The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.215

v2.c17.s1.215

The temple at the north-east corner is also an old one and of considerable religious pretension, but by no means rich in sculpture, except in its Nāṭ-mandir, which is of modern date (No. 37). It is dedicated to Lakṣmī, the immaculate wife of Jagannātha, who, though not admitted a place in the sanctuary of the great god, takes a prominent place in all his festivals and rejoicings and, as becomes a faithful wife, anxiously awaits at the Bheṭ maṇḍapa (No. 58) his return from his annual excursion to the Guṇḍicā garden. Next to it is another of nearly the same size, and called Sūrya Mandir or the sun temple (No. 38). It contains a small image of the sun seated on a car drawn by seven horses. This is said to have been originally the presiding divinity of the great Pagoda at Koṇārak, whence it was removed to this place on the destruction of the temple there. This is not, however, generally acknowledged and right in front of the figure on the throne there are the images of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa which cover it from the view of the faithful. It was by going inside the sanctuary and standing close by the side of the throne that I could see it with the aid of a lamp at midday. The object of thus secreting the figure none would or could tell me.