About Temple
The famous Sun God Temple situated in Arasavalli Village which is at a distance of about 1 K.M. east of Srikakulam Town District head quarters of the North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the ancient and all among two sun God temples in our Country. According to Padmapuranam , Sage Kasyapa installed the Idol of Surya at Arasavalli for the Welfare of mankind . Therefore , the Surya is of Kasyapasa Gotra . He is also termed as planetary King . According to the ' Sthalapuranam ' of the temple, Lord Devendra found this temple and installed the existing idol of the sun God commonly known as Lord suryanarayana Swamy Varu under the following circumstances.
Once Lord Devendra , Ignoring the words of Dwarapalaka Nandi , attempted to force his entry for Darshan of Sri Rudrakoteswara Swamy varu at an untimely hour when Lord siva was along with his consort . The Dwarapalaka Nandi in the discharge of his duties kicked the intruder . Thus kicked and injured by the Devine attendent Indra fell down senseless. And in his unconscious state Indra dreamt that he would be relieved of his pain of injury in his chest caused by Nandi if he had built a temple and install an Idol of the Sun God . After regaining his consciousness, he remembered what he dreamt .
Famous Temple in Srikakulam located in Arasavalli.
Following his dream he pickedup handfulls of earth three times at a place where he lay, and there he found this beautiful idol of sun God with his three consorts Usha , Chaya and Padmini . At the base of the idols are the figures of Mathara and Pingala the Dwarapalakas and high up are the two divine saints , sanaka and sanadana holding 'Chatrams'(An Umbrella ). The Sun God is depicted as riding over a chariot drawn by Anura, the Radhasaradhy . All these figures are exquisitely carved out of a single black finely polished granite stone.
HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE TEMPLE
Archeological experts say that the stone inscriptions available in the temple throw some light to the effect that Devendra Varma, the Ruler of the Kalinga Kingdom, must have build this temple and installed the image of the Sun God in it in the later half of the 7th Century . The translation of the stone inscriptions reveal the donation of some lands made to the Sun God for perpectual lamps to be installed in the temple , to run a school or a Hostel for the pupils learning Sastras and vedas . These donations are stated to have been made by the successors of the Calinga King Devendra Varma prior to 11th Century A.D. The temple is buildt in such a way as to make the Sun Rays focus on the feet of the God twice in the year in the months of March and September in the early hours of the day . The rays so focused on the feet of the Idol through the five entrance gates of the temple , remain for a few minutes .
WORSHIP OF SUN GOD
This temple has the unique feature of attracting crowds of the people of different sectors , cultures and creeds together and making them believe the God is one and there is no difference between Siva and Kesava. The Five idols ( Panchayatana installed in a particular place in the temple) namely : - 1. Aditya 2. Ambika 3. Vishnu 4. Ganesha 5. Maheswara, represent all the faiths. Finally the devotees visiting this temple , go and worship the presiding diety Sun God about whom the puranas speak as the embodiment of Trimurthies , Brahama ,Vishnu and Maheswara . The Lord who sees physically everything in the course of his daily round over the universe and who fully understands the truth behind all things , is not only regarded as Pratyaksha Daivam ( Visible God ) but also the source and sustainer of all life . The people who perform ' Suryanamaskara ' recite Maha Soura and Aruna Manthras containing Powerful beejaksharas of Rigveda and Yazurvada for giving good health, so that it is said that "Arogyam Bhaskaradhischet " . The mantra or Hymn is a spiritual formula harmonizing sound which always protects the register in every way . This is the secrecy of the Sun God Worship. Sunday is considered as most auspicious day to sungod worship.
The Pushkarini
The Sun God granted his wish and vanished. Indra dug with his ‘Vajrayudha’ and formed a pond, which is known as Indrapushkarini. Even today Devotees feel that they can attain the Grace of Lord Surya if they offer their prayers after taking a dip in the pushkarini. After taking a holy dip in the pushkarni, they turn towards the temple and open their eyes and what do they see! Lord Surya’s idol before them in all its great splendor-and clad in golden colored angavastra. Crown studded with rare diamonds, hands with ‘Abhaya Mudra’ wide open eyes filled with karuna, ear-rings, studded with diamonds, grave and but graceful face. His very Darshan assures fulfillment of all desires in the world. The very temple was conceived and constructed by Viswakarma, the divine architect. Pingala and Mathara are the doorkeepers of this August Temple. Anura is the Sun God’s chariot driver. Thirteen more angels lustily cheer the sun god. Sanaka, Sanandana and other sages offer him Vinjamara seva. Sage Narada and other sing the glory of the God. Devaguru Bruhaspati and other chant Vedas. Thus Sun God was consecrated here in Arasavalli by Lord Indra himself. Such is the glory and greatness of this temple.
THE MAHATMYAM OF ARASAVALLI
The holy Temple of Bhagavan Suryanarayna Swami is located at Arasavalli in Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh. This is perhaps the only Sun Temple in the entire Coramandal Coast since the Konark Temple on the Orissa Coast always remained an incomplete and unfinished project. People who are unfortunate enough to suffer from eye and skin, diseases visit the Temple and offer their prayers to Sun God. They believe that the God is essentially a God of Health and Prayers offered to Him would heal their sickness. From the great Puranas of Dwaparayuga, the following information is gathered. Balarama is supposed to be the very incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Balarama in Dwarparayuga bought the river Nagavali along the furrow of his tiller and consecrated a temple on the shores of the river Nagavali. That is the temple of Uma and Rudra Koteswara. All the Gods angels and their minions arrived on the shores of Nagavali and paid their obeisance to Lord Rudra, Indra, the Lord of Paradise was, somehow, late. By the time he arrived, it was late in the night; he tried to gatecrash his entry. At the time Nandiswara, the great Vahana of Rudra was keeping vigil at the gate. He did not allow Indra to go in, as it was time for Lord Rudra to rest with Mata Parvathi. Indra was adamant in his demand to enter the temple, Infuriated by his perverse persistence, Nandiswara kicked him violently and sent him flowing in the air towards the eastern side. Indra fell unconscious in a painful state. Then, it is said, he offered his prayer to the Sun God for relief of his body pains and exhaustion. Sun God took pity on him and touched Lord Indra with his innumerable rays and Indra got back his strength and relief from pain. He was all grateful to the Sun God who gave him back his strength and relief from pain. He begged sun god to allow him to stay there forever and spend his time.