ARASAVALLI TEMPLE – SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

THE ABODE OF LORD SURYANARAYANA SWAMY – SUN GOD

Arasavalli is an ancient sun temple dedicated to theHindu solar deity Surya, located near the Srikakulamtown of Andhra Pradesh, India. The original nameHarshavalli means abode of joy. It hasSuryanarayana Swamy (Sun God) as the presiding deity.

The temple is believed to have been built in the 7th Century AD by theKalinga rulers Devendra Varma ofOrissa.

Arasavalli is home to an ancient temple to the Sun (Suryanarayana) – said to have been built originally by the Kalinga rulers of Orissa around the 7th century CE. Arasavalli is located at Srikakulam near Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.. Also near Srikakulam are the Mukhalingam temples built in the Orissa temple idiom, and Sree Kurmam bearing a shrine to Vishnu depicting his Kurma avataram.

Legend has it that Indra the king of Gods attempted to force his entry into the temple of Koteeshwara – Shiva and was thrown away by the gatekeeper Nandi. Repentful of his arrogance in attempting to force his entry, Indra enshrined Surya the Sun God in a temple and performed worship services, at Arasavalli.

A black granite image of Surya about 5 feet in height bearing lotus buds (hence the name Padma Paani), flanked by his consorts Padma, Usha and Chhaaya, on a 7 horse driven chariot is the object of worship here. At the base of the image are the gate keepers Pingala and Danda and the saints Sanaka and Sananda. Surya’s charioteer Aruna (Anoora) is also depicted in the image.

The Arasavalli temple was built by the Eastern Kalinga Kings who ruled over the Kalinga region from the 4th through the 14th century CE. Inscriptions reveal grants made by Aditya Vishnu Sarma and Bhanu Sarma of the Kalinga clan. The present structure is largely a result of 18th-century renovations.

The Temple is a Panchayatana temple with Aditya in the center, with Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati and Vishnu in four corners of the quadrangle. An image of Indra is also enshrined in this temple. The local Dusi family also donated a lot of money to the temple, especially Sri Ramakrishna Rao Dusi.

FESTIVALS

Ratha Saptami is the most important festival which is celebrated in this temple. People suffering with eye and skin diseases are believed to be cured by the god at this temple.

SUN RAYS

Miracle – Direct Sunrays fall on the Idol (Swamy) inside the Temple Sun Miracle can see two times in a year i.e in the month of March and in the month of September 9th to 12th early morning 6.00 Am to 6.20 AM, The Golden Sunrays can see directly on the IDOL(swamy) inside the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

This temple is a testimonial for the architectural skills of Vishwakarma sculptors. It is believed that the Orissa Vishwakarma Brahmin sculptors also called as Maharanas in Orissa have planned the architecture and sculpted this engineering master piece. The temple is built in such a way that the Sun rays fall on the feet of the God twice a year in the months of February and June during the early hours of the day. The rays fall on the feet of idol for a few minutes through the five entrance gates of the temple remin closed. the five idols installed in one place in the temple viz., 1.Aditya 2.Ambica, 3.Vishnu, 4.Ganesha, 5.Maheswara (shiva) are worshiped by different devotees.The Sun God is depicted as riding on a Chariot drawn by seven horses driven by Aruna. All these figures are exquisitely carved out of a single black granite stone. Sundays during the five months from Magha masam are considered sacred. Every Sunday people from different places fromAndhra, Orissa and length & breath of country come here for worshiping the Sun God. This temple was built in the Orissa style of temple architecture. A pillar was set up by Jakkamsetti Venkanna in the year 1929. The whole base was filled with jewels as an offering.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Suprabhatam  – 05:00 am

Nitya Archana – 05.30 am

Maha Nivedana – 12.30 pm

Sarva Darshanam – 6.00 am to 12.30 pm-3.30 pm to 8.00 pm

SEVAS

SEVAS                                                                                    PRICES

Ashtottara seva                                                                  20.00

Sahasra Namarchana                                                        30.00

Ksheeranna Bhogam – 50.00 This Seva performs Every Sunday afternoon 03.00 PM

Ksheerabhisheka Seva                                                     216.00

Tiruveedhi Seva – 500.00 This Seva performs Every Sunday Evening 06.00 PM

Kalyana Seva                                                                     500.00

Surya Namaskarms- 50.00 This Seva performs Every Sunday Morning 06.00 AM to 12.00 PM