Historical beliefs · Documented tradition
Surya's chariot in stone
At Konark, on India's east coast, a 13th-century temple is built as the chariot of the sun god Surya, with carved wheels along its sides.
The record
- Who
- The 13th-century kingdom of Orissa
- Where
- Konark, Odisha, India
- When
- 13th century
- Kind of evidence
- Temple, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984 (UNESCO); Surya images in The Met from Kashmir, Bangladesh and Java
- A living tradition?
- Not covered by these sources
The temple
UNESCO describes the Sun Temple as a monumental representation of Surya's chariot, with 24 carved wheels about three metres across, and motifs referring to the cycle of the seasons and the months.
Across Asia
Images of Surya travelled widely. The Met holds a 6th-century Surya from Kashmir, a 9th-century bronze from Bangladesh and another from 9th-century Java. In Nepal, a painted mandala of about 1379 shows him driving seven horses, surrounded by the planets (The Met); the astrological side of that picture is in the Astrology & myths lens.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre Sun Temple, Konârak (opens in a new tab) for 13th century; the temple as Surya's chariot with 24 carved wheels; inscribed 1984 · checked 2 October 2026
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Standing Surya (1991.422) (opens in a new tab) for Kashmir, ca. 6th century · checked 2 October 2026
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Surya, the Sun God, with Attendants (1987.142.334) (opens in a new tab) for Bangladesh, Pala period, ca. 9th century · checked 2 October 2026
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Surya, the God of the Sun (1987.142.20) (opens in a new tab) for Java, Central Javanese period, 9th century · checked 2 October 2026
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Kitaharasa, Mandala of the Sun God Surya (2012.462) (opens in a new tab) for Nepal, likely 1379; Surya's chariot of seven horses; the eight planetary deities around him; a rite against negative karma · checked 2 October 2026