Kunds

Brahma Kund

SURYA KUND

SURYA KUND BRAHMA KUND

Location Sun Temple, Modhera……. 102 kms from Ahmedabad on the bank of the river Pushpavati.

Sihor……20 kms from Bhavnagar district in Gujarat along the river Gautami.

Year of Construction

1026 AD (eleventh century) 12th century

Established by

Raja Bhimdev of the Solankidynasty

Raja Siddharaj Jaisinh (grandfather of Raja Bhimdev) of the Solanki dynasty

Dedicated to Lord Surya All Hindu Lords

Beliefs it reflects a belief from the Rig Veda that the divine sun emerged from the Cosmic Waters.

In Hindu mythology, it is highly regarded for its water to have magical healing powers.

History It is believed that the water from Brahma Kund is what helped King Siddharaj recover from his skin ailment after he was cursed by Ranakdevi.

Site Plan of Sun temple

Sectional Elevation of Surya Kund

SURYA KUND BRAHMA KUND

Architectural Elements

•a finest example of geometry

•organization of stone into composition gives shape to a dazzling pattern of art.

•Small arches, which have a marvelous quality of intricate & precision craftsmanship, crowning KirtiStambhas (towers of fame), erected by Solanki Rajput kings to commemorate their victories in battle field.

•It is proportioned with innumerable stone steps leading devotees down to its base.

•108 miniature shrines are carved in between the steps inside the tank.

•Also number 108 considered to be auspicious by Hindus as Hindu rosary has same number of beads.

•It is a stepped tank surrounded by idols of Hindu deities.

•It is a striking display of some excellent architecture and sculpture.

•Interestingly, water in Brahma Kund, its source, quality and consistent level throughout the year, all these have been a mystery all the time.

KirtiStambh

Plan of Surya Kund

SURYA KUND BRAHMA KUND

•There are four terraces to descend to reach the bottom of the tank.

•Small pyramid-shaped steps are for each terrace.

•God and Goddess depicted inimmortalized stone unfold thesculpture wealth: Lord Vishnu,Lord Ganesh, Lord Natraj,Sitlamata's presence a marvel.

Dimensions massive rectangular stepped tank, measures 176 feet north to south, by 120 feet east to west.

Usage •People continue to visit the tank to cure themselves of skin ailments.

•One day, while undertaking a journey with his courtiers, he reached the area where this tank is situated. Everyone was tired and thirsty from the long journey.

•On seeing the tank full of water, he ordered the soldiers to stop there to take rest and quench their thirst.

•The king took a few sips of water from the tank. He immediately felt a sense of relief and pleasure on the skin. It seemed like a miraculous recovery. To testify if it were really true, he once again poured some water on his skin on the other parts of the body.

•After this novel experience, the king decided not to continue with the journey any further. Instead, he decided to stay put at Sihor.

Story behind the Brahma Kund

•His rationale told him that an instant judgment about this situation cannot be made. So his entire battalion camped there for a few weeks.

•He visited the Brahma Kund regularly for the next few days. Regular dips in the tank treated his skin ailment completely. This recovery prompted him to do up the tank again as an obligation for the relief and pleasure meted out to him and his courtiers.

•Obliged by the blessings of this place and its miracle, he decided to refurbish the place and it’s the Brahma Kund of today which boasts of a renewed architecture (during 12th Century).

•The faith of the healing powers of this tank experienced by the king in the 12th century remains uninterrupted till today. People continue to visit the tank to cure themselves of skin ailments.