The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c18.4

v2.c18.4

**Konarak---its sitution and present condition.** Koṇārak is situated at a distance of 19 miles to the north-east of Puri, and at about the northern end of the sandy shore which stretches form the Cilkā Lake to the mouth of the Prācī River. The most prominent place in it is the Black Pagoda and its position is Latitude 19 *d.* 53 *m.* 32 *s.* N., and Longitude 86 *d.* 8 *m.* 31 *s.* E. Its current name is the vernacularised form of two Sanskrit words implying ‘the corner of the sun’ or ‘the corner of Orissa dedicated to the sun’ : *koṇa* ‘corner’ and *arka* ‘the sun’ : koṇārka¹. In Sanskrit works this name, however, is never used ; its place being supplied by *Padma Kṣetra*, ‘the sacred place of Viṣṇu’s lotus’, or *Arka Kṣetra*, ‘the sanctuary of the sun’. In the *Sāmba Purāṇa* these names are replaced by *Maitra-vana*, the forest of Mitra, or the ‘Friendly Forest’. It is a small village, occupied principally by fishermen and other low-caste people and covered by large topes which form pleasant oases in the midst of a sandy plain. Milk and eggs are the only articles which the traveller can readily get at this place. The men are agriculturists and, to judge from their appearance, by no means living in a prosperous condition. From a few mounds of brick and rubbish to be seen here and there it would seem, however, that at one time the place was the site of a town of some importance. The fact of its having been selected as the locale of the largest temple in Orissa would also support the inference.