Arasavalli Surya Narayana Swamy Temple

This temple is dedicated to the Sun God is in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. 

In Dwapar Yuga, Balarama, an incarnation of Vishnu, brought the river Nagavali along with the furrow of his tiller and consecrated a temple to Uma and Rudra Koteshwar on its shores. The gods, devas and apsaras arrived on the shores of Nagavali and paid obeisance to Rudra. Indra, the lord of the heavens, was somehow late. It was nightfall by the time he reached. Although Indra tried to gatecrash, Nandiswara, the great vahana of Rudra, who was keeping vigil at the gate, did not allow Indra to go in, as it was time for Rudra to rest with Mata Parvati. Indra, however, was adamant about entering the temple.

Infuriated by his perverse persistence, Nandiswara kicked him violently and sent him flying in the air towards the eastern side. Indra fell unconscious. Then, it is said, he prayed to the Sun God for relief. Surya took pity on him and touched Indra with his innumerable rays. Indra's pain was relieved, and he regained his strength. He was grateful to the Sun God and begged to stay there forever and spend his time serving the Sun God. Surya agreed, and so Indra enshrined Surya in a temple and performed worship at Arasavalli.

The Eastern Kalinga kings, who ruled over the Kalinga region from the 4th to the 14th century, apparently built the temple. Inscriptions reveal that Aditya Vishnu Sarma and Bhanu Sarma of the Kalinga clan made grants towards its upkeep. The present structure is a result of 18th-century renovations.

The temple is a Panchayatana temple with Aditya in the centre, and Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati and Vishnu in the four corners of a quadrangle. A black granite image of Surya, about 5 feet high and bearing lotus buds (hence the name Padma Paani), is flanked by his consorts: Padma, Usha and Chhaya, and they are on a seven-horse chariot. At the base of the image are the gatekeepers Pingala and Danda and the saints Sanaka and Sananda. Surya's charioteer Aruna (Anoora) is part of the imagery. Indra, too, is enshrined in this temple.

Sevas and pujas

6 am to 8 pm. Sunday is considered the most auspicious day to worship the Sun God.

Festival

Ratha Saptami is the most important festival celebrated in this temple. People suffering from eye and skin diseases believe they get cured at this temple.

Best time to visit

October and November

Interesting facts

The temple was built such that the sun's rays fall upon the feet of the Sun God twice a year; this happens in March and September, in the early hours of the day. The rays fall upon the feet of the idol for a few minutes, although the five entrance gates of the temple remain closed.

Places nearby

The Mukhalingam temples were built in the Orissa temple idiom, and Sree Kurmam bore a shrine to Vishnu depicting his Kurma avatar.

Official website of the temple