India - Gujarat - Sun Temple, Modhera and its adjoining monuments

The origin of practice of Sun worship in India is evidently found in the Vedic scriptures of Hindu religion signifying the millennia old tradition. Modhera is sometimes called Mundera, the original settlement of the Modha Brahmans and is fabled to have been given them as a Krishnarpana on occasion of marriage of Ram and Sita. They acted as the gurus to the Modha Vaniyas. The Jain acharya, Hemchandra, was of the Modha Parentage. The outstanding Sun Temple at Modhera is located on the left bank of the river Pushpavati, a tributary of river Rupan in Becharaji Taluka of Mehsana District of Gujarat.

Architectural features

The temple, built of in Maru-gurjara architectural style, consists of the main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer hall or assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa) and a sacred pool (Kunda) which is now called Ramakunda. The Sabhamandapa does not form part of the main body, but it is a distinct structure placed a little away in front of the main temple shrine. The main temple shrine and the Sabhamandapa are built on a paved platform and the kunda lies in their front. This east facing temple is built of bright yellow sandstone.

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