Shining Glory: The Ancient Sun Temple of Arasavalli

Contributor: Babu Koilada

The Arasavalli Sri Surya Narayana Swamy Devalayam is a special temple dedicated to Lord Suryadeva. It is located in the village of Arasavalli in Andhra Pradesh, India, which is just about a kilometer east of the town of Srikakulam. This temple is a significant place of worship and is believed to be one of the oldest sun temples in the entire country.

People believe that this temple was first built way back in the 7th century CE. The king who built this was Devendra Varma, a ruler from the Eastern Ganga Dynasty that controlled the region of Kalinga (an ancient area that included parts of present-day Odisha and Andhra Pradesh). While the original temple was built centuries ago, the structure you see today is mostly the result of renovations that happened in the 18th century.

Interestingly, the temple’s design follows the Rekha deula style of Kalinga Architecture, which is similar to the famous Puri Jagannath temple in Odisha. This style is known for its curved spires. This temple holds a special place as one of the few major temples in India dedicated to Lord Suryadeva that still exist. Historically, there were three important sun temples, but one was unfortunately destroyed a long time ago. The other prominent sun temples are the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha and the Martand Sun Temple in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to tradition, the sage Kasyapa consecrated the statue of Lord Suryadeva at Arasavalli. He did this for the well-being of the people of that region. It is said that this Surya belongs to the lineage of Kasyapa (Kasyapasa Gotra) and is considered a king among the nava grahas.

Inscriptions on the temple walls tell us that King Devendra Varma was the one who initially built it in the 7th century. The walls also mention that the temple faced some issues over time, and major changes were made during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of these improvements were funded by a family called the Dusi family.

As time passed, the temple fell into disrepair. However, it was reconstructed in 1778 CE by Elamanchili Pullaji Panthulu. Since then, the Sun temple has been an important landmark for many festivals celebrated in the area, including the significant festival of Rathasaptami.

Amazing Design: A Work of Art
The Arasavalli Sun Temple is known for its architectural beauty. It is said that artisans from the Vishwakarma Brahmin community, also known as Maharanas from Odisha, were involved in its construction.

A fascinating aspect of the temple is a natural phenomenon that happens twice a year. During the periods of Uttarayanam (around March 9-11) and Dakshinayam (around October 1-3), the rays of the early morning sun fall directly on the feet of the temple’s deity. This is remarkable because it happens even when all five entrance gates of the temple are closed!

The temple also has a sacred water tank called the Indra Pushkarini, which is an important part of the temple complex. In short, the Arasavalli Sun Temple is a treasure of history, religion, and architecture, standing as a symbol of devotion and artistry of people from centuries ago.

Image Courtesy: Pragyata.com