Dharmapada
Encyclopedia
In Buddhist
legend, Dharmapada was the son of a great architect, who completed the construction of a temple in a single night to save 1200 craftsmen from execution, and then sacrificed his own life to prevent the story from spreading.
decided to build a massive temple in Konark
. The temple was to be in the shape of the sun god riding in his chariot. 1200 craftsmen were found to work on the temple, led by one named Bishu Maharana; the project was to take five years.
As the end of the twelve years approached, Dharmapada, the son of Bishu Maharana, now 14 years of age, went to visit his father. Upon arrival, he found his father distressed; the crown on the sun god's head had yet to be completed, and the king had threatened to execute all 1200 craftsmen if they did not finish it by morning. Although the task seemed impossible, Dharmapada single-handedly completed it.
A debate then took place among the craftsmen. Fearing for their own lives if it became known that a child had completed the work instead of them, they demanded that Dharmapada be killed, a suggestion his father strenuously resisted. At last, to settle this debate, Dharmapada jumped from the crown he had completed, killing himself and ensuring the safety of the craftsmen.
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Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
legend, Dharmapada was the son of a great architect, who completed the construction of a temple in a single night to save 1200 craftsmen from execution, and then sacrificed his own life to prevent the story from spreading.
Legend
According to the legend, king Narsimha Dev of the Eastern Ganga DynastyEastern Ganga dynasty
The Eastern Ganga dynasty reigned from Kalinga and their rule consisted of the whole of the modern day Indian state of Orissa as well as parts of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh from the 11th century to the early 15th century. Their capital was known by the name Kalinganagar, which is...
decided to build a massive temple in Konark
Konark
Konark is a small town in Puri district in the state of Orissa, India, on the Bay of Bengal, sixty-five kilometers from Bhubaneswar. It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple , built in black granite by King Narasimhadeva-I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is a World Heritage Site...
. The temple was to be in the shape of the sun god riding in his chariot. 1200 craftsmen were found to work on the temple, led by one named Bishu Maharana; the project was to take five years.
As the end of the twelve years approached, Dharmapada, the son of Bishu Maharana, now 14 years of age, went to visit his father. Upon arrival, he found his father distressed; the crown on the sun god's head had yet to be completed, and the king had threatened to execute all 1200 craftsmen if they did not finish it by morning. Although the task seemed impossible, Dharmapada single-handedly completed it.
A debate then took place among the craftsmen. Fearing for their own lives if it became known that a child had completed the work instead of them, they demanded that Dharmapada be killed, a suggestion his father strenuously resisted. At last, to settle this debate, Dharmapada jumped from the crown he had completed, killing himself and ensuring the safety of the craftsmen.
Temple
The temple that Dharmapada is said to have completed still stands in Konark today, although in a somewhat dilapidated state. Constructed in the 13th century, it has been pillaged several times since then, and has suffered severe damage. It is listed today as a World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
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