Revisiting the History of Konark through Pratibha Ray’s Citadel of Love

Odisha is widely acknowledged as the land of temples all over the world. It has a distinct recognition because of its rich culture and tradition. Konark temple which is also known by the name of “Black Pagoda”, is an ageless artifice created by King Narasingha Deva, a ruler of the Ganga dynasty. It was built in the thirteenth century near the district of Puri, Odisha. The temple is built resembling the Kalinga architecture, by the eminent architect Bishu Maharana, as stated in the history of Odisha. Pratibha Ray, as a writer, has a unique skill of blending myths, lore, and legends with supernaturalism and superstitions, presenting them in a new light. In most of her writings, these thematic elements are dominant. For instance, Adibhoomi, Ygayaseni, Silapadma, Magnamati are some of her seminal works. Some of them have been rendered in English like Citadel of Love, After the Deluge, and The Primal Land, for its popularity and fame. Ray has beautifully narrated the history of the making of Konark with a fusion of magic realism. This paper aims to highlight the history of Konark Temple through the author’s masterpiece Citadel of Love.