Suryanarayana Temple, Arasavalli – The Temple

Suryanarayana Temple, Arasavalli – The Temple

This temple follows the panchayatana style of architecture. Panchayatana is an architectural style where the main shrine is built on a raised platform with four smaller subsidiary shrines at the four corners and making it a total of five shrines. The central (main) shrine enshrines the image of Aditya while the four corner shrines enshrines the images of Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati and Vishnu. The temple is built in such a way that the early morning rays of the sun fall on the feet of the deity twice a year (Uttarayan (March 9 to 11) and Dakshinaya (October 1 to 3), even when the five entrance gates are closed.

This event is celebrated as Bhaskara Sparsa Pooja. The event occurs only in the early hours between 6 a.m. and 6.20 a.m. The sanctum of the main shrine enshrines the idol of the presiding deity, Suryanarayana / Aditya. He is about 5 feet tall and flanked by his consorts Usha, Padmini and Chaya. He is depicted holding a lotus in each of his raised hands, standing atop a grand chariot. He is shown riding over a chariot drawn by seven horses driven by Aruna, the charioteer of Surya. An idol of Adisesha (serpent) crowns the head of the deity. Image of the gate keepers Pingala & Danda and the saints Sanaka & Sananda can be seen at the base of the idol.

The idol is exquisitely carved out of a single black granite stone. This Nijaroopa darshanam of Suryanarayana Swamy can be witnessed during the Ksheera / Milk Abhishekam performed on the days when the Sun transits from one rasi to another and on ratha sapthami or Surya Jayanthi (Birthday). On all other days, the deity is covered with silver kavacha. The Utsava idol is a metallic image of Surya with his consorts Usha, Padmini and Chaya. There are shrines for Indra, Anjaneya, Kala Bhairava, Subramanya and Mahalaxmi in the temple premises. Theertham associated with this temple is Indra Pushkarini.