surrounded by edifices built over different periods.
One such structure is the Vaishnava Temple, a small brick temple dating back to 10th – 11th century. This temple had remained forgotten for centuries under a sand pile and was actually discovered quite by accident in 1956.
This east – facing temple sits to the south – west of the main temple and is also referred to as Temple No. 3 by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This temple on plan originally had a pancharatha garbha griha and a jagmohana that have long disappeared.
The temple is largely simple in decoration with only carvings of Balarama and the Parsvadevatas Varaha, Vamana and Trivikrama. The main deity is missing.
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
sahasa.in 
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