Nandankanan Zoological Park, Rajarani Temple and Sun Temple in Konark
Sunday, 17 January, we went to the zoological park of Nandankanan about 18 km outside Bhuvaneswar. Our guide took us first to the bear and tiger sections – and it was impressive to see leopards, tigers – even some white ones – and bears in zoo environment quite near to their natural living conditions. At the elephants’ section our guide called one of the zookeepers to come with an elephant. He mounted one of the animals and came directly to our place – a very impressive view. Later we went on a short safari-tour to 4 sections outside the zoo where we could see some tigers, lions, bears and deers outside the zoo walls – a crash-tour without good impressions.
After the tour to the zoo we went to the Rajarani temple in Bhuvaneswar from the 11th century, where preparations for 3 days of Music Festival were going on (we visited it on the 18th). On the walls of the temple there are so-called “erotic” carvings of women and couples – today’s advertisements are much more sexualised than these statues. Though there are no images of Gods inside the temple it is associated with Shiva due to its form.
The archaeological sites look nice but there is no active spiritual activity going on and they seemed to me like the outer shells, where the spirit has gone away.
The same was the case with the Sun Temple in Konark, where we went in the afternoon. It is a Unesco World Heritage site – and surrounded by a huge amounts of souvenir shops waiting for some tourists to stop. After lunch in the village we had a coconut drink on the way to the temple. Before we could enter a self-styled guide had cramped to our group and followed us insistently. Rosa finally took him as her guide, and while he explained the intricacies of the architecture and the place, I kept away to align with the place and to take some photos. (I had read a bit about the temple before…) We were the only “white skins” I could remark. It was interesting to observe the Indians flocking everywhere to take selfies or group pictures with the temple – particularly on lawns with the sign “Do not enter”.
There were some huge old banyan and neem trees near the temple. For a while I touched a banyan tree to connect to its energy – a feeling of something very stable and grounded, silently spreading into the surroundings. Again, you could feel that there are no active spiritual activities going on at the temple – a beautiful messenger of times gone by. The temple and the scaffolding around the tower shone in a golden evening light, a true sun temple.
Next to the temple there was a Navagraha-Temple, devoted to the 9 planets, where some “ritual quickies” were going on. When none of the priests looked, I quickly deposited my flower from the Dhauli Shanti Stupa at one of the planetary spirit statues…
Afterwards we went to the sea where the glowing Sun God was shedding his red gold over the water and slowly faded into the mist, while people were enjoying the view of the ocean.
On the way home we stopped at a small ashram on the wayside. We went in for our evening meditation – and yes, in this simple building with the images of their line of gurus you could feel the vibrant purity of continuous spiritual aspiration.
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- In the Nandankanan Park
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- Our group at the Rajarani temple
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- Rajarani Tower
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- Serpent being at Rajarana
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- Banyan tree at Konark Sun Temple
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- 16 wheels of the sun chariot
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- The 9 Planets
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- Stonecutting for the temple
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- Sunset at the beach
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- In the small ashram besides the road
January 21st, 2016 at 4:08 pm
At Nandan kanan there used to be white tigers (I visited in 1997 & 2004).
At Konark temple each wheel erected (there are 24 wheels all around the temple) each wheel signifies a sun dial, gives the exact time at that particular time and also back calculations of certain period. Some time I will send that sheet for your perusal.. I am very glad that you have taken this tour and seen very worthy places. Meera Bharat mahan.
January 23rd, 2016 at 10:01 am
The sSun temple in Konark is a sacred place dedicated to sun. Our guide explained us the how every wheel was working, and each one can show not only the time at very precise second, the guide had a prodigious memory with numbers and counted the hour in one wheel, exactly the hour I had in my watch. Spectacular ! How all the sciences where there in that places!!! The Wheels and the temple not only showed the time, but all the sciences from the sun, numbers, geometry, astrology, cosmic time, and all the Vedas printed in it. Then a sage man told us that it is said that in India, the Sun raises first at Konark in this exactly place, and then sprouds his rays to all Bharat. The energy there is very healthy, and even if the temple is closed to esoteric rituals nowadays, the wise temple stones contain all the healing powers of the father Sun. We feeled very blessed to be able to stay for 2 hours near this temple and the surroundings experiencing the sunset at the beach there. The wind was very soft and nice, and we could experience the four elements well combinated just at that moment, air, earth with the sand, water in the sea, and fire with the sunset. Spectacular!!!!! Rosa.
January 23rd, 2016 at 10:03 am
Thank you Rosa for adding your valuable comment. Yes, it was spectacular
January 23rd, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Thanks Rosa Ji, for your Konark experience.
With regards
Murthy